Search found 156 matches

by cbstirling2
Fri Mar 03, 2017 7:17 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: generators
Replies: 32
Views: 23598

Re: generators

How do I measure the current output of a small dc generator (toy motor), do I just use 1000 ohm resistor in series with the mulitmeter as the load to measure the current?

How does the 1000 ohm resistor affect the reading?
by cbstirling2
Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:19 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: What a difference a flue makes! +75%
Replies: 15
Views: 13526

Re: What a difference a flue makes! +75%

Just got an email from the other guy. He corrected himself. It's an alpha.
by cbstirling2
Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:13 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: What a difference a flue makes! +75%
Replies: 15
Views: 13526

Re: What a difference a regenerator makes! +100%

The second video shows the difference a regenerator makes. Doubled the power. In this, one can see the grooves inside the hot cylinder. image.jpg Notice there is insulation at the top of the cold cylinder to insulate the regenerator. image.jpg http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/overspec/item/kyg-se-...
by cbstirling2
Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:18 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: What a difference a flue makes! +75%
Replies: 15
Views: 13526

What a difference a flue makes! +75%

What a difference a flue makes! This YouTube video shows the power from no flue, to a square one, to a smooth flowing flue. The power went from .37 watts to .44 watts to the highest .65 watts, a 75% increase in power. http://youtu.be/-8G4GgryJZQ The engine is an alpha with Ross linkage. Appears to b...
by cbstirling2
Tue Feb 28, 2017 10:47 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: toy alpha engine
Replies: 17
Views: 12583

Re: toy alpha engine

Ian, Someone else recommended using a resistor to be the load on the generator to get more accurate readings of power. I ordered a tachometer on Amazon, only 12usd. Amazing how inexpensive. As for a regenerator, I have a small brass tube, I plan to put that inline but have a vinyl tube jacket it for...
by cbstirling2
Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:30 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Low temperature differential (LTD) alpha designs?
Replies: 9
Views: 9008

Re: Low temperature differential (LTD) alpha designs?

Bumpkin, in regards to high temp engines, I find that my gamma/beta models perform poorly after running for sometime in one session due to the lack of thermal isolation in the displacer piston & cylinder between cold and the hot sides. I presume a parallel twin cylinder Alpha engine would also s...
by cbstirling2
Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:39 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Low temperature differential (LTD) alpha designs?
Replies: 9
Views: 9008

Low temperature differential (LTD) alpha designs?

Are there any low temperature differential Alpha designs? The ones I've read about have all been gamma designs having the displacer cylinder be short but rather wide. If an alpha engine was designed for a low temperature difference, how would one do that? Have a large heat piston but a small cold pi...
by cbstirling2
Sun Feb 26, 2017 6:17 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: toy alpha engine
Replies: 17
Views: 12583

Re: toy alpha engine

Unlike my gamma engines, the hot and and the cold cylinder are almost perfectly thermally isolated. After I ran this Alpha engine on two tanks of alcohol the cold side was still not hot to touch.
by cbstirling2
Sat Feb 25, 2017 6:33 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Friction in a Small Alpha Type Engine
Replies: 4
Views: 5605

Re: Friction in a Small Alpha Type Engine

The piston should slide freely down the cylinder by gravity when not capped on one end but it should stay still when capped due to air pressure
by cbstirling2
Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:45 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Info on nitinol wire loop?
Replies: 4
Views: 5634

Re: Info on nitinol wire loop?

Could you submit any web address URL on one of those engines? I'm curious to see what you're talking about.
by cbstirling2
Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:44 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: toy alpha engine
Replies: 17
Views: 12583

Re: toy alpha engine

Ian, thank you for your response above. the cylinders might be the best way to increase power , it'd be a drastic change to the engine plus I' lack a lathe. Two things seem to be a simple change to the engine, one is adding cooling fans and the other is addition of a regenerator. 3rd change that I c...
by cbstirling2
Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:40 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: toy alpha engine
Replies: 17
Views: 12583

Re: toy alpha engine

I got this in the mail today and started it up. I'm very amazed about how much power it has.
Comparing this to my 2 gamma engines, Alpha engines are very noticeably superior. It is no wonder that Andy Ross devotes almost all his time to Alpha engines.
by cbstirling2
Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:58 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Heater & Regenerator Design
Replies: 60
Views: 45332

Re: Heater & Regenerator Design

Rich,
Very impressive work. Why didn't you consider an alpha design? They generally produce the most power.
by cbstirling2
Tue Feb 14, 2017 7:03 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Disappointing
Replies: 34
Views: 25373

Re: Disappointing

As long as they don't have problems as has been had with exploding cell phones, lap tops etc. Ian S C On the Nova program they dedicated a lot of time to that. A professor has that solved and he demonstrated it. Just needs development money to mass produce. It also produces more power as it can be ...