Re: Could a 200 year engine solve today's oil crisis?

From: Bob Eldred (nsmontassoc_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 06/08/04 

Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 08:26:51 -0700

"Dr. Jai Maharaj" <usenet@mantra.com> wrote in message
news:58r51zuuo0LguCjeWa7fc0c@ol7C5F4Le4w37AqJi9yChQ0a...
> Could a 200 year engine solve today's oil crisis?
>
>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address
=103x55095
>
> Could a 200 year engine solve today's oil crisis?
>
> http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=637532004&20040607021427
>
> Posted by alapolitical on Sun Jun-06-04 09:17 PM
>
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>
> I've been telling people this for 20 years.
>
> I've built a few Stirling Engines myself. They will run
> on any fuel. A Stirling-Electric Hybrid automobile
> burning ethanol, vegetable oil, or methane makes a lot
> more sense than a hydrogen fuel-cell car, and, in the
> case of vegetable oil, is much safer in a collision!
>
> Posted by benburch on Sun Jun-06-04 09:23 PM
>
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>
> Did you build them from kits?
>
> Just curious--this is a project I've wanted to undertake
> for a long time.
>
> Posted by wtmusic on Sun Jun-06-04 09:24 PM
>
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>
> A couple of them.
>
> One simple one from scratch.
>
> There are plans and kits available mail order. Google is
> your friend! :)
>
> Posted by benburch on Sun Jun-06-04 09:46 PM
>
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>
> Stirling-cycle engine research has been "promising" for a
> long time
>
> I remember a 60's Popular Science issue with a similar
> optimism.
>
> So I'm probably overly skeptical, but absolutely in favor
> of pursuing any possible options.
>
> Posted by wtmusic on Sun Jun-06-04 09:23 PM
>
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>
> How Stuff works
>
> http://travel.howstuffworks.com/stirling-engine.htm
>
> Posted by RC on Sun Jun-06-04 09:30 PM
>
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>
> Wish I knew how to send a link because a Tesla Turbine is
> very interesting simple and small high output. see what
> you can find.
>
> Posted by Ironpost on Sun Jun-06-04 09:34 PM
>
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>
> Here ya go.
>
> http://www.lindsaybks.com/arch/turbine/
>
> http://www.frank.germano.com/tesla_turbine.htm
>
> http://www.aircaraccess.com/cattesla.htm
>
> Posted by RC on Sun Jun-06-04 09:44 PM
>
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>
> It might be well suited to drive an electric generator...
>
> ..which could power electric motors that drive the
> wheels. That way, you'd get around the drawback of the
> Stirling engine not being very responsive to changes in
> speed. It wouldn't need to -- the electric motors would
> deal with that.
>
> Ah, I think this is what benburch was getting at in reply
> #1 regarding a hybrid.
>
> Posted by htuttle on Sun Jun-06-04 09:37 PM
>
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>
> End of forwarded messages from
>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address
=103x55095
>
> Jai Maharaj
> http://www.mantra.com/jai
> Om Shanti

Stirling engines are a novelty. In their 200 year history, they have never
shown their worth to power anything but toys, small fans and the like. The
reasons are simple. The stirling is an external combustion engine, meaning
the heat source is external to the working cylinder(s) and not inside it as
in the internal combustion engine. All of the heat has to be transfered to
the working fluid through a metal barrier into the engine and again out of
it on the cooling side. In all engines the temperature difference between
the hot side and the cool side defines the maximum efficiency that the
engine can have. Because the amount of heat transfer across this barrier is
limited and the maximum temperature difference not great, the efficiency is
very low compared to other engine types. Compare with the internal
combustion engine where the flame is actually inside the cylinder and no
heat transfer across a barrier is necessary. Secondly, to maximize the heat
transfer, exotic working fluids are often proposed in Stirling designs such
as high pressure helium. This stuff is a nightmare to seal and contain with
piston rings and normal engine sealing technology. Air is the usual working
fluid but its a heat insulator and is a poor choice but sealing is easier.
The net results are an inefficient novelty engine that has shown little
promise in its 200 year history. The engine to bet on is diesel.
Bob

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