Whispergen mk4

[staska]

Just got two of these, dissasembling and cleaning them. Bought for scrap price as natural gas boiler. With some pressure. But not nominal.

Sad part - small rust on piston, very minor on cylinder and a lot of gum/limescale on water side of cold heat exchanger..

[Ian S C]

Hi Saska, I can understand the lime scale on the cooling side, I imagine that can be dissolved. Don't know how the pistons could get rusty unless it has layed up with the motor open to the atmosphere.
Hope you can get at least one running, they are quite a good little motor.
Ian S C

[Blaf]

Damn, where did you manage to get them for scrap price? I want one too! :)

[Ian S C]

Don't worry they built a few thousand, but I live near Christchurch NZ, where they were developed, and until the workshop and design laboratory was destroyed in an earthquake in 2011. The EQ about put an end to Whisper Tech and the Whispergen. Now I can't call in when I'm in town, have a cup of tea, and talk Stirling Engines, and there is no hope of getting a motor.(never say never).
I sent a message off to Peter Lyne in Ashburton NZ, just down the road from here, he was in on the motor from it's earliest days. At least he may be amused, or interested to know that they have been around long enough to become scrap.
Ian S C

[staska]

Mk5 was quite popular in germany, you could get them on ebay.de for 150 ey for not working, 1000-1500 used, 3000++ for new. But they have cracking hot side heat exchangers.

About mine - do not imagine too. On one motor lime scale popped up cold heat exchanger and water got inside. On other dont imagine. Not dry nitrogen ?

Ian - any ideas on using them not on natural gas ?

Ps. It is still good feeling to have this nasa level technology in garage :)

[staska]

Adittionally - if you will get in touch with one of authors, could you ask for some info on lubrication, assembly, gap in piston rings etc..

[cbstirling2]

So cool!

[cbstirling2]

Mk5 was quite popular in germany, you could get them on ebay.de for 150 ey for not working, 1000-1500 used, 3000++ for new. But they have cracking hot side heat exchangers.

About mine - do not imagine too. On one motor lime scale popped up cold heat exchanger and water got inside. On other dont imagine. Not dry nitrogen ?

Ian - any ideas on using them not on natural gas ?

Ps. It is still good feeling to have this nasa level technology in garage :)

In the USA, the administration thinks those technologies are part of an elaborate hoax.

[Ian S C]

With a different burner it is possible to run on liquid fuel such as kerosene, petrol, diesel. Its possible that someone will come up with a method of using solid fuel with thee motors. I don't know if Peter Lyne looks in on this forum, if he does he knows all about these motors. I don't know where Dr Clucas is these days, he designed it.

[staska]

thanks for reply. I know that sad history of whisper gen. And any other kinematic stirling. And looking into it as mechanist with some metalworking knowledge and having lathes - it should be simplified.
Now in the middle of cleaning. And dissambling cold hx and liner.

Solid fuel or not - ground charcoal to powder and mix with water. it will burn with preheated air nicely. and handle as well as diesel.

[Ian S C]

I wonder if wood pellets as used in pellet fires could be used for heating.
Ian S C

[Ian S C]

From what I find on the web, the Whispergen uses 10 W 40, or 10 W 40 Long Drain, I suppose that is a synthetic oil. The coolant is automotive corrosion inhibited glycol antifreeze. The address that I can find is;
Bill Higher
Whisper Tech Ltd.,
224 Armagh Street
Christchurch
New Zealand

Ian S C

[staska]

Pellets yes if super quality. But no - when to much ash. I am using them for heating, quality is not constant. I will make more photo. As far as i can see and feel - it some kind of moly or graphite filled grease. Not 10w40 sure.

[Ian S C]

I'm not sure where the 10 W 40 goes, it's what I got off a web site. If its a grease either moly, or a Teflon based one, but don't mix them, specially molly and graphite.
Ian S C

[cbstirling2]

Any luck getting the whisper gen running again?