Designing a Beta Stirling Engine (Please help)

[sarahawad]

Hi!
I'm planning to build a solar powered beta Stirling engine that could generate a power of 100W. However, I am unsure what would be the maximum hot temperature that I could reach using the sun. Thus, I took the worst case scenario where the maximum hot temperature is 100 degrees Celsius and the cold temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius. I would really appreciate it if I could get some help regarding the dimensions of the cylinder, piston, displacer, rods, flywheel, and the sun collector. Also, if anyone could suggest the best materials to use for building this engine.
Thank you

[Ian S C]

Sarahwad, I imagine that you propose to build a pressurized motor. I would suggest that you down load Andy Ross's book "Making Stirling Engines" (it's free).
I have run one of my larger unpressurized BETA motors, 1 3/4" bore using a large Freznel lens 24" x 18". It was summer time, and I am at about Lat 44* south. the heat was intense enough to etch the stainless steel displacer cylinder at the focal point, and the motor produced more power than it usually does with it's normal LPG burner, although the power was not actually measured (normal max power 5 Watts at crankshaft).
I would suggest for best power out put an ALPHA motor would be the best, and more compact.

This is my unpressurized ALPHA motor (30 mm bore) 5 Watt out put, same as the BETA motor above.

Test 002 (640x480).jpg (198.55 KiB) Viewed 4686 times

Ian S C

And the BETA motor (I hope) well that didn't turn out as I wanted, they are in the wrong order, but never mind.