Senior Project Stirling Engine

[a1experry]

basically, i am planning to do my senior project on stirling engines. i want to make one out of everyday materials, then somehow make it produce electricity. i was thinking that maybe i could somehow attach a magnet to a flywheel, then runn that through coils to produce electricity. i was hoping to make it out of common stuff that i could buy at the hardware store. maybe soda cans for the cylinders, and a gear for the flywheel. i would also hope to have a regenerator built into it somehow, but i don't know all the dynamics of how they work. i was also thinking of creating a new design in which i have the cylinder threaded to the piston, and when air contracts it would force the cylinder to move. i would attach a gear to the can, and have a larger (in width) gear to where the cylinder goes both up (staying in constant contact because the gear is very tall or thick) and spins, which i think would make the engine more compact. but i really don't know much about how friction and etc. would come into play. i appreciate the feedback.

[Junkie]

You can have a look at my coke coke Stirling Generators they sound like what you're
looking for:

They are on my site at http://sites.google.com/site/reukpower

I made two one that produces around 25mw and one that produces around 50mw of electricity.
They have displacers made from steel wire wool which work as a regenerator too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-W32_mcNa0&feature=fvsr My Stirling generator


This is a really impressive engine made by approtechie, it's made from a stainless steel water bottle
as the cylinder and can charge a cell phone. Displacer is steel wire wool and aluminium mesh I believe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwrWFb4d ... re=channel

[jimlarsen]

You might find some helpful information at http://StirlingBuilder.com. There are some free designs there using everyday stuff. One is made from items found at a thrift store. Another is made form a paint can. And if you want to go for "heat of the hand" you can always order a copy of the book!

Jim Larsen
StirlingBuilder.com