Stirlingengineforum.com

I apologize if this has been covered before, google anything with the words Stirling and cool and all you get is using Stirling as cold pumps. A bit annoyed at the amount of research it takes to find any real info on these engines that doesn't pertain to building one out of a soda can.

I am interested in building an alpha type that uses a forced air pellet stove for a burner to produce electricity for an off the grid shop. Solar and all that is great but try running an arc welder off of a home built solar system. Haven't decided how many cylinders yet but maybe 4 to keep it simple on the crank end.

The basic question I am trying to answer is would using the A/C system off of a car net a gain in power or would you just break even because of the power required to run the compressor?
Same question with using a smaller driven Stirling instead of an A/C compressor.

I know this is fairly vague and lacking info specific to my plan, just looking for a general opinion from some experienced builders and maybe some info on whether its been done.
This will be a focal point the engine would be built around so its chickens and eggs at this point.

I plan on building my cold side from a cylinder sleeve from a decent size 6 cylinder like a jeep 4.0. I plan to mount a plate top and bottom and wrap the cylinder in stainless tubing and then a pipe outer sleeve. Then pouring that full of aluminum.

Then its just a matter of piping the freon thru the tubing. I may use a manifold on either side so I can use smaller diameter tubing in separate coils to aid ease of bending the tubing and to get a bit of restriction.

This is the same design I plan to use even if I just go with antifreeze and a radiator.

Thanks.

Sound interesting, but. If you propose to pressurise your motor, I think an automotive engine block may be unsuitable, it would be nice if it was that easy.
I think that the AC pump might take about 1/2 horse power / 375Watts to drive it. Maybe a domestic refrigerator could be adapted, they use about 1/6th hp / 125Watts.
Ian S C

Ian S C wrote:Sound interesting, but. If you propose to pressurise your motor, I think an automotive engine block may be unsuitable, it would be nice if it was that easy.
I think that the AC pump might take about 1/2 horse power / 375Watts to drive it. Maybe a domestic refrigerator could be adapted, they use about 1/6th hp / 125Watts.
Ian S C

Hi Ian,
Refrigerator thats a pretty good idea. I tend to lean toward what I am familiar with so a lot of car parts end up in my projects.
I only plan on using the steel cylinder sleeves, You can get them from performance shops for around $20 each.
I'll cut a press fit hole in some plate steel to mount it in top and bottom.