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Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 2:30 pm
by amharp
Hello!
I'm fairly new to sterling engines and am currently working on a University research project in which we would like to purchase a sterling enginer for our prototype. Our current specifications require a 1.5kW to 7kW output power due to sizing. We would also like if the output of the Stilir can be coupled shaft-to-shaft directly to a pump (i.e. the engine runs the pump) but is not vital to the prototype.
I have scoured web and have found a few solutions which would work with some modifications. I would like to get this forum members' insight on available technologies that come to mind which fit this criteria.
Thanks! :)
Aaron Harp
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 4:35 pm
by Tom Booth
I don't know of much of anything in that power range, and I've been looking for years. "Startups" seem to pop up from time to time but don't seem to ever market a product.
If you have found anything available for purchase, I'd be interested to know about it myself.
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Mon May 30, 2022 11:17 am
by staska
Hi. Where are you based ?
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Mon May 30, 2022 8:49 pm
by amharp
staska wrote: ↑Mon May 30, 2022 11:17 am
Hi. Where are you based ?
Hi! I'm based out the Midwest USA
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:03 pm
by yellow88fiero
I found one on craigslist from a guy who use to work at a local university a few years back and purchased it.
I had lots of plans, but ultimately haven't done anything with it. I will see if I can get recent pictures of it and post them here and see if anyone is interested in it.
I do know it is a 3KW, that looks like it was made for Solar concentration to run it. It has a ton of temperature sensors as I believe this was one being used for testing. It is probably about 250lbs, it is mounted on a steel frame which lifts it up off the ground about 2-3 feet high. I just know it keeps getting in the way in my shop and everytime I need to move it I wonder why I still have it.
Maybe a good university project would do it well. If nothing else, maybe someone on here can let me know what I have. I'll post pictures later this week when I am back in my shop.
I am in the Colorado area.
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:42 pm
by yellow88fiero
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:00 am
by Tom Booth
It looks similar to, but a little different from, one I saw for sale on Ebay back in January

- infiniastieling.jpg (19.92 KiB) Viewed 21599 times
That one I believe was an Infinia model.
Tragically, IMO, most of these engines ended up being sold to China as scrap.
The ones pictured here were 3kw each
https://youtu.be/rPc0GIQ8djI
The company(ies)? went bankrupt, the units sold off, but curiously, without the "intellectual property" instruction manuals etc. needed to operate them.
https://www.evwind.es/2012/04/09/solar- ... oned/17657
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:34 am
by yellow88fiero
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the information. I did see that engine you referenced in another post and thought it did look similar to the one I have, just since mine is 3KW thought they may have done a smaller version. Glad to see the Infinia video you posted and clearly stated the 3KW model. I actually have some parts of the plastic housing surrounding the engine and the metal to connect it to a solar dish array as well. I never went very far in figuring out how it would connect, but will take pictures of all of it and post it in a few days.
I would imagine reading the article below that some Universities probably wound up with a few of these and I wound up being a lucky recipient of one.
Thanks.
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2022 1:24 pm
by Tom Booth
Yes, they seem to be an extreme rarity. Millions of dollars of government and investors R&D to produce. The technology demonstrated and proven over and over. NASA has a few test models they've been operating continuously for over 10 years without maintenance and "no signs of degradation"
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2020 ... -milestone
About to supplant Fossil fuels, ready for deployment around the world.
https://youtu.be/jbTzggahK9w
Suddenly it doesn't work any more and it's all sold off as scrap because, some train conductor passing through the desert might get a glint if sun reflected in his eyes or some BS.
Re: Purchasing a Sterling Engine
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 2:13 pm
by yellow88fiero
I am posting another thread with all the pictures. If anyone has questions please follow up there.