Page 1 of 1

The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:39 am
by Aviator168
http://books.google.com/books?id=RN4_jL ... &q&f=false

Can anyone see what type this is? I cannot make it out.

EDIT. It would be nice to get some spec of the engine. Such as bore and stroke, heat exchange tube area, and power output.

EDIT. This engine is mentioned in http://www.scribd.com/doc/20191898/Stir ... ign-Manual book.

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:14 pm
by Aviator168
Ah. Got it. It is double acting alpha type and each piston is 90 degree out of phase with the next. What through me off is that they use a separate drum (looks like a cylinder) to house the regenerator and is being used as the cold exchanger.

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:06 pm
by vile_fly
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi. ... 002196.pdf

Here's the MOD II research paper. I had posted this link in our "links" area, but I have not seen the popular science report before.
I wish that I could have driven that car. Would have been fun.

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:38 pm
by Aviator168
NASA's Stirling engine prototype. Amazing. The larger engine delivers 170hp while the smaller one still put out a respectable 84hp. If they weren't filled with hydrogen, we all be driving Stirling cars now.

http://green.autoblog.com/photos/nasa-a ... s/#2132038

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:11 pm
by Aviator168
They even put that engine in a Dodge too.
Image

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:31 am
by Aviator168
vile_fly wrote:http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi. ... 002196.pdf

Here's the MOD II research paper. I had posted this link in our "links" area, but I have not seen the popular science report before.
I wish that I could have driven that car. Would have been fun.
Thanks. That's great information. I would like to know the length, OD, ID of the heating tubes.

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:29 pm
by Aviator168
Large number of photo regarding this engine. Just go down to the middle of the page.

http://grcimagenet.grc.nasa.gov/share/s ... &TXTTITLE=

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:45 am
by Ferraccio
The main problem is that this engine needs an Hybrid sistem of propulsion for a car, is not a true problem for hydrogen, or better (also for a bit smaller power). for helium (inert gas...).
The engine has to be closed in pressurized shell, with only electr. conductor wire outcoming, needs an accumulator of energy outside (the engine do not support quick and large variation of power); and also electrical motors to weels.
Some weigh.., may be good for a bus...

Re: The stirling engine that powered a car.

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:36 am
by Ferraccio
I note that the regenerator and cooling are close, but they are effectively separated by a diaphragm of an insulating material which separates the hot part to cold, the horizontal diaphragm can be seen perfectly in the middle of the engine (see open section), this limites one of the main problems of the engine at high efficiency: the passage of the parasite heat from the hot to cold.