Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Stirling Engines

Stirling Engines are a wonderful technology to convert any heat (including waste heat from other processes) to power. They are completely sealed so there is no harmful exhaust and they're very efficient.

They've hit the press a bit lately and the latest news is that the world's largest solar array will use them to convert the gathered heat to power.

If you want to know more, click here for instructions on how to build your own.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

No exhausts? So what is the source of heat in a car engine - all the passengers holding their hands under the cylinder?

Anonymous said...

not only crazy ideas about engines, but you must live in some parallel universe - 3:12am indeed - are you 7hrs ahead or 17h behind/

Glen McGregor said...

There's no exhaust in a Stirling engine. As far as I know, your car won't be powered by one of those. I know mine isn't!

Okay, so if you wanted to run your car with a stirling engine, you'll still need a source of heat, such as burning fuel. I don't think Stirling engines will be useful for all applications.

Anonymous said...

Stirling engines may not be just a fantasy of yours as I have just read about them in The Age Nov 16, Drive p11. Fuelled by metal nanoparticles no less which apparently do not release exhausts- except water.