There are many configurations of stirling engines, one of which
is shown above. The thing that they share in common is their ability
to convert heat energy into motion. The Stirling Engine was invented
in the early 19th Century by Rev Robert Stirling.
In the above displacement engine a heat source is applied where
the red arrow points whilst the fins are cooled. (Blue arrow)
The displacement cylinder (with our website address on) moves back
and forth inside the main cylinder. Air is free to move down the
sides of the cylinder.
With the displacement cylinder to the right, the large volume of
air on the left is heated. As it is heated it expands.
Expansion causes the second sealed piston to move to the right,
this in turn causes the displacement cylinder to move left, forcing
the large volume of air to the right of the cylinder. The air is
now in contact with the cool finned part of the cylinder so contracts.
This in turn pulls the second sealed piston back into the cylinder
and so the cycle continues.
The fabulous movement of the stiling engine is a source of constant
delight to the keen engineer. Amatuer stirling engine makers have
produced machines which will work with a temperature difference
as low as 1°C. Many, many websites have been developed on the
subject, try typing "stirling engine" into google. Here
are a couple of sites you could start by looking at. sesusa.org stirlingengine.com
