What sort of things DO NOT inspire you

Good point! I jumped to the conclusion that engines are always about power out, completely forgetting refrigerators!

Obviously Model Engineering is Freudian. Engines that move the world involve hot, steamy action, whereas the other way round is frigid and no fun at all...

Not that it matters at my age.

What gas were you using? Helium?

JA

Yes, cold end was vacuum contained also at extremely low pressure.

A google for 'stirling cycle efficiency' will leave your head spinning...

In theory a Stirling engine can approach it's Carnot theory limit (based on the temperature difference of the hot and cold ends. Internal combustion can use higher temperatures, but at a much lower Carnot efficiency with all that hot exhaust gas so most industrial Stirling engines are more efficient than most IC engines. They use less fuel but cost more to build... According to wikipedia and some other sources up to a round 100-150kW Stirling engines are cost effective, but unfortunately a much lower power to weight ratio means they are typically suited to fixed installations.

Neil

Your head spin.... No, these are normal thermodynamic performance calculations.

I first met the Stirling cycle in the early 1960s with an article on the Phillips engine in the New Scientist. It struck me as a marvellous engine. However having spent most of my working life with engines I realise why they are only met in niche applications. Some of the reasons you have already alluded to. Other include non-combustion heat sources such as radioactivity.

If I have the time, and will, in the next few days I may sit down and calculate the theoretical performance differences of a model 4 stroke IC and a Stirling engine.

JA

Modern music, or what passes for music.

Modern art: a few years ago, my wife and I visited Chatsworth House and on one of the corridors was an exhibition of painting. It looked just like a child's daubs using different colours. And as for Tracey Emin's unmade bed, well words fail me.

Peter G. Shaw

politicians

sorry I know we shouldn't get political, but, well I do find them uninspiring.

Edited By paul rayner on 23/02/2020 22:17:14

Got to agree with Peter, modern music and art. As for politicians I am lost for printable words.

Just another couple of items that do not inspire me:

Mobile & these so-called smart 'phones. Why do I want to be available to all and sundry 24/7? Having said that, as someone who had a (fortunately) mild heart attack five years ago, I will concede that a basic mobile 'phone could now be a lifesaver if I ever had another attack, especially if the internal address book has been set up with the ICE (1, 2, 3 as necessary) commands. (ICE = In Case of Emergency). However, mine is switched off probably 99% of the time.

The other totally uninspiring item is closely allied to smart 'phones. I refer to things like Reddit, Facebook, etc. Do I really, really need to know the ins & outs of someone elses life? And do I want to tell everyone else my innermost thoughts? Do I heck!

After all, how did we manage 30 or more years ago? A trip out from the office meant peace & quiet with no-one contacting you to either ask inane questions, or worse, keeping you abreast of office gossip. I suppose FOMO accounts for a lot of it, but not for me - I really do not care if I miss out!. (FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out)

Peter G. Shaw

Mobile 'phones.

Tattoos

Idiot 'personality' celebs with no apparent talents or skills.

Mind you, they managed to *inspire* me to bother to write that...

Edited By Mick B1 on 25/02/2020 15:06:30

Yes - I can not see the point in ‘body art’ on the basis my human frame is deteriorating quickly enough with old age without having tattoos making it look worse! Who or what designed the human body did in my option a pretty good job without embroilIng it with what ever someone thinks that ‘it looks good”! 😋

(yes I know - I’m an ‘old git’🤭

Sunday cyclists blocking the road.

Potholes.

People who leave the lift after letting one go.!

As a cyclist I can vouch that the combination of potholes and impatient drivers is extremely uninspiring.

As a cyclist (not usually Sunday as there are too many weekend warriors winding motorists up) and the driver of one of those horrible 4x4 Land Rover things I should be hated by everyone. Maybe a caravan would help spread the love .

Bet you look great in Lyrca too

You could always pop one of these Stirling’s in your car.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 25/02/2020 21:45:24

people who tell you that you have to manufacture a gap when silver soldering...absolute cods!! last thing you ever want to do".......and I should know

People saying "invite" when they mean "invitation", and "could of" when they mean "could have", and "off of" when "off is all that is required