Stirling engine bits

Hello,

I would like to build a hot air / Stirling engine of the beta type: one cylinder with a loose fitting displacer. Doing a fair bit of googling these seem to be only available as a kit of parts or fully built models, whereas I intend to machine all the parts myself - except of course the glass cylinder.

So my questions are:

1. Does anyone know of simple (& cheap / free) design with plans for a hot air engine of this type? I have a lathe with a milling & flycutting attachment but would prefer mostly turning operations.

2. Where can I source the glass cylinder? Or would a test tube off eBay work just as well?

Thanks

Thomas

Hi Thomas, welcome to Stirling Engines, The main reason for using glass for cylinders is so you can see the bits moving. It is much easier to make a steel cylinder, and use a cast iron piston, and if possible use a stainless steel hot cap at the hot end. My first BETA motor is based on Dyna, a design by James G. Rizzo in his book "The Stirling Engine Manual" vol 1. depending on which part of the planet you live, you should be able to find a copy in your local library, or they might be able to get a copy. There is also vol 2, both well worth looking at, but quite expensive. One book that is available free to down load is Andy Ross's book "Making Stirling Engines" no plans, but lots of info.

For plans on the web, look up Koichi Hirata, he is Japanese, but most, if not all his stuff is in English. He uses glass syringes quite a bit in his motors, along with test tubes for hot caps, and displacers. these are motors that his students build in class at his university.

As long as the ratios for volume of the hot and cold parts is kept, and sensible design is used, there is a good amount of freedom allowed in building these motors to suit the materials available.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 17/07/2014 15:05:35

Hi Thomas , Look at " MYFORDBOY BLOG" .Lots of info on building hot air engines out of scraps!!!!

Good luck Maurice.

Here's my version of Dyna, designed by James G. Rizzo, it was built in 1994, and has been run for over 1000 hours. The power cylinder is made from a bit of water pipe bored out to 1 3/4", and has a cast iron piston, it drives a generator made from a small DC motor, this runs a radio, and a small computer fan on the radiator, or the generator can be removed, and a small power hacksaw fitted(junior hacksaw blade). Ian S C

Hi Thomas

Also consider getting this book. It is very useful:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stirling-Hot-Air-Engines-Experimental/dp/186126688X

The main author of the book is Roy Darlington - well known and well respected in the Stirling brigade.

Ketan at ARC.

Try this site Thomas.:- **LINK**

Regards Ian.

If you still want to use a glass cylinder and piston, have a look at eBay 310970428925.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Thanks chaps, they all look good. Watch this space!

Ian - Yep, that's the idea, I like the way you can see the displacer in the glas.

Circlip - Thanks, that's a cool website. Those models are the kind of thing I am looking for, they are so elegant.

Cheers

Thomas

This site may be of interest:

**LINK**

Also a lot of stuff on here, in German, but many pics. and interesting you tube links. Just have to keep poking about in there.

http://www.modell-dampf-forum.info/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=250

[ Some pics don't seem to open by left clicking but a right click and 'open link' option does. Dunno why .. ]

Dave [ yet another ]

Edited By Dave Daniels on 20/07/2014 15:57:37

Edited By Dave Daniels on 20/07/2014 15:59:15

dave, The first web site above is great, if anyone wants to build a motor they would not go wrong if they follow that. Here is another BETA motor, this one with an enclosed crankshaft, I was going to pressurise it, but never got round to it, it has the same crank as Dyna, but a bore of 1.25" Ian S C