Stirling 1
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 10:32 am
Hello,
I hope you will not mind mw posting a question not related to one of
your own designs. I have not found any other forum dealing only in
Stirling engines.
I have made the single piston Stirling engine as described in the book
"Building Stirling One - A One Piston Hot Air Engine" by E.T.
Warbrooke. This is quite an unusual engine in that it does not have a
displacer piston.
I have slightly modified the design ) by using a test tube for the
heater tube and a graphite piston. Needless to say my engine will not
run (
I have tested the joint between the heater tube and power cylinder
under water and am 100% sure that this does not leak (it is sealed
with an O-ring).
When fully assembled, the piston seems to have a good bounce when the
flywheel is spun by hand. However, I did also tested the piston
cylinder seal under water and there was a little air leaking out under
compression. At this point I would like to point out that I am rather
new to ME, so I am assuming that my manufacturing skills are at fault.
Hence I am currently re-making the cylinder and piston assembly to see
if I can make a piston / cylinder with better sealing.
This type of engine being without a displacer, does anyone have any
information as to any "magic" dimensions for this type of engine. My
heater tube is slightly longer than than described in the design, but
I would not have thought that this would have made so much difference
that the engine would not run.
Finally, there is no information in the book as to what the position
the piston should be at when the engine is assembled. Does this not
make a difference ? I would have thought that it would because it
increase the amount of air in the engine when at rest. Also, how long
should such an engine take to "warm up" before a flick of the flywheel
will usher it into life (also not included in the book) ?
Sorry for so many questions !
Any information would be greatfully recieved.
Many thanks
Ian
I hope you will not mind mw posting a question not related to one of
your own designs. I have not found any other forum dealing only in
Stirling engines.
I have made the single piston Stirling engine as described in the book
"Building Stirling One - A One Piston Hot Air Engine" by E.T.
Warbrooke. This is quite an unusual engine in that it does not have a
displacer piston.
I have slightly modified the design ) by using a test tube for the
heater tube and a graphite piston. Needless to say my engine will not
run (
I have tested the joint between the heater tube and power cylinder
under water and am 100% sure that this does not leak (it is sealed
with an O-ring).
When fully assembled, the piston seems to have a good bounce when the
flywheel is spun by hand. However, I did also tested the piston
cylinder seal under water and there was a little air leaking out under
compression. At this point I would like to point out that I am rather
new to ME, so I am assuming that my manufacturing skills are at fault.
Hence I am currently re-making the cylinder and piston assembly to see
if I can make a piston / cylinder with better sealing.
This type of engine being without a displacer, does anyone have any
information as to any "magic" dimensions for this type of engine. My
heater tube is slightly longer than than described in the design, but
I would not have thought that this would have made so much difference
that the engine would not run.
Finally, there is no information in the book as to what the position
the piston should be at when the engine is assembled. Does this not
make a difference ? I would have thought that it would because it
increase the amount of air in the engine when at rest. Also, how long
should such an engine take to "warm up" before a flick of the flywheel
will usher it into life (also not included in the book) ?
Sorry for so many questions !
Any information would be greatfully recieved.
Many thanks
Ian