why couldn't this closed loop work?
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:19 am
I've read with great interest the various points put by other members.
It seems that the biggest problem with a solar Stirling engine is that
A)When the temp differences close up the plant stops working
B)I can produce energy I don't really need in summer but not in winter
These are then my thoughts on a closed loop.
The sun heats water through collecters- the 'Hot' side
An adequetly large enough body of water cools the 'Cold' side
(Swimming pool or natural river etc.
With the enery derived a Stirling engine drives an AC generator
The electricity would be put through a transformer and rectifier to
produce 2V at 200-300 Amperes (sounds scary but its only 600 W)
The current goes through 2 platinum plates immersed in a drain cleaner
solution thus producing hydrogen and oxygen(easy to build and
basically inspection free apart from topping up with water)
The Hydrogen and Oxygen can then be stored until needed( Lots of
clever people working hard on this problem right now - check out the
web)
In winter the resulting stored energy can then be harvested producing
as its exhaust water which is needed anyway to top up the tanks
OK its not the perfect closed loop because the energy comes from the
sun and a couple of drops of water are bound to get lost , but could
it have a chance????
It seems that the biggest problem with a solar Stirling engine is that
A)When the temp differences close up the plant stops working
B)I can produce energy I don't really need in summer but not in winter
These are then my thoughts on a closed loop.
The sun heats water through collecters- the 'Hot' side
An adequetly large enough body of water cools the 'Cold' side
(Swimming pool or natural river etc.
With the enery derived a Stirling engine drives an AC generator
The electricity would be put through a transformer and rectifier to
produce 2V at 200-300 Amperes (sounds scary but its only 600 W)
The current goes through 2 platinum plates immersed in a drain cleaner
solution thus producing hydrogen and oxygen(easy to build and
basically inspection free apart from topping up with water)
The Hydrogen and Oxygen can then be stored until needed( Lots of
clever people working hard on this problem right now - check out the
web)
In winter the resulting stored energy can then be harvested producing
as its exhaust water which is needed anyway to top up the tanks
OK its not the perfect closed loop because the energy comes from the
sun and a couple of drops of water are bound to get lost , but could
it have a chance????