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benefits of using Mercury over gas?

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:08 pm
by richard___5694
I wonder if there would be any benefit to using a liquid like mercury
inside a Stirling engine?

how would it affect,

speed
power production
sealing issues
lubrication

just thinking out loud here.

Response to benefits of using Mercury over gas?

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 3:47 pm
by stan.hornbaker
The low operating temperature would have to be substantially above the boiling point of mercury which is 356.58 deg.C or 672.80 deg.F. This would require much higher high op. temp. for any reasonable power output.

Response to benefits of using Mercury over gas?

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:46 pm
by richard___5694
what about in it's liquid form? too slow?

Response to benefits of using Mercury over gas?

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:04 pm
by ctrl_07
Can you compress Mercury? I'm a Stirling n00bie, but it would seem to me compressability a factor needed for efficiency.

Response to benefits of using Mercury over gas?

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:17 pm
by bptdude___2569

pickinhg Mercury so it would lubricate is letting the tail wag the dog.

but, there is such a thing as Stirling engines that use liquid instead of gas as the working fluid, and yes that does change engine dynamics, such as piston lubrication, I suppose.