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I have a difficult situation regarding Sterlings I am attempting to
address.
Assuming a 100K cold side and a 300K hot side

What is the % mechanical energy I might get out of such a situation
(rough estimates are fine)

What % of the energy might go to heating up the cold side (rough
estimates are fine)

What % of the energy would just 'cancel out' within the cylinder

Will all three of these % breakdowns cover 100% all of the energy
involved in the thermal drop from 300K - 100K? Am I missing any
general catagory of energy movement?

How well would these estimates work for a 500k hot side vs a 300k
cold side, fairly well or not at all?

Thank you!

Given a hi temp of 300K and low temp of 100K the Carnot efficiency is given by n = (Th -Tc)/Th or (300 - 100)/300 = 2/3 or .667
This is the maximum possible.

Since this is in a temperature area below ambient the machine would more likely be driven by a motor and used as a refrigerator, removing energy from an insulated cold space and discharging the wast heat to the 300K enviorment with a COP of 1.5 more or less.

The thermal energy input to the hot end, minus the mechanical energy extracted at the shaft MUST equal the thermal energy rejected to the cold sink. In any case the maximum efficiency is the Carnot efficency as shown above.

You might want to study up on Stirling engines, Carnot efficiency, first and second laws of thermodymanics. Wikipedia is a good start. Then use google for more details.

Hi Rhett

Look at:

Simple Performance Prediction Method for Stirling Engine:
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~khirata/acad ... implee.htm

Peter Fette: Stirling Engine Research and Computer (simulation) Programm Development:
http://home.germany.net/101-276996/fette.htm#e