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Solar hot water heater + Stirling engine

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:35 am
by cglasier
its not uncommon for a solar hotwater heater to produce more heat then
needed in the summer months. I'd like to redirect this excess heat to
a Stirling engine/generator in a grid-tie system. Any ideas on this,
any idea how i could get a hold of a couple hp Stirling engine at a
reasonable cost to test my idea

Response to Solar hot water heater + Stirling engine

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:42 am
by gj.mk.crane
I have the same idea, looking at using 120 evacuated tubes for winter time house heating but what to do with the heat over summer.
It seems stupid to cover them in a pvc tube to prevent sun exposure in the summer.
I can boil water with 40 tubes in 315 litre hot water service so by mid morning water would be very hot.
Cylinders could have hot water Jacket and cold water jacket and hot water is pumped through, and goes around in a circuit.
This could run a generator or air con.

Response to Solar hot water heater + Stirling engine

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:07 pm
by shaneripka
I would like to try the same sort of thing. Maybe even use the ground to cool the other side. Even if it wouldnt produce enough to do a grid tie in, but even enough to charge batteries, or run a small a/c unit would sufice. Anything to make use of the heat that could be produced.