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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by ROB25038072 on December 03, 2025, 01:44:40 am »
You didn’t mess about with the procurement phase!
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by CG on December 01, 2025, 04:43:55 pm »
Parts acquired. Hope I have the other ingredient (Time).
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by ROB25038072 on December 01, 2025, 03:56:24 pm »
Quote from: CG on December 01, 2025, 07:48:49 am
It will be small, just to prove a theory. I'm going to play with the position of the stack to see if I can improve on other models I've seen. Then we'll see what's next. At the same time I may throw together a Sharp V blade turbine.

That’s what it’s all about - trying to improve what’s gone before. After all, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by CG on December 01, 2025, 07:48:49 am »
It will be small, just to prove a theory. I'm going to play with the position of the stack to see if I can improve on other models I've seen. Then we'll see what's next. At the same time I may throw together a Sharp V blade turbine.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by fluitc on November 30, 2025, 09:31:37 pm »
For any heat engine design the maximum efficiency depends on the difference in temperature of the hot and cold sides.  They higher the temperature difference the higher the energy efficiency.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/carnot-efficiency

Unless the gas inside a Stirling engine is highly compressed it take a very large engine to produce one horsepower.     
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by ROB25038072 on November 30, 2025, 12:00:12 pm »
Are we talking desk top scale or a back yard project?

I’ve not seriously considered building a hot air engine but it’s something I would like to do in the future. What I like is that the tolerance needn’t be too tight so no need for high precision turning etc.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by CG on November 28, 2025, 05:23:32 pm »
I'm in the process of designing an LTD, THERMAL ACOUSTIC, ENGINE .
I had one working some years ago and I've got some new ideas for the next one.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by ROB25038072 on November 27, 2025, 11:17:45 am »
Quote from: CG on November 27, 2025, 10:01:24 am
If you watched RMS  version of the Rice engine with gravel, I improved it a lot by using acetone in it instead of water. It almost was an LTD Stirling engine. Basically a thermo acoustic engine.
I just have an aversion to rubber balloon as the piston. Would like to try an actual piston and flywheel.

I missed that one but I’ll have look. This chap down in Cornwall seems to make a pretty good job of DIY sterling engines https://youtube.com/@shanepomeroy?si=7mGlljXL5mj2lKpe although they tend to be wood fired.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by CG on November 27, 2025, 10:01:24 am »
If you watched RMS  version of the Rice engine with gravel, I improved it a lot by using acetone in it instead of water. It almost was an LTD Stirling engine. Basically a thermo acoustic engine.
I just have an aversion to rubber balloon as the piston. Would like to try an actual piston and flywheel.
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Heat Engines / Re: Solar generator works day and night
« Last post by ROB25038072 on November 27, 2025, 09:39:10 am »
I think your biggest challenge is convincing your good lady wife to let you build it!

I know that for me, I will have already lost that discussion and we’re not even married yet. We are engaged now though, I propose earlier this month.
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