stirling engine
stirling engine
(OP)
We are building a stand to test stirling engines. These engines rely on solar energy being focused on Hydrogen filled tubes to work. The tubes need to be heated to 1600 degrees F. We need to simulate this energy on our test stand. The first option is to use a gas fired burner. This does not seem very efficient. The second option we are looking into is using induction heating.
Does any one out there have any other ideas of how to generate this much heat?
Does any one out there have any other ideas of how to generate this much heat?





RE: stirling engine
Both ends are grounded and the 6 V is connected between ground and mid point. The transformer primary is switched on/off over about a 30 seconds
Roy
RE: stirling engine
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: stirling engine
Surely you are looking at a longer term "save the planet" goal?
If you are really concerned, try a hydrogen torch with the H2 from wind power!
H
RE: stirling engine
RE: stirling engine
RE: stirling engine
Roy- do you have a feel for how consistent the heating is along the length of the tubes?
We current shrink heat shrink tubing over a 3m length of SS stripwound using a 30cm IR tube furnace. It is a long and arduous process for an operator to feed the stripwound through the short furnace. I proposed using a low voltage high current source attached to both ends of the stripwound to heat it up and shrink the tubing over. Only need about 150-220 deg C. Idea didn't get off the ground since no readily available current source on hand but I may get a surplus Xformer now to test the concept.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks
-AK2DM
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"It's the questions that drive us"
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RE: stirling engine
You could then design a "Box" to go around the hot end of the engine, install 80kW of heaters in the box. Then control the temperature using a 3 phase SCR switch controlled using a temperature controller with some kind of temperature sensor for feedback (IR Sensor?)
RE: stirling engine
That would include the absorbance of the tubes as part of the test. Focused quartz-halogen heaters would do it.
RE: stirling engine
Compositepro - I looked into into using IR to heat tubes, manufacuturer could not convince me this is the way to go.
If you look at attached picture the bowl on left is where all hydrogen filled tubes are located. In the field the sunlight is focused on bowl to heat tubes.
Our test stand will be used for endurance testing and for production testing. The heating device needs to be fairly simple to attach.
Thanks
RE: stirling engine
Perhaps a focused high power arc, or a Xenon lamp.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: stirling engine
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: stirling engine
Try these guys:
ht
or
http://www.researchinc.com/infraredbasics.asp
RE: stirling engine
1,600°F is too hot for oil isn't it?, what about molten metal e.g. lead
Could you attach a tank and heat up with an imersion heater? That would let you monitor BTU input.
Perhaps induction heating is the way to go. you could put a HFreq coil right nect to the tubes in a vacuum so you don't have to insulate.
I'm just throwing ideas out there.
Roy
RE: stirling engine
Yes the heating is very even if you get a good contact, just a thought though, could you not do it quicker with hot oil or similar?
Roy
RE: stirling engine
http://www.enerpro-inc.com/index.html
RE: stirling engine
Thanks for the feedback regarding heat distrivution, fluids would leak out of the stripwound and we require cleaniliness of the assembly (medical application).
-AK2DM
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"It's the questions that drive us"
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