Compression heat to power a stirling engine 1

[Sarel de Waal]

Good day, I am an IT engineer in Namibia, but I am very interested in alternative energy solutions. I have done a bit of research regarding stirling engines, for me it looks to be a good alternative for energy production. I am not sure if this is the correct forum to discuss this, it would be great if anyone can point me to the correct person / organization to discuss in full detail and to develop a viable solution.

The drawbacks though are the fuel sources, you are still limited to fossil fuels and energy sources that are not permanent. I was thinking about the possibility to produce heat for the stirling engine with a high compression piston. I have read about diesel engines and how high compression pistons work. It looks to be that the heat created by compressing the air would be sufficient to heat up the stirling engine.

If it would be possible to channel the heated air through the exit valve of the piton directly to the stirling it would run? This way the stirling is not drawing any energy direct from the source, but rather using the energy released. In turn the stirling running on the same cam shaft as the high compression piston will provide the power needed for the high compression piston to keep on running.

Yes you would need a starting system to enable the machine to run long enough to heat up the stirling, but from there it should run by itself. I am looking to get in touch with interested parties to develop such a solution.

Your comments and advice will be appreciated.

Sarel.

 

[racookpe1978]

No.

Your proposed system resembles a perpetual-motion machine because it requires more energy to compress the gas than can be released from the Sterling engine from that compression.

 

[MintJulep]

It does not resemble perpetual motion, it is a description of perpetual motion.

As such it fails on first principles.

 

[Sarel de Waal]

As with a 1 cylinder lister engine the energy stored in the flywheel, it provides enough energy for the compression cycle. So should you have an effective stirling engine combined with the correct flywheel, should it not provide the energy needed to compress the air?

 

[LittleInch]

Sarel,

Sadly in this life and universe, you can't get something (energy out from the engine) for nothing ( no energy source). This is even more fantastic than a perpetual motion machine which simply keeps going round for ever without stopping

I can only suggest you read something like this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine

It has options for use of heat from e.g. solar array.

A key element is that it needs v high temperatures to work efficiently, at best is only 50% efficient (better than IC engine) and therefore needs constant energy source to work.

All the units need heat dissipation to work to cool the hot gas and hence this heat needs to be replaced.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[Panther140]

The amount of energy required to compress the air is greater than the amount of energy that will be converted into torque. It doesn't matter what kind of flywheel you put on it. To give you a general understanding of this concept: You could have 100 units of energy stored in the form of a revolving flywheel coupled to the engine's crankshaft. Each compression stroke will draw 10 units of energy from the flywheel. When the piston goes on its power stroke, only 5 units of energy will be turned into torque. The system loses energy with every cycle.

"Formal education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." ~ Joseph Stalin

 

[romke]

apart from what already is mentioned there is one other thing to consider. stirling engines are not very good at coping with constantly changing loads, they cannot immediately adjust to changes as required. that is the reason that development for automotive applications has stopped, they may be suitable for applications with more or less constant loads where they shine with their high efficiency.

 

[IRstuff]

I suggest that you review the laws of thermodynamics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics,

particularly the second one.

No one in over 200 years has been able to break them. You are not going to be the first.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

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[MortenA]

Sarel,

Actually your heat could come from any heat source. I would say that the big advantages would be that e.g. fire wood could be used and still achieve a high efficiency. Actually solar heat could be used too.

Best regards, Morten