Bzzzzt!

The 'Stirling Cycle' is not and does not represent an
'energy source' - a fuel - in the spirit of what I was
getting at in my previous post Russ old boy!

It *is* in the category of an 'energy consumer' (vs. producer)
or "converter" in the way that a better or improved 'lamp or
motor' (chemical or electrical energy to light or motion as
applicable) would be.

In fact, it looks as if the Stirling (which I recall reading
that Ford Motor was interested in PM or PS magazine some
twenty plus years ago!) engine is a step *back* in technology.
It looks to be a variation of the "basic steam cycle" (and
steam "cars" predate internal combustion engines by quite
a margin).

Recall also that Chrysler experimented with TURBINES (internal
or external combustion?) too, back some twenty years ago. That,
IMO would represent a step forward in technology. An improved
"closed steam cycle" however, seems to be improvement on an old
idea.

RF Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell McMahon" <apptech@PARADISE.NET.NZ>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: [OT]: Hydrogen Powered Car; Evolution of 'energy'


> > Invent a better energy-generating 'mousetrap' and the
> > dollars or Euros currently spends on present forms of
> > energy will happily and **most willingly** flow *your*
> > direction!
>
> The Stirling Cycle thermal to mechanical energy converters aka Stirling
> Engines are one such.
> Arguably "the" such.
> Philips estimated that it would take (if I recall aright) 60 Billion $US
to
> get it right. And that it would have a pay back time of under 6 months
> (mainly due to savings relative to oil based fuels). Apparently nobody has
a
> spare $US60B to double this year :-)
>
> The SE is based on the Carnot cycle which is the most efficient
> thermodynamic cycle possible. Actual implementations of SE's are not
> necessarily the most efficient possible and eg a good Diesel will beat a
bad
> Stirling. The major advantage of the SE is that it is "external
> combustion" - it uses heat from a source external to the engine. Therefore
> it can conceptually use any heat source including hydrocarbon, gas, wood,
> coal, geo-thermal, nuclear, solar, yak dung etc. Even Hydrogen :-) A large
> demonstration SE was built to run on burning rice husks (a waste product
> with little other use). .
>
> THE problem that has to be solved for the SE to be commercialised is how
to
> reliably and economically seal engine internal pressures around 3000 psi /
> 20 MPa at elevated temperatures.
>
>
>
>
>         Russell McMahon

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