Be careful to read closely what the claims of the manufacturer are: "Not only is the engine quiet, it is also extremely efficient as the system is designed to enable the heat from the engine to heat water and supply space heating. This enables the WhisperGen to utilise more than 90% of the potential chemical energy of fuel consumed." The carnot efficiency of the heat engine is probably around 30%, but the exhaust temperature is plenty hot to run through a heat exchanger, etc. This way they can extract more useable energy per given pound of fuel. On a side note, this is why it would be "better" to have electric cars. The electricity of course comes from fossil fuels, so why not just burn it directly? Because the power plants do all sorts of things with the exhaust temperature gases to extract more usable energy per pound of fuel than an automobile engine can. Enough, apparently, to offset power transmission losses and the host of other efficiency problems with electric vehicles. 90% still seems pretty high though... > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dominic Stratten" > > Taht's all bullshit... NO heat - force coupling engine can reach more > > efficiency than 30%... May be they meant 90% of this maximum 30% > > > > At last, no fuel burning engine can be the energy generator of the future! > > > > > I do not belive the 90 percent efficiency claimed by them. It cannot be > > > that good, due to the fact that there has to be major leakage (heat) > > > between the hot side and the cold side of the piston. Even if the > 'block' > > > is plastic, there will still be a major heat loss. A burner (heat > source) > > > can be 90 percent efficient, but any moving parts are going to shoot > their > > > claimed efficiency specs down. If the efficiency was that good, they > would > > > be all over the place, especially in off the grid and isolated > locations. > > > > > > Heat (as a byproduct) can be used to make cold air as well-so the unit > > > could heat in winter and cool in summer. > > > > > > Flame suit on, fire away. > > > > > > Art > > > > > > At 04:34 PM 4/6/04, you wrote: > > > >http://www.whispergen.com/ > > > >Trials appear to be underway but I haven'r heard much about them for a > > > > year or so. > > > >Richard P > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Do you have som epointer for more info about "Whispergen"? > > > > > > > >/Ake > > > > > > > >-----Ursprungligt meddelande----- > > > >Fren: pic microcontroller discussion list > > > >[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]Fvr Richard.Prosser@POWERWARE.COM > > > >Skickat: den 6 april 2004 22:07 > > > >Till: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > > > >Dmne: [OT:] Superb low temperature differential Stirling Engine > > > > > > > > > > > >[Topic Added] > > > >I think this is the philosophy behind the "Whispergen" stirling > > > >engines. - > > > >Electricity is produced as a by-product of home heating. > > > >RP > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Sorry 137 KWh a day is the correct value. > > > > > > > >-----Ursprungligt meddelande----- > > > >Fren: pic microcontroller discussion list > > > >[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]Fvr Ake Hedman > > > >Skickat: den 6 april 2004 11:02 > > > >Till: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > > > >Dmne: SV: SV: ] Superb low temperature differential Stirling Engine > > > > > > > > > > > >But if you use a higher temp difference. > > > > > > > >In my case I warm the house with pellets and say I have a stirling > > > >engine in a pre stage to my heater. pellets burn with a temp around > 1200 > > > >C > > > > > > > >1200 + 273 - 300 / 1475 = 79% 1/3 => 27% This goes to the electric > > > >generator. > > > > > > > >I guess the losses are in heat so it can be used it to warm the house. > > > > > > > >I use about 1000 kg of pellets a week for warming in the winter ( big > > > >house ). The total energy used a day is thus 1000 * 4.8kWh = 4800 KWh > > > >Say I have 20% efficiency for the electivity generator I can take out > > > >960 KWh a day in electric energy!!! and have the rest left to warm the > > > >house. > > > > > > > >Do I have a fault in my thinking here? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >-- > > > >http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > > > >[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > > > > > >-- > > > >http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > > > >[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >-- > > > >http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > > > >[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > > > > > > -- > > > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > > > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! 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