Food for thought - if you put repulsing magnets in the piston and displacer & turn the engine upside down to have the piston on the hot side you get much better efficiency due to the 'spring' effect of repulsing magnets. You can even put a third repulsing magnet on the top (cold surface) to 'push' the displacer back down to make the return quicker. Also, by being upside down you should solve the problem of the sinking piston.
I played with the same idea but realised the main problem is that the bigger the gap that the displacer has to jump to reach the piston, the stonger the magnet needed,& the stronger the magnet the more force required for the piston to escape the displacer once the two are together. Also that this energy is not returned to the system very effectively when the displacer is dropped - the piston jumps up thus decreasing pressure a little later.. tbc..
Another great and innovative design exploration. Whether most engines without regenerator are properly called Stirling engines is debatable. But this is certainly a closed cycle hot air engine.
I think your doubt about forced compression and expansion is more a matter of degree than anything else. There is a little of each, but the engine isn't running fast enough to create enough mechanical lag, where compression effects would be more noticeable.
The time has come for Free energy to be revealed ,But a few ppl make too many billions from our energy needs to let this technology be known,Find a motor that needs no fuel or input at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,take part in the revolution!
If you want to seal that piston try something I discovered by trial and error...Lubricate it with BABY POWDER,,, It works great and lubs better than any oil..Mine had .002 clearance between the cylinder and piston .When I added baby powder, there was no visible side shake and the piston took a long time to sink.....Just try it.
Free energy technology exists!But some very powerfull ppl don't want you and me to be free from energy costs,Find the real deal, a free energy device at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,Join the energy revolution!
Free Energy is real and its here! The Oil companies are doing everything in their power to stop these information. If you want a Free energy machine do a search in youtube for the LT MAGNET MOTOR , Join the revolution!
Nice idea but the magnets are essentially disrupting the whole cycle, which as you rightly note effectively eliminates the compression stage. As a result both efficiency and power density will be drastically reduced.
Having said that you might sill get a tiny amount of compression at the very end of its stroke as the power piston accelerates towards the displacer via the magnetic attraction. Though of no practical benefit you can use this argument to keep your sterling engine status.:)
Thank you for the reply, Geoff. Upon reflection, I realize that while sealing the displacer cylinder is OK, the piston would be working against a vacuum (not good), so I guess a better answer is some sort of diaphragm or a ferromagnetic oil to seal the piston. Both suggested by other commenters.
I must add that the ability for us "tinkerers" to exchange ideas with video is unbelievably powerful. Looking at all the different tweaks people have thought up is amazing....thanks again.
I was also wondering how much heat was applied to start the engine. I am fascinated by this design because, if I understand it correctly, the magnetic attraction moves the displacer and the air displaced by that movement breaks the magnetic coupling. Love it.
@123MCQ123 Hi.Thanks for the comments.Not much heat was applied to get it going-certainly the bottom could be touched without being uncomfortable.You're right on the principle of operation.Two flaws with this engine though.1. The displacer falls under gravity which does not allow high speed operation & 2. the piston loses air past it so it gradually sinks. A completely sealed vessel would be good, though I suspect that driving piston & displacer both directions would be better. Cheers.Geoff.
First of all, I'd just like to say flowerbower's a douche.
I stumbled on your video because I had the idea that I could magnetically couple the connecting rods to the piston and displacer, because if I could, I could completely seal the cylinders. Your configuration never occurred to me. I think it's brilliant.
Anyway, if you sealed the top of the piston, couldn't you use magnetic replusion to drive a push rod?
Since you have a magnate on the piston, use ferrofluid as a seal. It will seal air tight, keep moisture out, and self-center your piston in its cylinder.
You can make your own ferrofluid by putting laser jet printer toner into a detergent motor oil.
That stirling sngines are not efficient would be due to the availability of cheap fuel. When the fuel is gone, believe me stirling engines will be considered very efficient.
well, i dont know about that person down the page, but i think that this is a preatty cool engine, thank you for taking the time to write the "more info" page of i would have been very confused. great project, thank you for posting.
Thanks for the comment - you have an excellent point which I had not considered. This would definitely solve the leakage problem. I feel a Version 1.1 coming on! Cheers.
It is a pity that you cannot thank the inventor, but he died 130 years ago.
BTW, one cannot make a 'contribution to science' by modifying well-known machines or by exploiting well-known phenomena: one can only make a 'contribution to technology' in those ways.
This is video is intended to start some discussion, maybe progress the idea and even encourage someone to have a go at building one who may not have done so otherwise. It's a bit of fun too.
When someone comments "Thankyou for contributing to science" I am just pleased that they have taken the time to watch.
I thought that my point was clear: it is not science. It is, at best, out-of-date technology. The Stirling engine (aka the external combustion engine) has made no real progress in the last 100 years, and nothing is likely to change now.
They never listen: too many engineers and not enough scientists! I (and many others) told them that the Podkletnov effect did not exist. After wasting millions of dollars on trying to reproduce it, they finally agreed.
Some people just have 'more money than sense'. And, if you are a US taxpayer, it is probably YOUR money! As when the CIA wasted millions on 'psychic warfare'.
Bugger! My next project was going to be an anti gravity engine! Ah well.
Btw, if you want more scientists then education is the key. And I firmly believe that practical demonstrations of known principles help that process. You say "out-of-date technology". I say it's part of a good physics foundation for up-and-coming scientists.
Antigravity? Pretty much already 'sewn up' IF you believe Youtube clips! ;-)
Education is the answer, but it has to be done properly. Elementary-level science is often taught by people with no scientific qualification, or even by people who are antagonistic towards science. One survey showed that over 80% of primary-school teachers could not explain the seasons properly!
Even age-old technology is routinely garbled explanation-wise; the siphon, for instance.
I was looking for something else recently, and came upon an old (1960s) cutting from a science magazine. The article was all about how the Stirling engine was the next 'big thing'.
Very impressive
It will be use for a new Stirling engine using MHD ! A pulsating ideal Stirling engine cycle type ringbom ....
SWINGREGORY 8 months ago
.. than you'd want it in an ideal cycle.
Food for thought - if you put repulsing magnets in the piston and displacer & turn the engine upside down to have the piston on the hot side you get much better efficiency due to the 'spring' effect of repulsing magnets. You can even put a third repulsing magnet on the top (cold surface) to 'push' the displacer back down to make the return quicker. Also, by being upside down you should solve the problem of the sinking piston.
Again, lovely work.
1975Ewan 9 months ago
Hey Mr.Doom,lovely engine and very cleanly made.
I played with the same idea but realised the main problem is that the bigger the gap that the displacer has to jump to reach the piston, the stonger the magnet needed,& the stronger the magnet the more force required for the piston to escape the displacer once the two are together. Also that this energy is not returned to the system very effectively when the displacer is dropped - the piston jumps up thus decreasing pressure a little later.. tbc..
1975Ewan 9 months ago
Another great and innovative design exploration. Whether most engines without regenerator are properly called Stirling engines is debatable. But this is certainly a closed cycle hot air engine.
I think your doubt about forced compression and expansion is more a matter of degree than anything else. There is a little of each, but the engine isn't running fast enough to create enough mechanical lag, where compression effects would be more noticeable.
Wonderful watching your progress.
teslstirlputt 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
The time has come for Free energy to be revealed ,But a few ppl make too many billions from our energy needs to let this technology be known,Find a motor that needs no fuel or input at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,take part in the revolution!
lavernedi 1 year ago
If you want to seal that piston try something I discovered by trial and error...Lubricate it with BABY POWDER,,, It works great and lubs better than any oil..Mine had .002 clearance between the cylinder and piston .When I added baby powder, there was no visible side shake and the piston took a long time to sink.....Just try it.
keithecampbell1 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Free energy technology exists!But some very powerfull ppl don't want you and me to be free from energy costs,Find the real deal, a free energy device at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,Join the energy revolution!
polysemousncrk 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Free Energy is real and its here! The Oil companies are doing everything in their power to stop these
information. If you want a Free energy machine do a search in youtube for the LT MAGNET MOTOR , Join the
revolution!
hungarylnnjsd 1 year ago
Free Energy is real and its here! The Oil companies are doing everything in their power to stop these information. If you want a Free energy machine do a search in youtube for the LT MAGNET MOTOR , Join the revolution!
transfusablepng 1 year ago
Nice idea but the magnets are essentially disrupting the whole cycle, which as you rightly note effectively eliminates the compression stage. As a result both efficiency and power density will be drastically reduced.
Having said that you might sill get a tiny amount of compression at the very end of its stroke as the power piston accelerates towards the displacer via the magnetic attraction. Though of no practical benefit you can use this argument to keep your sterling engine status.:)
Idiotsmakemesad 1 year ago
Thank you for the reply, Geoff. Upon reflection, I realize that while sealing the displacer cylinder is OK, the piston would be working against a vacuum (not good), so I guess a better answer is some sort of diaphragm or a ferromagnetic oil to seal the piston. Both suggested by other commenters.
I must add that the ability for us "tinkerers" to exchange ideas with video is unbelievably powerful. Looking at all the different tweaks people have thought up is amazing....thanks again.
123MCQ123 1 year ago
Of course, I meant seal the cylinder top....
I was also wondering how much heat was applied to start the engine. I am fascinated by this design because, if I understand it correctly, the magnetic attraction moves the displacer and the air displaced by that movement breaks the magnetic coupling. Love it.
I really think you're on to something here.
123MCQ123 1 year ago
@123MCQ123 Hi.Thanks for the comments.Not much heat was applied to get it going-certainly the bottom could be touched without being uncomfortable.You're right on the principle of operation.Two flaws with this engine though.1. The displacer falls under gravity which does not allow high speed operation & 2. the piston loses air past it so it gradually sinks. A completely sealed vessel would be good, though I suspect that driving piston & displacer both directions would be better. Cheers.Geoff.
mowerofdoom 1 year ago
First of all, I'd just like to say flowerbower's a douche.
I stumbled on your video because I had the idea that I could magnetically couple the connecting rods to the piston and displacer, because if I could, I could completely seal the cylinders. Your configuration never occurred to me. I think it's brilliant.
Anyway, if you sealed the top of the piston, couldn't you use magnetic replusion to drive a push rod?
123MCQ123 1 year ago
Since you have a magnate on the piston, use ferrofluid as a seal. It will seal air tight, keep moisture out, and self-center your piston in its cylinder.
You can make your own ferrofluid by putting laser jet printer toner into a detergent motor oil.
MrBillTroop73 1 year ago
Is this a Harwell stirling (TMG) engine ?
simi112 2 years ago
wow your really popular on here. dark horse, kept all your lil projects quiet. all vidoes are really good, keep up the good work
blueeyedboy1988 2 years ago
That stirling sngines are not efficient would be due to the availability of cheap fuel. When the fuel is gone, believe me stirling engines will be considered very efficient.
Pecherin72 3 years ago
well, i dont know about that person down the page, but i think that this is a preatty cool engine, thank you for taking the time to write the "more info" page of i would have been very confused. great project, thank you for posting.
dundermiflinpaper 3 years ago
This is called a "Free-piston" Stirling engine, also known as a Ringbom engine.
hoser4 3 years ago
I wonder if this engine would run with a thin plastic diaphragm rather than a metal piston. No leakage and very simple.
macrumpton 3 years ago
I "invented" similar way, but instead of piston I decided to use metal diaphragm which is directly connected to gas displacement piston.
however here is problem that diaphragm must be hot.
deltaxcd 3 years ago
Ingenious! I wonder if you could turn it upside down and run it from a cold source instead of heat???!!
mowerofdoom 3 years ago
That's pretty much the size of it. Unfortunately, not many hot sunny snowy days in the U.K. !!!
mowerofdoom 4 years ago
i dont get it, how does it work?
stimmo77 4 years ago
can it go up to 17,ooo rpm?
stimmo77 4 years ago
How about a diaphragm instead of a piston?
SlavaVB 4 years ago
Thanks for the comment - you have an excellent point which I had not considered. This would definitely solve the leakage problem. I feel a Version 1.1 coming on! Cheers.
mowerofdoom 4 years ago
That turns me on ... ====>- - -
WCDSM 4 years ago
Thank you for contributing to science.
etramway 4 years ago
It is a pity that you cannot thank the inventor, but he died 130 years ago.
BTW, one cannot make a 'contribution to science' by modifying well-known machines or by exploiting well-known phenomena: one can only make a 'contribution to technology' in those ways.
flowerbower 3 years ago
I'm not sure what point you are making.
This is video is intended to start some discussion, maybe progress the idea and even encourage someone to have a go at building one who may not have done so otherwise. It's a bit of fun too.
When someone comments "Thankyou for contributing to science" I am just pleased that they have taken the time to watch.
mowerofdoom 3 years ago
I thought that my point was clear: it is not science. It is, at best, out-of-date technology. The Stirling engine (aka the external combustion engine) has made no real progress in the last 100 years, and nothing is likely to change now.
flowerbower 3 years ago
Thanks for the clarification.
Someone had better tell NASA before they waste any more money on 'out-of'date' technology!
mowerofdoom 3 years ago
They never listen: too many engineers and not enough scientists! I (and many others) told them that the Podkletnov effect did not exist. After wasting millions of dollars on trying to reproduce it, they finally agreed.
Some people just have 'more money than sense'. And, if you are a US taxpayer, it is probably YOUR money! As when the CIA wasted millions on 'psychic warfare'.
flowerbower 3 years ago
Bugger! My next project was going to be an anti gravity engine! Ah well.
Btw, if you want more scientists then education is the key. And I firmly believe that practical demonstrations of known principles help that process. You say "out-of-date technology". I say it's part of a good physics foundation for up-and-coming scientists.
Do you agree?
mowerofdoom 3 years ago 2
Antigravity? Pretty much already 'sewn up' IF you believe Youtube clips! ;-)
Education is the answer, but it has to be done properly. Elementary-level science is often taught by people with no scientific qualification, or even by people who are antagonistic towards science. One survey showed that over 80% of primary-school teachers could not explain the seasons properly!
Even age-old technology is routinely garbled explanation-wise; the siphon, for instance.
flowerbower 3 years ago
Hi flowerbower.
You could also say, that no real progress has been made to diesel and Otto-cycle engines in the last 100 years. Still they are nice to have around.
Stirling engines are used in a lot of applications, due to their obvious advantages in special fields.
Cryocoolers by Stirling principle is one example of a commercial application around.
Japanese car-manufacturers are taking out Stirling-patents by the dozen in 2007 and 2008. Just watch out.
Regs
OleTC 3 years ago
I was looking for something else recently, and came upon an old (1960s) cutting from a science magazine. The article was all about how the Stirling engine was the next 'big thing'.
flowerbower 3 years ago