Mk IV Thermal Lag Stirling Engine

The MkIV is the next in the line of experimental thermal lag engines.

Following the poor performance of the MkIII engine, the MkIV shows considerably more promise.

The heatsink was a CPU cooler and is coupled to the glass syringe with heatsink paste. The heated end contains an aluminium tube and wire wool. Aluminium piston, carbon fibre con rod, silicon rubber joints.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• stirling
• thermal
• lag
• thermoacoustic
• thermo
• acoustic
• engine
• flywheel
• power
• renewable

[TheJacambri]

Hi, I am working on a school project on a stirling engine solar concentrator with output around 1 kWh. I have many questions. First is a thermal lag engine the same to a lamina flow engine? If not what are the differences? Second can these lamina flow or thermal lag engines be made to a 1 kWh output? Third what are the weaknesses of these types of stirling engines compared to other stirling engines with displacer and a power piston? I have more but a comment can only be so big. Love your videos!

[mowerofdoom]

Hi. I'll message you separately as there is not enough room for a full reply!!

Geoff.

[kaos0812]

hi I was watching your video and I have been doing my own independent research... I see you use a heat exchanger to move the piston or is that a heat exchanger... all heat exchanger's i have found have been really expensive, where can i find one or do you have any tips? Thank you and great video!!!

[mowerofdoom]

Heat sink was from an old PC processor - bored out to the exact size of the glass, then bonded with silver paste for good heat exchange.

[dan1n1CO]

Hello -- My son, 13, came across your video while looking for science fair projects and hes very excited by it. It is very nice work! Do you think it would be possible to build this with a parabolic solar mirror as the heat source? We've made the mirror and we getting around 220F at the focus point. They are not allowed to use open flame in or around the school building so we need an alternate (non-electric) heat source. Any ideas?

[mowerofdoom]

Hi! Great to have young interest in these! 220F is maybe a bit low for the resonant engine although you might have a chance with a flywheel - touch and go I think. You might consider an LTD engine - maybe easier to build and lower temp heat sources. No ideas on alternate hot sources I'm afraid (i suppose vigorous chemical reactions are out of the question!). Free free to message me. Good luck!

Any readers any ideas on the above?

kind regards, Geoff.

[denni4job]

am an electrical engineer but i cant do stuff you do even though i ve worked in a power plant lol

[denni4job]

cud u please send the construction details

[UnitedElectric]

I can't believe how ingenious it is that you inverted the stack with the restrictor tube for end heating. Great work. Keeps heat away from the cold side, a weakness that I have noticed in other laminar designs. This configuration opens up another quick question: does the temperature differential "on the stack" make any difference in efficiency? I understand that the cold side is over the piston in these designs, but can extra oomph be had by cooling the non-heated side of the stack?

[crimsonshadows1]

@KNIGHTTIDER1980 its steel wool. he mentioned it in another video comment ^_^

[AngryVGFur]

how exactly does the thermal lag engine work without a displacer or a second piston?

[KNIGHTTIDER1980]

@mowerofdoom Can you tell me what the material is inside the hot air side of the tube? Interested in building one for generating electricity. Can you tell me where I can get plans, schematics, anything with materials and measurements. Thanks for your time.

[LotsOMovies]

@dan1n1CO How about induction heating? Put a bit of metal inside the tube, and induce a current with thick windings around the outside and an AC current. Then all of your heating happens inside the tube where nervous school teachers are less inclined to worry about it. For the low heat you need, you could even build an inductive heating power supply pretty cheaply, though it's not an easy build for an amateur electrical builder.

[douro20]

I wonder how well a ferrofluid piston would work for this.