Stirling-Lamina Mar 2008

This is a Stirling Lamina Flow Engine. Flywheel is spindle and media disks from an old PC Hard Drive, piston is graphite running in a glass cylinder and the test tube on the lefy has stainless steel scouring pad shreds as a regenerator. Alcohol burner provides adequate heat to run.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Stirling
• Lamina
• Hot
• Air
• engine

[hho95667]

No, only the piston you see in the glass cylinder on the left. There is pretty good explanation of how this engine works below in the comments

[annihil8ted]

Can you please explain how this engine works. I understand how the flame heats the air which expands and piston but that where i'm confused. Seems to me as son as max extension is reached, the engine would stop. Am i missing something here?

[hho95667]

@annihil8ted you are right on the first part, the heat expands the air, forcing it thru the little port into the cylinder with the piston pushing the piston toward the end of it's stroke. However, as soon as the heated air gets into the cylinder, it begins to cool and caused the air to contract and pulls the piston back toward the hot end. The flywheel has stored energy from the heat stroke now it helps force the air back toward the hot end and the cycle starts all over again. HHO95667

[hho95667]

@annihil8ted The restriction or 'port' provides a restriction to the airflow back and forth and causing a tuning affect that allows the air the cool or heat longer on each side of the port.

[extraboy207]

how much is the diameter of the cylinder..and the piston.....??????

[hho95667]

@extraboy207 I got the piston and cylinder from Airpot. the piston is approx 9mm diameter. HHO95667

[0mcgl]

does this have a displacer piston

[annihil8ted]

@hho95667 Ahh i see now, the exit is actually narrowed before the piston. Is that necessary? What is the purpose?

[annihil8ted]

Can you please explain how this engine works. I understand how the flame heats the air which expands and piston but that where i'm confused. Seems to me as son as max extension is reached, the engine would stop. Am i missing something here?

[hho95667]

coarse steel wool, you can buy it a hardware or some grocery stores