Short explanatory video where I explain how a stirling engine / Hot air engine works and what are the principles behind it. Questions and comments are welcome!
Very good explanation. I had only see gamma type engines and mistakenly thought the piston was somehow "producing" the power. With the beta type I now realize the piston is reacting to the push-pull of the crankshaft which assists with the air moving (back downward......I think...….dang, I have to watch the video again. :-) Thanks for posting.
There is no size limit, as the power rises with volume of the displaced air. More air = more absorbed energy = more power. But larger displacement also means larger cylinder and displacer, so also heavier construction.
Neither of both. The displacer is moved by the rotation of the crankshaft. The power piston or membrane at the top is what produces the actual force by the pressure differences in the cylinder. The displacer is simply to control whether the air gets heated or cooled. The inertia of the flywheel forces the displacer up and down, and therefor controlling the heating and cooling of the air. At which the power membrane expands and contracts, therefor creating the forces that drive the crankshaft, keeping the motor rotating. Hope this helped! Greetings
Insulator, cause you don't want heat transfer between hot and cold side. But even more effective is a regenerative material like steel wool, which can trap some heat and release it in the next stroke. The stirling engines I have build all worked very well with steel wool displacers
