Re: Is there a commercial Sterling Engine that is not a toy?

 



That's because Stirling technology is vapor ware. It sounds good on paper
but performance is poor. The main reason is because the Stirling cycle is an
external combustion engine and the heat is not formed in the cylinder where
it does the most good but has to traverse a barrier to get into the working
fluid. This limits the heat transfer, power and ultimately pefficiency.
Furthermore, the best working fluids give no end of sealing and lubrication
problems. As a result, Stirling engines have been relegated to the toy and
amusement department with few, if any, serious successes as commercial
engines. If you want to bet on an engine for the future, bet on the Diesel.
Bob

 



The future?  A dirty, noisy engine that's been around for well over 100
years? Are you serious?  Look up the advances in battery technology. The
future is electric. I prefer electric/air hybrids as deceleration and
braking can compress air and use this for acceleration assist.  Air is cheap
and all around us and never wears out.

 



Yes, I'm quite serious. Every year shows more diesel usage for all kinds of
power from small 15HP units al the way up to those multi-thousand HP units
in cruise ships. Most European cars are diesel and it is the wave of the
future as we begin to use bio-fuels and get away from gasoline. Yes diesels
have been around for about 108 years but every thing you mentioned,
batteries, compressed air engines, even the stirling engine has been around
longer, 150 to170 years. These things have had all of that time to be
developed yet they are not yet serious competitors against the internal
combustion engine, especially the diesel. Batteries have barely advanced at
all at least at the power levels and costs required for transportation. Fuel
cells that get much press these days were invented in the 1830's, 170 yeas
ago and have not developed any where near that required to be serious
contenders. If they haven't done it in 170 years, what are the chances?
Expect to see diesel electric hybrids soon, they will be the wave of the fut
ure, you can bet on it.
Bob

 


I can hardly wait!  Especially with the cost of fuel the way it's
headed, Americans are going to have to get over their love of gas
guzzlers and get into some fuel efficiency.  Maybe the hybrids will
allow all the power that Americans "need" while getting reasonable
milage...

What ever happened to the adiabatic ceramic diesels?  Too many
materials problems?

 

On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 05:30:24 -0400, William P. N. Smith <> wrote:

I'll seriously consider buying a diesel-electric auto when they come out.