This Stirling engine, developed by Dean Kamen^W, uses any heat source to produce electricity. This is probably done by either a dynamo or alternator fixed to the drive shaft, converting the mechanical to electrical power. It is about the size of a washing machine and produces 1 kW. At first glance, it looks like a regular Alpha-type stirling engine.

Use in microfinancing arrangements

Iqbal Quadir, the founder of Grameen Phone^W, conducted a six-month field trial, ending in September 2005. "This is a reliable machine," he says.

Kamen’s goal is to produce machines that cost $1,000 to $2,000 each. Under the Grameen model, they would be owned by entrepreneurs (funded by microcredit from the Grameen Bank^W). Quadir sees this as a better model than a single large power plant, in that it creates many entrepreneurs.

Uses

Other Kamen Stirling engines

A different ? Stirling used by Kamen is used for transport, ie for the DEKA ReVolt. See here

Questions

• What is the latest news on the technology and the use of it with the Grameen model?^{[expansion needed]}

(Google News for Kamen + Stirling - http://news.google.com/news?q=kamen+stirling )

• How clean is the exhaust gas?^{[expansion needed]}
• How cost effective is it?^{[expansion needed]}
• How efficiently does it use the fuel?^{[expansion needed]}

External links

• The Next Net: Dean Kamen's Newest Slingshot
• Schematic of the engine
• Kamen's Stirling engine used for the Slingshot water purifier