{"id":11407,"key":"Stirling_motor","title":"Stirling motor","latest":{"id":1208817,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T00:55:28Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Alpha Stirling animation.gif|thumb|Alpha stirling engine]]\n\nThe '''Stirling engine''' is a type of [[heat engine]]. In simple terms, the Stirling works by very efficiently converting heat [[energy]] to mechanical energy. It is considered to be one of the most efficient types of engine.\n\nAny source of heat can be used for a Stirling engine, including [[solar]], waste heat, or burning various [[fuel]]s. Stirling engines are typically larger than [[internal combustion engine]]s (or to put it another way, a Stirling engine typically produces less power than a similarly-sized internal combustion engine), limiting use in vehicles.\n\n== Types ==\n\n[[File:Beta Stirling animation.gif|thumb|Beta stirling engine]]\n\nSeveral types of Stirling engines exist; for now we best focus on the 2 types that are most useful in development projects. These include the Alpha and the Beta type.\n\nThe Alpha type is the simplest design, and the most easy to maintain/repair. It however does use more material to built, and efficiency may be lower. Hence, it is most useful for stationary (and/or large) engines.\n\nThe Beta type is a more complicated design and more difficult to maintain/repair.It however does use less material to built, and efficiency may be higher. Hence, it is most useful for mobile (and/or small) engines.\n\n== Manufacturers ==\n\nAlthough Stirling engines can be made DIY in developing countries,<ref>[http://www.cd3wd.com/cd3wd_40/vita/stirling/en/stirling.htm Understanding Stirling engines]</ref> in a appropriate context, it is best that any engine/device is built locally, the simply purchasing of a Stirling engine will probably be most appropriate for small projects and/or projects in locations where little factories, machine shops, garages are available. Also, Stirling engines need to be very well constructed, and have very tight tolerances, much more so than IC engines. Hence a list of Stirling engine manufacturers:\n\n* Whispertech :Micro Combined Heat and Power\n* American Stirling Company\n* Stirling Technology, Inc: Ventilators\n* [http://www.stirlingcryogenics.com Stirling Cryogenics & Refrigeration BV]\n* Stirling Process Cryogenerator\n* SGL: Stirling gas liquifier\n* Power Coolers\n* STM Power: Combined Heat and Power Stirling engine generators\n* QRMC: Sterling engine manufacturer\n* Thales Cryogenics\n* Coleman: Expensive coolers\n* Cussons Technology\n* Clean Energy Industries: Stirling engines\n* Bomin Solar Research\n* SOLO Kleinmoteren Gmbh\n* D. Viebach\n* Sunmachine\n* Leybold Didactic GMBH\n* Epas GmbH\n* FREE BREEZE wood stove fan\n* HOLLAND\n* N.V Philips\n* Suction Gas Co.\n* WhisperTech\n* Sigma\n* National Fan\n* Kockums\n* United Stirling\n* Sunpower\n* Stirling Technology Co.\n* Stirling Technology Inc.\n* STM Power Inc.\n* Stirling Biopower\n* Infinia Corporation\n* HEATWAVE wood stove fan\n* Stirling Danmark\n* Polo Tech<ref>[http://www.stirlingengines.org.uk/manufact/post.html Stirling engine manufacturers]</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110806033748/http://www.cleanergyindustries.com:80/production.html Clean energy Stirling engines]</ref><ref>[http://www.solarnavigator.net/stirling_engine.htm Stirling engine manufacturers 2]</ref>\n\nInventor Dean Kamen{{W|Dean Kamen}} is developing a roughly one cubic meter Stirling-powered electrical generator (generating 1kw) which he hopes will be widely adopted for use in [[developing countries]] and rural locations.\n\nStirling Technology Inc has designed the first mass-production Stirling engine for developing countries.<ref>[http://stirling-tech.com/ Stirling Technology Inc]</ref>\n\n== DIY manufacturing ==\n\nSome plans to built good reliable Stirling engines are available at http://www.stirlingengine.com/links Education projects can be done using aluminum can stirling engines (not suitable for anything else). See [http://www.solarnavigator.net/stirling_engine.htm Hobbyist and enthusiast's Stirling engines]\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Kamen's Stirling engine]]\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [[Wikipedia:Stirling engine]]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| description = Discover how Stirling engines work. Appropedia covers their types, uses, and how you can build one for efficient power generation.\n}}"}