Stirling Engine energy?

[jmelson]

Do they use energy saving devices like LED to get the 35 years?

Umm, after propelling a 100 meter boat at 30+ knots underwater, the power used in lighting is going to be MICROSCOPIC in comparison.

Jon

[factory]

I found this article in an old edition of Popular Science by accident last night when searching for something else.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=sgAAAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&lr&pg=PA54#v=onepage&q&f=false

I noticed "Philips Stirling cycle" on the front cover and was expecting something about the small generator they made, but was surprised the article was actually about a 4 cylinder 200HP engine for a bus/coach, the heat is provided by burning gas & the speed being controlled by regulating the pressure of the helium inside and like the submarine Stirling engine is quieter than using an internal combustion engine too.

Helium is a limited resource so unlikely that would be used.

The increasing price of helium may be one reason why these engines aren't more common. Helium is vital for things like MRI scanners too, but as the local supermarket started selling small helium cylinders last year for wasting in balloons it can't be rare enough yet.

David

Edit:

Apparently the coach still exists but wasn't as reliable for road use as the magazine article suggests, the Philips Stirling engine got replaced with a 6 cylinder DAF diesel.

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/bus-stop-classic/bus-stop-classic-1970-daf-jonckheere-its-first-power-unit-was-a-philips-stirling-engine/

More Stirling engines in road vehicles & boats here;
http://stirlingengineforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1618

Found a company making 1-5kW piston free Stirling engine;
https://www.qnergy.com/

David

[Marco]

Qnergy only has 20% electrical output, it's only really useful for waste heat or to use when you are just straight burning fuel for heat any way, to get some electrical power as a bonus. Free piston combustion generators can achieve 50% electrical efficiency.