Comments on: Flywheel Spin-down work measurements

By: Denis Arquette

Denis Arquette — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:51:27 +0000

Thanks for posting the plans for the simple stirling engine and for your website. I have downloaded your plans and will be starting construction soon. I already have some modification ideas too.
I noticed most of the posts are a year old. Any thing new going on?

By: DON SCHROEDER

DON SCHROEDER — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:16:02 +0000

STIRLING BIOPOWER,INC WEBSITE IS:
http://www.stirlingbiopower.com/STIRLING/BASSE.swf

By: jafar

jafar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:42:17 +0000

hello..thanks for best site and other things

By: Ken Zakreski

Ken Zakreski — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:03:41 +0000

Hi Doug,

Nice site keep up the good work. When Ballard Power systems was looking to roll out implementations of the hydrogen power cell they found that scooters had a higher price per kilowatt then other vehicles. Have you looked at electrical generator costs and graphed cost per kw? Might provide an interesting starting point for these stirling solar generators. I’m guessing a 1 kw genset would a suitable size…

Ken

>>I’m always interested in hearing about potential application where a low-temperature low-power engine might be useful. There are potential applications such a powering fountains or operating kinetic sculpture that might be able to use power in the 10 watt range.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:25:38 +0000

Michael,
At one time I tried to use eddy-currents to resist the rotation of the flywheel to measure torque output. The magnets were connected to a scale. My experience was that the magnets need to be powerful and very close to the moving conductor to create much of a resistive force. The refrigertor-type magnets you see in the photo provide an insignificant torque.

By: Michael Wiernicki

Michael Wiernicki — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:48:51 +0000

Hi,

I note that you have magnets moving relative to what appears to be an aluminum plate. Is it possible that there are significant eddy current losses in that plate? The magnets are quite far away but given the low power involved…

By: admin

admin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:43:07 +0000

I’m not aware of a company that makes a Stirling engine/generator in the 4 to 9kW power range. A company called Stirling Biopower, Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI produces some electrical generators–the one I read about is 43 kW. I couldn’t find a URL–not a good sign.

By: shyam prasad

shyam prasad — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:39:51 +0000

sir
The engine produced by u is a great thing, but my self i am a student in india.I dont have the actual ability to comment on your work. Sir i am looking for stirling engines which produces 4 to 9KW of electrical power. i tried a lot in india and in the internet to find such stirling engines for sale,but every where i got an negetive answer,could you please tell me the website or the place where i can find out the stirling engine.please sir

thanking you

shyam prasad

By: Solar Heat Engines » Blog Archive » Ideal Stirling Cycle Spreadsheet

Solar Heat Engines » Blog Archive » Ideal Stirling Cycle Spreadsheet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:03:55 +0000

[...] of the work is lost to friction, something not covered by this spreadsheet at all. In another post I’ve talked about measuring the friction losses on your engine with a flywheel spin-down test. [...]

By: Solar Heat Engines » Blog Archive » Tachometer Part 2

Solar Heat Engines » Blog Archive » Tachometer Part 2 — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:12:13 +0000

[...] seconds. This has plusses and minuses. If you’re trying to grab an RPM reading quickly as in the Flywheel Spin-down work measurement application, you might want the one second update. For most of my work I prefer the 2 second update [...]