Maybe not so half baked idea....

[unzapped]

Ok here is the concept... stirling engine that runs a generator, it runs on the difference in air and ground temperature below the frostline in the winter. In the summer the same thing however the air temp is augmented by a parabolic mirror array.

The same could be done with a houshold and maybe even more feasible. Wintertime inside temp 72 degrees, outside 18 degrees AND summer 72 inside with augmented solar array outside 100+ degrees?...

supplemental power? free energy?

I really think this is feasible and cost effective what do you think?... and how can we prove the concept on a small scale?

Any help or comments?

PEACE OUT
UZ

[allcanadian]

Im sure it would work but there is one consideration that you should keep in mind, that is a temperature gradient is not power. Power generated is work (FxD) divided by time or work done over time. In laymens terms we could say it depends as much on the quantity of heat you can make available for work as the temperature. In the case of the stirling engine this also applies to the "cold" side as a large quantity of heat must be taken away. In any case the stirling engine is more  efficient than any other engine made.

[one]

Ok here is the concept... stirling engine that runs a generator, it runs on the difference in air and ground temperature below the frostline in the winter. In the summer the same thing however the air temp is augmented by a parabolic mirror array.

The same could be done with a houshold and maybe even more feasible. Wintertime inside temp 72 degrees, outside 18 degrees AND summer 72 inside with augmented solar array outside 100+ degrees?...

supplemental power? free energy?

I really think this is feasible and cost effective what do you think?... and how can we prove the concept on a small scale?

Any help or comments?

PEACE OUT
UZ

Unzapped

I  spent  some time  thinking of  almost this  exact  thing a few years ago

It  looks  like you have been thinking about it for a while .... I see  in your  pictures the heat  exchange loop is  part of the       normal  flow of the  motor ........this would  be lots more efficent than    having a separate  heat exchanger and  pump for  loop  circulation .
The  problem  doing it this  way  is that  the  heat exchange loops   are  subjected to ALL of the pressure  changes that happen  within the motor .......  Plastic   piping  would   shake ........   the heat exchanges  would have to be made much  stronger  and  be built  much  heavier   because  of these pressure  changes . 



How practical it is  over all  depends on   how  small of a difference  in  tempratuere  your motor  will run on . 
In general   you will be running  on   minimum  temperature  difference  so it will require   good  flow in the  heat exchanges and a relativly large  engine .


In my opinion   the  idea  system would  be fully adjustable duel  rotory  sterling  engine  .     
The reason  it  should  be duel and adjustable is so that    you  can  switch to different  colleector  or  heat exchange  loops   depending  on  conditions  .......this would be important   if   you intend  to use it for  reliable  power .
With a  rotory  engine  the  collectors / exchangers  would  operate at nearly  constant  pressure


I  enjoy   designing   mechanical  stuff .........so I  came up with an engine  that I think would work ..........but I have  no  neans of  building it .   
By designing  it I mean I  have  well  thought  out plans ........I don't  have  blueprints   and  specs .


Assuming  that I   had  an engine made ........I would  start  looking for a swimming pool   that  could  use  a heater .
I would   plan  a solar  collector  bigger than the pool needed....... I would also   have a smaller  insulated water  tank .....this   would be used  when the   pool  gets warm enough .........the  extra heat would  be  used to heat the  second  tank .......  a loop  of  water pipe in this tank could be used to preheat   water for the  house . 

For  maximum  flexibility  a ground loop  and  something  like a large radiator could  be added .     

I would  think  if you  could switch  between   the hot water  tank, ground loop ,  outside air  temp and  swimming  pool temp you   should always  have a good  source or temprature difference



gary

[unzapped]

I actually had this concept last week... i drew it tonight... i just wonder how much of a temperature difference would be needed to drive a 5500 watt generator, and how big the stirling would have to be...

Ideally this machine would auto switch, when the temp changes. I have the switching mechanism in my head, I will attempt to explain though I am not usually good at this..

in winter the stirling would run clockwise... the generator would run clockwise... when the temperature input reverses then the stirling would run backwards... hence the reason for the criscrossed belt drive keeping the generator running clockwise. i woud use a series of one way bearings to allow either to run at any given time.

Any input on the temperature requirements to run such an engine would be neat.

UZ

[one]

Any input on the temperature requirements to run such an engine would be neat.

UZ

I am  math impaired   ....but I am good at   seeing  how things work and at the relationships that make them work .

How  big is the motor that  normally  powers that size  generator ?

I am not  sure it is right ..........but I  understand that the  effective   temprature rise in an internal  combustion  engine is around 400 degrees  .

to be practical   you  I would think that you would have to  get down to   working  with   10  or 15 degrees .....  so   it would be a  big engine .
'
Just  working with  this  relationship should be very  conservative  because  a sterling engine is  more efficient  than a normal  internal  combustion engine. 


gary