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
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.
Quote from: unzapped on January 25, 2008, 05:30:22 PM
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
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
Quote from: unzapped
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