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> The Gotland-class submarines of the Swedish Navy [...] are the first submarines in the world to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) sys

> The Gotland-class submarines of the Swedish Navy [...] are the first submarines in the world to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) system [...] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland-class_submarine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland-class_submarine

feb 6y ago
According to Wikipedia, the Stirling engine is particularly well suited here because the engine is near silent and can use the surrounding sea water as a heat sink to increase efficiency.
geomark 6y ago
The manufacturer of the Stirling engine for those submarines, Kokums, is the source of the engines used for a dish-Stirling solar energy system I worked on for a licensee of Stirling Energy Systems[1]. It was a concentrating solar energy system consisting of a parabolic mirror focusing sunlight onto a heater head atop the Stirling engine. Quite efficient at around 30% conversion of direct sunlight to electricity - each unit generated about 25kW under clear skies. Quite a simple system - just a big mirror, sun tracker, Stirling engine and generator. Super reliable - no nasty combustion products. And not very expensive - BOM cost about the same as a mid-size car. But dropping PV prices ended up killing it. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Energy_Systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Energy_Systems
- VBprogrammer 6y ago
  I've come across those Stirling engine parabolic dish systems before and always thought they looked really impressive. Definitely installed in my dream off grid retirement place somewhere sunny.
  - geomark 6y ago
    Although quieter than ICEs, those engines are not silent. Too noisy to be close to homes. You would need to keep that in mind in your off grid dream.
- yetihehe 6y ago
  What was the most expensive part of building that engine?
  - geomark 6y ago
    I don't know the details on the engine as we did not build it; it was sourced from Kokums.

feb 6y ago

According to Wikipedia, the Stirling engine is particularly well suited here because the engine is near silent and can use the surrounding sea water as a heat sink to increase efficiency.

geomark 6y ago

The manufacturer of the Stirling engine for those submarines, Kokums, is the source of the engines used for a dish-Stirling solar energy system I worked on for a licensee of Stirling Energy Systems[1]. It was a concentrating solar energy system consisting of a parabolic mirror focusing sunlight onto a heater head atop the Stirling engine. Quite efficient at around 30% conversion of direct sunlight to electricity - each unit generated about 25kW under clear skies. Quite a simple system - just a big mirror, sun tracker, Stirling engine and generator. Super reliable - no nasty combustion products. And not very expensive - BOM cost about the same as a mid-size car. But dropping PV prices ended up killing it. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Energy_Systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Energy_Systems

VBprogrammer 6y ago
I've come across those Stirling engine parabolic dish systems before and always thought they looked really impressive. Definitely installed in my dream off grid retirement place somewhere sunny.
- geomark 6y ago
  Although quieter than ICEs, those engines are not silent. Too noisy to be close to homes. You would need to keep that in mind in your off grid dream.
yetihehe 6y ago
What was the most expensive part of building that engine?
- geomark 6y ago
  I don't know the details on the engine as we did not build it; it was sourced from Kokums.