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They can be run by any heat source, including solar, geothermal, etc
by gregpilling 12y ago
They can be run by any heat source, including solar, geothermal, etc
- sopooneo 12y agoThat actually confused me. I understand how they can run off of any heat source, but then why is it touted in this article as a heat source? It mentioned that it might be a good idea for a laundry that needs a lot of hot water. But if that's the case, don't you just need an efficient furnace to heat the water regardless? Or is it that this thing can recapture a lot of the energy you're already expending heating up the water by some other means?
- axman6 12y agoAFAIK, a Stirling engine is basically a heat pump, it mopved heat from the heat source to some heatsink using the expansion and ocntraction of air. If you were to run water over the heatsink, you'd probably both heat the water and increase the efficiency of the machine by giving a greater heat differential and greater heat conduction rate. S you could use the heat twice basically; one to move the engine's piston and a second time to heat water.
- Dave778 12y agostirling engines are also known as hot air engines. there are different models and systems but i have one that already works with the temperature difference between room temperature and my hand temperature. Awesome. There is a german manufacturer under www.boehm-stirling.com that makes really nice stirling motors in different forms like cars, machines and so on.
- axman6 12y agoI know, my girlfriend bought me a lovely Boehm stirling engine for my birthday a few years ago and it's fantastic =)
- mreiland 12y agoI think it's because it loses less excess energy to the environment, thereby making it more efficient than heating the water directly.
- ssmoot 12y agoAny (significant) temperature delta is fine? It doesn't have to be capable of running a boiler or whatever? Just curious about the feasibility of geothermal.