Posted on 08/13/2005 3:42:35 AM PDT by Arkie2
Solar bump!
At a kilowatt each, as soon as someone turns on the air conditioner or irons some clothes...
Stirling engine, an external combustion reciprocating engine having an enclosed working fluid that is alternately compressed and expanded to operate a piston, thus converting heat from a variety of sources into mechanical energy. A Stirling engine can use any type of fuel as well as solar energy and heat from the waters of a hot spring. The engine was invented in 1816 by a Scottish minister, Robert Stirling, before the gasoline and diesel engines appeared. Stirling engines are unique heat engines because their theoretical efficiency is nearly equal to their theoretical maximum efficiency, known as the Carnot cycle efficiency.
Bump for later... I love Stirling engine stories.
The same comment applies to any type power plant of course. What's interesting here is that someone is using the stirling engine for power production. It's far superior to the internal combustion engine in terms of efficiency but hasn't seen many modern applications outside of some very limited uses such as in submarines.
Bump
self-ping
This is the last unexploited technology available for use. Conservation and nuclear is the only way left to cut fossil energy use further. After the Sterling car engine no "three times more efficient" technology is within sight.
Satellite solar power, if people want to do it. Big job.
Nuke-a-bird technology?
37' diameter dish is almost exactly 100 m^2 in area. At roughly 1KW peak solar power/m^2, the conversion efficiency is about 25%. Pretty good for solar. Calling this a 500MW generator is a little dishonest though IMHO. Power is what matters. 500MW at what rate, and for how long? I could strap a drill motor to a bicycle and call myself a 500MW generator. It wouold probably take me a lifetime to do it though.
I think they could market this better as peak shaving power for industry. Maybe even get some corporate investment, rather than saddling residential consumers with the cost. How much solar power is available during the residintial use peak of say 6:00pm to 11:00 pm? Ans. not much.
Stirling is interesting because it's efficient and versatile. Any source of heat can be used: solar, fossil fuel, wood, etc. I think they're used in submarines in some capacity. IIRC there are some technical challenges with durability. Something aout maintaining a seal across the working piston with a large delta T across it maybe,
My knowledge of thermo is a little rough, but I would bet that massing a large number of reflectors of a collector, and then utilizing steam power would be more efficient.
Perhaps $60+/bbl oil will bring a new surge in American innovation.
I'm more interested in the use of the stirling engine here than the solar power aspect. The stirling is just so damn efficient it's a shame it's not used in more applications.
I am for any generation that will generate during the peak hours. Here in Texas with the wind generation the wind blowing at night during the off peak hours, I am up to my chin with excess generation and know where to put it.
I believe the article specifically mentioned that the stirling is more efficient than steam and the article also mentioned better efficiency than solar arrays which converted heat to steam for power production.
Interesting potential. Isn't capitalism and America grand? Give us $66/barrel crude oil and we'll devise a way to do it better and, most importantly, cheaper!
Good post. Needs some pics and illustrations though. They can be seen here >http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2004/renew-energy-batt/Stirling.html
So, if the Stirling engine was invented in 1816, then why did it take 211 (!) years for somebody to realize the economic viability of the thing?
New means of electrical generation aren't going to have a direct impact on oil use though. Most electricity is derived from coal, nuclear, or natural gas. I mean if we could generate enough electricity to make electric vehicles practical, that would be an offset, but right now they're a solution in search of a problem. A means of distributed power generation might make it practical, but as always, fuel is needed.
If somebody married a Stirling engine to a hybrid vehicle, THAT would be interesting.
Are you in the energy field?
I think it's closer to 189 years. When it gets up to 200 we'll start realizing its viability.
ping
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