Let's Build A Can Stirling Engine: Step 1 - Material Preparation and Structure
Let's Build A Can Stirling Engine: Step 1 - Material Preparation and Structure
Let's Build A Can Stirling Engine: Step 1 - Material Preparation and Structure
KOICHI HIRATA National Maritime Research Institute E-mail: [email protected] http://www. nmri.go.jp/env/khirata/
hole in the center of the diaphragm and pass through a fishing thread. Be careful to make a close-fitting hole - not a big hole.
Crank Mechanism
As illustrated in Figure 6, attach the diaphragm and the connecting rods with two thumbtacks.
Cut off the top face of a can and fix the can to the frame securely. Place the diaphra gm over the can with some rubber bands. Adjust a length of the fishing thread so the piston moves without touching the can. And for the final measure, put on a drop of machine oil in the hole of the diaphragm. The Can Stirling Engine is completed.
Q4: I used a cylinder with diameter of 66 mm and 100 mm height. This will cause any problem? A4: Your cylinder does not cause any problem. Please make sure that the wood piston does not contact to the cylinder, and keep the clearance between the wood piston and the cylinder to about 3~5 mm. Q5: I built the Can Stirling engine. But it cannot work. Please tell me how to work it. A5: You must decrease the gas leakage and the friction loss of the Can Stirling engine. Please make sure following points. (1) Is the hole of the balloon too big? (2) Have you putting on a drop of oil to the hole? (3) Can the crank shaft work smoothly? (4) Are holes of the frame and the connecting rods too small? (5) Does not the mass weight touch the frame? (6) Does not the wood piston contact to the cylinder? (7) Please adjust the weight of the clay in detail. Q6: How many engine speeds can the Can Stirling Engine get? A6: This engine gets about 100 rpm. When the mechanical loss is decreased with your original idea, you can get more high speed. Q7: How many grams is the clay mass in the Can Stirling engine? A7: The clay mass is about 50 to 100 grams, maybe. But you must adjust it suitably after you complete to built the engine. I think that you will be able to find the suitable grams easily.
FAQ
Q1: Do I have to stretch the balloon or do I have to make it little bit loose? A1: You must stretch the balloon somewhat as a face of the balloon becomes flat. Q2: Can't I use the fishing thread to make the hole in the balloon, so that it is air tight? A2: I use a needle to make the hole. And I can get a few air leakage when the machine oil was dropped. Q3: My steel can is 13 cm height and the piston is only 6cm height, does this have any negative effect? A3: It is no good. When you use the 13 cm steel can, you must set the piston height to 9cm. It is important that the dead volume in the engine is decreased.