Re: Stirling Engines

["Scott Willing" <willing@mb.sympatico.ca>]

Ken,

I've been casually investigating the Stirling technology. I've checked 
out the Viebach stuff, and now (thanks to your post) the 
Whispergen.

But it is not at all clear from the limited information available on the 
Viebach engine (at least in English) how heat is to be supplied to 
the unit. Does anyone know this? Something tells me I can't just 
set it on top of my wood stove, hook up an alternator and start 
charging my batteries.   

In the case of the Whispergen, the intended fuel is liquid kerosine, 
diesel or natural gas... all things that can be stuffed through a tube.

The Symanski is the only wood-fired unit of the three.

I'd like to echo Ron's questions about inherent cost etc. I have a 
feeling that the Stirling isn't going to come into its own until the end 
of cheap and available fossil fuels seems closer to most people than 
it does now, creating sufficient demand from those with the 
resources to buy in.

As a rural resident of central Canada, I would pay a pretty good 
buck for something of very modest capabilities to supplement my 
PV electrical generation in the winter - when sun can be scarce and 
I'm burning wood for heat anyway. Stirling seems a perfect match. 
But I think my priorities are out of whack with the most of the rest of 
the planet, which I would divide roughly into two groups - those who 
think the status-quo (IC gas or diesel-powered generators) is just 
swell, and those for whom the conversation is basically moot since, 
for them, both technologies are stratospherically out of reach.

-smw




From:           	kenboak@stirlingservice.freeserve.co.uk
To:             	stoves@crest.org
Subject:        	Stirling Engines 
Date sent:      	Wed, 2 Jan 2002 8:24:20 +0000

> Listers,
> 
> Firstly I would like wish you all a Happy New Year, and say that I have appreciated hearing about the various stove developments that have created much interest over the Christmas period.
> 
> Secondly I would like to say that the Stirling engine does not currently stand in a good commercial position - I have been following its progress since 1990 and I have seen little evidence of anything other than over-priced laboratory prototypes, and a series of failed commercial ventures.
> 
> There are however 3 exceptions:
> 
> 1.   Build your own from a Viebach Kit of castings.  This will produce about 350W of electricity or 500W of mechanical power from biomass - cost about $4000. Multi cylinder designs are possible to add power in 1/2 hp increments.
> 
> http://www.uwemoch.de/english.htm
> 
> http://www.geocities.com/Viebachstirling/   - german language only
> 
> 2.   Buy a Whispergen 750W combined heat and power system from Whispergen New Zealand or Victron Energies (Netherlands & Europe) The cost is $11000.
> 
> http://www.victronenergie.com/Products/whispergen/whispergen.htm
> 
> 3.   Commission an amateur Stirling engine builder, such as Jim Symanski of Pescadero CA, to make a custom engine to suit your requirements. Jim is building wood fired engines in the 2hp to 5hp range
> 
> http://www.symanski.net/stirlings/jimd6.html
> 
> 
> None of the other organisations named in the previous emails have anything to offer at a remotely viable price.
> 
> 
> 
> Ken Boak,
> 
> 
> Chairman, Stirling Engine Society
> 
> 
> 
> 
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