Efficient Actuators for Alpha Stirling

[Bret Cahill]

The goal is an Stirling w/o a mechanical crank/flywheel. Instead it'll have 2 electric actuators and a linear generator.

Supposedly a linear generator, a glorified shake light, can be 95% efficient. I need an actuator that is pretty efficient as well.

The actuators need a to consume less than 100 watts and have a stroke of ~ 15 cm.

Since it is only for demonstration purposes it is OK if it is run off of software/USB.


Bret Cahill

 

On Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 11:16:44 PM UTC-7, Bret Cahill wrote:

The goal is an Stirling w/o a mechanical crank/flywheel. Instead it'll have 2 electric actuators and a linear generator.

Supposedly a linear generator, a glorified shake light, can be 95% efficient. I need an actuator that is pretty efficient as well.

The actuators need a to consume less than 100 watts and have a stroke of ~ 15 cm.

Since it is only for demonstration purposes it is OK if it is run off of software/USB.


Bret Cahill

How do you propose to keep the gas sealed within the chamber? Eventual leakage of the gas from the seals is what dooms the Stirling Engine, if I recall correctly, especially if it's Hydrogen.

Michael

 

[Bret Cahill]

The goal is an Stirling w/o a mechanical crank/flywheel. Instead it'll have 2 electric actuators and a linear generator.

Supposedly a linear generator, a glorified shake light, can be 95% efficient. I need an actuator that is pretty efficient as well.

The actuators need a to consume less than 100 watts and have a stroke of ~ 15 cm.

Since it is only for demonstration purposes it is OK if it is run off of software/USB.


Bret Cahill


How do you propose to keep the gas sealed within the chamber?

An "electric crank" allows the entire thing to be hermetically sealed. No moving parts extend out of the casing, only some wires. Same for some free piston.

The biggest unsung advances in technology include servos so I'm hoping there are affordable linear actuators as well.


Bret Cahill

 

[Tim Wescott]

On Sat, 24 Jun 2017 08:40:51 -0700, Bret Cahill wrote:

The goal is an Stirling w/o a mechanical crank/flywheel. Instead
it'll have 2 electric actuators and a linear generator.

Supposedly a linear generator, a glorified shake light, can be 95%
efficient. I need an actuator that is pretty efficient as well.

The actuators need a to consume less than 100 watts and have a stroke
of ~ 15 cm.

Since it is only for demonstration purposes it is OK if it is run off
of software/USB.


Bret Cahill


How do you propose to keep the gas sealed within the chamber?

An "electric crank" allows the entire thing to be hermetically sealed.
No moving parts extend out of the casing, only some wires. Same for
some free piston.

The biggest unsung advances in technology include servos so I'm hoping
there are affordable linear actuators as well.


Bret Cahill

Dunno if your "electric crank" won't use more energy than it saves.

Stirling cryocoolers use a pair of pistons in opposition with a spring in
between. You end up being held to one frequency, but they work.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

 

[Bret Cahill]

The goal is an Stirling w/o a mechanical crank/flywheel. Instead
it'll have 2 electric actuators and a linear generator.

Supposedly a linear generator, a glorified shake light, can be 95%
efficient. I need an actuator that is pretty efficient as well.

The actuators need a to consume less than 100 watts and have a stroke
of ~ 15 cm.

Since it is only for demonstration purposes it is OK if it is run off
of software/USB.


Bret Cahill


How do you propose to keep the gas sealed within the chamber?

An "electric crank" allows the entire thing to be hermetically sealed.
No moving parts extend out of the casing, only some wires. Same for
some free piston.

The biggest unsung advances in technology include servos so I'm hoping
there are affordable linear actuators as well.


Bret Cahill

Dunno if your "electric crank" won't use more energy than it saves.

It doesn't have to be 95%.

Stirling cryocoolers use a pair of pistons in opposition with a spring in
between. You end up being held to one frequency, but they work.

--
www.wescottdesign.com