Stirling Engine Models

The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 by a Scottish clergyman, Robert Stirling, as a competing technology to the steam engine. At the time steam engine boiler explosions were a regular occurance, but as the Stirling engine doesn't use a boiler these, and the resulting casualties, could be eliminated.

Stirling engines work by subsequently heating and cooling a gas (air in this case) inside a closed volume. As the gas is heated it will expand, and as it is cooled it contracts. During the expansion it pushes against a piston and drives a crankshaft in a similar manner to a steam engine. Each Stirling cycle has two pistons, one which drives the crankshaft (power piston), and one which moves the gas between the hot and cold parts of the engine (displacer piston).

New range of engines on the way.......