The Stirling Engine
PRODUCT DETAILS
External combustion! Developed by Scot Stirling in the early 1800’s and based on external heat transfer (as opposed to a car engine, which is an internal combustion engine). This is a hot air engine that takes advantage of the expanding and contracting nature of air. The concept of the Stirling Engine has been around for over 100 years. Basically it’s an engine that can run on any outside heat source. The fuel can be wood, gas, coal, electricity, or even solar. Simply stated, air is heated on one side of the transfer cylinder (in this case a test tube) which causes the air to expand and lift the cylinder. This action causes the transfer piston (the marbles) to travel to the opposite side, displacing the air into the cool end of the cylinder. Here the air cools and contracts causing the transfer cylinder to lower and the cycle begins again. Not only is this engine one of the least expensive models available for demonstrating this principle, but is also one of the most visual. Instructions included.
