Generating Electricity from Thermal Energy

Stirling Engine, http://www.sesusa.org/

What you have is not new

I know that Stirling engine is an interesting choice. The problem is, nobody seems to be making a real commercial product. So I have to ask the question: is this commercially viable?

"Maintenance-free operation."

What existing deployed technology handling these kinds of temperature differentials and wattages do you know to be "maintenance free?" Maintenance free is an oxymoron akin to "balanced budget" and "commitment to free market principles." my 5 kw backup generator just cost me $75 in parts for routine maintenance. Probably after 60 hrs of operation.(oil pressure sensor/cutoff switch; oil filter and oil, and replacement muffler.)

Your output of 1 kw based on your efficiency is hardly sufficient to make a cup of coffee...

milo

0.5-1kw is round the clock power generation.

For the need of power surge during a short period, a battery/supercapacitor backup will be enough. And not expensive.

why only 10% efficiency? if it is going to be a viable product why not try to optimize the level of efficiency so the end user is at least getting there moneys worth? if i was to purchase something like what you have in mind, i would want it to be as close to perfect as it can be or i would tend to think i was getting hosed...., like maybe the people selling it were just trying to make a fast buck.

Of course, a higher efficiency is better. But what I say is that 10% will be enough, and if it will result in a lower cost, I'd prefer lower efficiency with lower cost.

This will be a heat and electricity cogeneration. As in a typical home one needs much more heat (heating, cooling, water heating, pool heating) than electricity, you'll get plenty of surplus electricity if you make more than 10% efficiency.

Im afraid its not a fresh tech, but an old teck,

use steam machine, which has 15% efficiency at least. and 18% at very most.

Old tech certainly will do.

What I look for is not a technological breakthrough, but a product supplier.

the "PowerUnit" uses a stirling engine...sold by Stirling Biopower...however the model has 43kw at 480V....no way suited to home use...but you might want to check if they do customized designs.

adress:

http://www.stmpower.com

RAM.

very cool site.

thanks

Why not use old fashioned reciprocating steam engine?

Cheap, little maintenance and virtually run forever.

Could you give a product reference?

This one looks interesting. I googled "small steam engines"

http://www.greensteamengine.com/

The one I had in mind originally was:

http://www.strathsteam.com/

I'm sure there are many others available, and probably some available second hand.

Good luck

Good stuff. I like this one......here but it didn't show the P source. I am going to look it up a bit more.

Ahhh. Liney. Here is the Liney page link......here

I like this one

I am very careful about pistons. Greens may work (I have to test), but the usual piston setup won't last long.