Came across a photo of a car that had a sterling engine installed, which replaced the water with hydrogen. I'd like to see the charts, there may be some gases with lubricant properties.
It was mentioned that the only problem was that it took a minute for the boiler to heat up. But with a battery backed up hybrid design, that wouldnt be a biggie. By the time you got from the garage to the freeway, the boiler would be pushing the pistons.
Since the pistons were never exposed to cumbustion or the acids in it, the rings last gonzo longer. Without taking in new air, there's no dust abrasion either.
Then too, the engine could use any fuel, which burning at atmospheric pressure, could be lots cleaner. But also, if the cost of petroleum products go thru the roof, you could run it on wood, charcoal, even hay.
The article mentioned a custom crankshaft in a stnadard piston engine. but given the characteristics of a Sterling, whether it'd be gonzo better to design a pair of push/pull pistons that are 90 deg out of phase that have a larger bore to minimize piston ring drag.
Then too, I read about an antique steam tractor engine that exploded a few years back kiling 5 people. That kind of thing was pretty common in the 19th century. The explanation had to do with inadequate maintenance of a water tube boiler having scale/corrosion problems. Hence the advantage of a sterling charged with a gas. altho- the Hindenburg makes me think hydrogen mite not be so swift....
I have an antique Farmall, model M, with a seized motor, that didnt look very efficient anyway. Sterling would be nice, no biggie if it took a few minutes before it'd plow or whatever. it had an IH inline 4 of 131 cu inches.
If I added my 3kw AC generator, I could use my electric chainsaw in the woods, and burn wood to cut more firewood & timber, as well as haul it out of the woods. With some batteries on board, the sterling could run at max efficiency, and I'd have the battery power to use for other things later.
It was mentioned that the only problem was that it took a minute for the boiler to heat up. But with a battery backed up hybrid design, that wouldnt be a biggie. By the time you got from the garage to the freeway, the boiler would be pushing the pistons.
Since the pistons were never exposed to cumbustion or the acids in it, the rings last gonzo longer. Without taking in new air, there's no dust abrasion either.
Then too, the engine could use any fuel, which burning at atmospheric pressure, could be lots cleaner. But also, if the cost of petroleum products go thru the roof, you could run it on wood, charcoal, even hay.
The article mentioned a custom crankshaft in a stnadard piston engine. but given the characteristics of a Sterling, whether it'd be gonzo better to design a pair of push/pull pistons that are 90 deg out of phase that have a larger bore to minimize piston ring drag.
Then too, I read about an antique steam tractor engine that exploded a few years back kiling 5 people. That kind of thing was pretty common in the 19th century. The explanation had to do with inadequate maintenance of a water tube boiler having scale/corrosion problems. Hence the advantage of a sterling charged with a gas. altho- the Hindenburg makes me think hydrogen mite not be so swift....
I have an antique Farmall, model M, with a seized motor, that didnt look very efficient anyway. Sterling would be nice, no biggie if it took a few minutes before it'd plow or whatever. it had an IH inline 4 of 131 cu inches.
If I added my 3kw AC generator, I could use my electric chainsaw in the woods, and burn wood to cut more firewood & timber, as well as haul it out of the woods. With some batteries on board, the sterling could run at max efficiency, and I'd have the battery power to use for other things later.
