3/6-cylinder Stirling engine update

[UPDATE 2-12-2013: I tested the power output of the engine and it was a disappointing 26 watts. I suspect the bellows are a good part of the problem, and too much dead volume. Back to the drawing board.]

I've had to do a number of tweaks and repairs to this engine including:
- add balancers to the crank
- re-glue all power piston guide rods since they all came loose
- add wood supports to power piston brass guide tubes since they all broke loose, too
- seal rubber inner tube cooling section with RTV silicone on each cylinder
- wrap fiberglass stove rope around each cylinder above the heat shield to protect the inner tube rubber from the heat
- add a lower heat shield (piece of aluminum gutter) to protect the wood base from heat
- build a 6-burner propane heater from iron pipe, a fireplace log lighter gas valve, a 20-pound tank with regulator, and 6 brass wok burner nozzles (about $1.50 each from Ebay) threaded into the pipe
- double the bearings on the outside supports to limit shaft wobble from power strokes
- seal air leaks around and in the bellows
- install 3 thin plastic rings cut from PVC fittings into the grooves inside each bellows to prevent them from collapsing under negative internal pressure
- add a small air pump to be able to pressurize the cylinders a bit. I think this could eventually be attached to a jack shaft and run off the crank to maintain some pressure in the cylinders since the air leaks out pretty quickly from the displacer rod guides
- install multi-groove pulley on crank to drive applications at varying speeds
- paint heat shield with heat-resistant paint - the original stuff burned off
- install aluminum flex pipe for smoke stack - used on cars for hot air intake from exhaust manifold

The engine is running pretty well now, finally. You can see that when it's idling along at around 400 rpm with a small flame and then I open the gas valve, it responds quickly and passes 1100 rpm in about 20-25 seconds. I've had it over 1200 rpm but I don't see much point in going beyond that - I'd rather load it down and make it work hard at a lower rpm where it develops more torque. I think it would be interesting to try driving a small canoe with this engine, I believe it has the power to do it.

I'm wanting to test the power output now that it seems to run consistently pretty well, and am building a new Prony brake to test it soon. Stay tuned!

Видео 3/6-cylinder Stirling engine update канала Approtechie