Stirling Engine

Stirling Engine and Candle

Relevant Resource questions :

Concepts demonstrated :

• conversion of heat to work (mechanical energy)

Equipment needed :

• steam engine
• solid fuel tablets
• matches
• CCD camera

• Solid fuel tablets are placed into the tray which sits below the water reservoir and is lit.
• The water takes a small period of time to heat up.
• The engine may need a kick start to get it going.

• A3 poster explaining the operation of the engine - difficult to read and understand.

Conversion of energy.

chemical energy (stored potential energy)->; kinetic energy of water ->; driving a piston (work) ->; mechanical energy

Is it possible to talk about the efficiency of the system?

Stored chemical energy = rate of release and "uptake" (?)

Work done = ......

Mechanical energy = ......

Efficiency = Eout / Ein x 100% = .....

• Could hook up an engine to do some "work" e.g. slowly lift a weight.
• Could validate your calculations as "upper limits" estimates etc.
• Could vary weight.

• See "Other Comments" below.
• Only use as a demonstration to show the conversion of potential (chemical), or heat energy into mechanical energy. Only show with other engines.

Things to do or add :

• Redo poster explaining the engine (for use on Open Days, etc.)

• This demonstration is probably only useful to introduce a topic on the conversion of energy. The demo itself provides little useful Physics other than grab the students interest effect.
• The demo is not much used in lectures.
• Use the demonstration in tutorials only or use a CCD camera for in-lecure demonstration.
• The engine is too small and "tinny" ? Perhaps replace it, if it is considered worth it. (-PW)

• David Mills in Applied Physics also has a solar powered steam engine suitable for lecture demonstration.