Ringbom Stirling Engines

Book excerpt: The Ringbom engine, an elegant simplification of the Stirling, is increasingly emerging as a viable, multipurpose engine. Despite its technical elegance, high-speed stable operation capabilities, and potential as an environment-friendly energy source, the advantages manifest in Ringbom design have been slowly realized, due in large to part to its often enigmatic operating regime. This book presents for the first time a clear, tractable mathematical model of the dynamic properties of the Ringbom, resulting in a theorem that offers a complete characterization of the stable operating mode of the engine. The author here details the research leading to the development of the Ringbom and illustrates theoretical results, engine characteristics, and design principles using data from actual Ringbom engines. Throughout the book, the author emphasizes an understanding of Ringbom engine properties through closed form mathematical analysis and lucidly details how his mathematical derivations apply to real engines. Extensive descriptions of the engine hardware are included to aid those interested in their construction. Mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers concerned with power systems, power generation, energy conservation, solar energy, and low-temperature physics will find this monograph a comprehensive and technically rich introduction to Stirling Ringbom engine technology.