STIRLING ENGINES Α, Β, Γ, Ringbom, MANSON Engine: 18 Engines You Can Build

Book excerpt: This book provides invaluable and detailed information on building and optimizing Stirling engines. It's clear organization and the clarity of explanations and instructions have made the original Italian language version of this book a huge success with Stirling Engine enthusiasts. All 260 pages are printed entirely in color and contain a large number of photos and illustrations. 18 of the authors' miniature engines are presented, each with a technical description, geometric characteristics and performance data, photos, and engine technical data sheets. "Excel" files for the necessary calculations can be obtained free of charge by sending an e-mail to the author. These were created by the author for each type of engines, namely Stirling Alpha, Beta, range engines, Ringbom (vertical and horizontal cylinder) and Manson. These make it easy to both design an engine and optimize it; these calculations include all engine volumes, both functional and "dead". The text is organized so it can be understood by readers with varying degrees of knowledge: to facilitate reading, we have grouped the mathematical notes that are not essential for initial understanding at the end of the relevant chapters. The basic thermodynamic concepts are explained in these notes. The text concerns two engines types: the Stirling (including the Ringbom model, which is the best known), and the Manson, sometimes called the Ruppel engine. There are similarities between the two theoretical cycles used in each; in one respect, however, they differ considerably: the cycle used in a Stirling engine produces mechanical energy by utilizing a gas that is hermetically sealed inside; in fact, the seal is not perfect: some inevitable minor losses occur. In contrast, the Manson is not a closed cycle. The engine that uses the Stirling cycle can be made in three configurations, generally called Alfa, Beta, Gamma, in addition to a fourth, the Ringbom type, in which the displacer is "free", i.e. not connected to the crank mechanism. An important consideration for the Beta and Gamma types is the optimization of output power by establishing the correct ratio between the volume of the displacer and the volume of the working cylinder, factoring different temperatures. Efficiency is calculated and examined. The book begins with the Gamma type, which is the easiest to understand, then the remaining Alfa, Beta and Ringbom types, the latter a "free-piston" engine, and concludes with the Manson type.