My first ever low temperature differential Stirling engine, made in 2001.
Main dimensions:
Piston diameter: 18mm
Piston stroke: 10mm
Chamber height: 24mm
Chamber internal diameter: 140mm
Displacer height: 12mm
Flywheel diameter: 200mm
On a cup of hot water this engine will run at 50-100rpm, gradually slowing down as the water cools, until it eventually stops up to half an hour later.
This engine struggles to run from hand heat, the main reason for this being the main axle bearings. They are very bulky, with a 5mm ID and 16mm OD. A bearing of this size might seem to be free running when spun by hand but for a Low temperature engine they are just not free enough.
Later versions of this engine use 3mm ID and 7mm OD un-shielded bearings, which are very free running. The later versions (not pictured) run easily from hand heat.
front
rear
wheel
cylinder
side
top plate
chamber
