3B Scientific Low Temperature Stirling Engine, Acrylic - Manual

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Operating instructions
3B SCIENTIFIC® PHYSICS
U10060 Low-temperature Stirling engine
1/03 ALF
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1 Top plate
2 Housing wall
3 Bottom plate
4 Displacement piston
5 Cylinder with operating piston
6 Housing with crankshaft
7 Flywheel
®
This low-temperature model is used to demonstrate
the operation and basic design of a Stirling engine.
1. Safety instructions
• The Stirling engine does not need any lubrication.
• Avoid exposure of the device to dust.
• Do not clean the device with acetone or similar sol-
vents.
2. Description, technical data
The low-temperature Stirling engine can be powered
by the warmth of the human hand alone. It only re-
quires a temperature difference of about 5°C between
the bottom and top plates.
The operating cylinder consists of precision glass, while
the displacement cylinder and flywheel are made of
acrylic glass. This allows the movement of the operat-
ing piston, displacement piston and crank mechanism
to be observed clearly. The crankshaft and connecting
rod are furnished with high-precision miniature ball
bearings in order to minimize losses due to friction.
The matt black coating of the top plate also allows the
Stirling engine to run on solar energy.
Speed: Approximately 80 rpm at ∆T 10ºC
Flywheel: 110 mm Ø
Dimensions: 138 mm x 110 mm Ø
3. Procedure
• Place the Stirling engine on your hand or any other
warm surface, e.g. across the rim of a cup of coffee.
• The bottom plate will heat up sufficiently after 1
or 2 minutes. In warm weather, the temperature
difference might prove too small, in which case the
top plate would need to be cooled with a moist
cloth.
• Set the flywheel in clockwise motion (relative to the
front end of the crankshaft).
• The Stirling engine will turn anti-clockwise if the
top plate heats up, for instance, through solar ra-
diation or warmth emanated by a lamp. For this
purpose, place the engine on a cool surface such
as a window sill.
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3B Scientific GmbH • Rudorffweg 8 • 21031 Hamburg • Germany • www.3bscientific.com • Technical amendments are possible