Stirling engine
External combustion engine
A Stirling engine is an external combustion engine that operates by cyclically compressing and expanding a sealed gas at different temperatures.
Unlike internal combustion engines, the heat source remains outside the cylinder—solar concentrators, burning fuel, or even body heat can power one.
Stirling engines are quiet and efficient but have seen limited commercial adoption: The off-grid cabin ran on a wood-fired Stirling engine.
Transferred thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- expansionIncrease in scope
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- regeneratorDevice that renews
cooling · heating · gas · conduction · convection · radiation · isothermal · entropy
Reciprocating cylinder component
- flywheelRotational energy storage device
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- displacerWhat shifts something else
- cylinderCircular-based solid form
rotation · torque · shaft · bearings · linkage · kinematic · reciprocating
Electricity-producing machine
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
Obvious; inventor's monopoly
- caloric theoryHeat as material substance
- PhilipsElectronics and healthcare conglomerate
- revivalReturn after decline
- NASAFederal space exploration bureau
Changing power between forms
- fuel economyVehicle efficiency rating
- low emissionsMinimal pollutant output
- solar-poweredEnergized by sunlight
- sealed systemEnclosure preventing external exchange
longevity · low maintenance · reliability · cogeneration · off-grid
heat
Transferred thermal energy
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- expansionIncrease in scope
- compressionForcing into smaller space
regenerator · cooling · heating · gas · conduction · convection · radiation · isothermal · entropy · heat sink
piston
Reciprocating cylinder component
- flywheelRotational energy storage device
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- displacerWhat shifts something else
cylinder · rotation · torque · shaft · bearings · linkage · kinematic · reciprocating
generator
Electricity-producing machine
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
patent
Obvious; inventor's monopoly
- caloric theoryHeat as material substance
- PhilipsElectronics and healthcare conglomerate
- revivalReturn after decline
energy conversion
Changing power between forms
- fuel economyVehicle efficiency rating
- low emissionsMinimal pollutant output
- solar-poweredEnergized by sunlight
sealed system · longevity · low maintenance · reliability · cogeneration · off-grid
- green energywind power, solar power, renewables, solar farm, solar panel
- machinerymachinery, industrial machinery, motors, motor, machines
- enginesV8, turbine, outboard motor, electric motor, inline-six
- propulsionjet, rocket, thrusting, jets, rockets
- thermodynamicsentropy, enthalpy, heat transfer, free energy, heat capacity
- backup powergenerator, battery backup, backup power, backup generator, APU
Stirling engineinternal combustion engine
Heat-driven mechanical powerplant
gasoline engine · diesel engine · two-stroke engine · four-stroke engine · rotary engine
engine, engineer, engineering, engines, engineered, reengineer, reengineering, Sterling