STIRLING THERMAL MOTORS,

ABSTRACT:
The STM4-120 engine, now under development at Stirling Thermal Motors, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, embodies a new concept in Stir ling engine technology. This versatile engine is suitable for many applications and heat sources. The STM4-120, rated at 40 kW at 2800 rpm, is a four-cylinder, double-acting, variable displacement Stirling engine with pressurized crankcase and rotating shaft seal. It incorporates indirect heating technology with a stacked heat exchanger configuration and a liquid metal heat pipe connected to a distinctly separate combustor or other heat source. It specifically emphasizes high
efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions, long life, and low manufacturing and material cost. This article describes the new engine, its design philosophy and approach, its projected performance, the testing program currently in progress, and some of its more attractive applications.… (lisätietoja)