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Status
Electronic Resource
Call number
Publication
DOE NASA 0032 28; Report; October 1976.
Language
Library's review
ABSTRACT:
This report presents the culmination of years of work by many dedicated individuals. It describes an engine that places the US at the forefront of a new, dynamic technology The need for this engine was recognized by Congress in the mid-1970s when it sought to protect our nation from the
efficiency and multifuel capability over existing engines was envisioned.
The Stirling engine is this alternative. Invented in the early nineteenth century; the Stirling engine was regarded as a laboratory curiosity and was not taken seriously by the engineering community. What hampered its development? Two reasons are evident. As a heat engine, the Stirling must operate at high temperature, e.g., 700°C (1292°F), and the long-life, high-temperature materials necessary were not available. Second, early Stirling engines were slow-running machines that produced low power and therefore could not compete with the more versatile spark ignition and diesel engines. These reasons are no longer valid, as evidenced by the work described in this report.
This report presents the culmination of years of work by many dedicated individuals. It describes an engine that places the US at the forefront of a new, dynamic technology The need for this engine was recognized by Congress in the mid-1970s when it sought to protect our nation from the
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vulnerability of a dependency on a sole type of fuel. An alternative power plant-one with superiorefficiency and multifuel capability over existing engines was envisioned.
The Stirling engine is this alternative. Invented in the early nineteenth century; the Stirling engine was regarded as a laboratory curiosity and was not taken seriously by the engineering community. What hampered its development? Two reasons are evident. As a heat engine, the Stirling must operate at high temperature, e.g., 700°C (1292°F), and the long-life, high-temperature materials necessary were not available. Second, early Stirling engines were slow-running machines that produced low power and therefore could not compete with the more versatile spark ignition and diesel engines. These reasons are no longer valid, as evidenced by the work described in this report.
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