Stirling Engines
I find myself returning night after night, to the topic of Stirling Engines. They are closed and elegant and IMO technology seems to be reaching a point where they can generate enough power to not be looked upon as a complete joke. Infinia seems to have a pretty nice lock on the 3kW version and a very elegant solar array and tracker. I've got what I think is a pretty good idea, but I can't seem to find anyone who is willing to part with the engine. All companies involved like to either bundle the engine with their solution or sign a lengthy partnership agreement. Whatever happened to, "I give you money and you give me your product"? It's funny how new technologies are all bundled. I suppose that when the Model T arrived, Ford made every single part.
As I buzz through in my head about the potential for the Stirling Engine, I can't help but forsee hundreds of niche markets being created. Stirling Engines need heat (more specifically heat differential) in order to operate. They love 900 deg C. This is pretty easy to get to with fire of most sorts. It's also not that hard to get with solar. My point here is that this opens up a market for a device that can essentially be a heat switching station smoothly transitioning between solar generated heat and natural gas or methane or wodd chips. It really should not care. It would be relatively sophisticated and could transfer the heat produced to the Stirling engine though air, oil, or some medium.
The stirling engine drives an alternator to make electricity, but there would clearly be times when the alternator could be driven by something other than heat, say wind at night saving a fossil fuel burn since solar power is a no-go. The vision here is for an alternator that can be driven by the cheapest fuel source (capable of generating the needed current) at any given moment.
It's time like this when I wish I knew how to lathe and use a welder.
