Steam engine to drive generator for electricity at the sawmill & shop

[Ianab]

Is there any possibility that a Sterling engine could run a generator? All I really know about them is that one side is hot and the other cold. They are sort of a closed loop engine.

sawdust

Not a crazy idea.

In the 70s AMC actually built a prototype Sterling engine car (OK it was a Pacer). But it could run on petrol, diesel or alcohol and actually got better mileage than a standard engine. Main problem was that it took a minute or so to heat the engine before you could drive. And then petrol got cheap again and the idea was dropped.

The main problem with doing it now is that you cant buy a usefull Stirling engine off the shelf for any sensible price. Seems the only ones you can get now is little desktop demo ones.

But it may be an idea who's time has come again.

This company makes heating units for remote locations that have a small sterling engine built in to produce usefull amounts of electricity as well as heat.
http://www.whispergen.com/main/technology/

As an ad-on to a bio-mizer that could generate a usefull few kw of electricity from the waste heat going up the flue it would be a great option for anyone trying to go off grid.

Cheers

Ian

[clousert]

 i,ve been thinking about building a woodburning downdraft gasfier and using it to run a genarator to power my mill.i,de also tap into the coolant on the motor to provide some heat in my workshop. theres a ton of info on the web about gasifers and paul h from this forum built one to run a pickup truck.

 delbert

twobears, we've thought of this too.  If anyone in central PA has a unit like this, I'd love to see it.  Old engines are cheap, and smoke is easier to make than heat.  I have researched it a little bit.  I don't know how the engine will hold up long term, and what kind of emissions you'd be looking at.

[JimMartin9999]

Here is a company that actually sells small steam engines and gives a realistic list of considerations about their use.
http://www.tinypower.com/