the science behind stirling generator

[ho84]

i am not scientist but i am quite interested in it.
what is the mechanism of stirling generator? solar panel use sun, wind turbine window about stirling? i googled it but cant find the answer.

[PwincessTwiwee]

I believe, now correct me if I am wrong. That the Stirling generators use temperature differentials. In a situation say, on mars - with the thin atmosphere, it is very, very cold. So, couple that Thin Cold Atmosphere with a core of radioactive material decaying and generating a large amount of heat, the temperature differential is used to cycle pistons which in turn generate power... Now why "Opening" them would increase power generation, I have no clue, because the way Stirling Engines work (regardless of being used in conjunction with a generator or not), heating up the surrounding area would reduce power because the temperature differential is less.

[ho84]

thank you! at least i know what i am using!

[Twelvefield]

There is something called a Sterling Engine, predictably invented by Robert Sterling, not so predictably produced back in the early 1800's. It was an alternative to steam engines, in that it used thermal induction to run pistons between two air chambers. The hotter the hot side (presumably radioactive in the game) and the colder the cold side (Martian exposure) the more of a temperature differential you can create, which drives the pistons.

Sterling Engines are becoming popular again because heat is heat and you don't need fancy fuel to operate them. There are a few types of advanced Sterling Engines I won't even pretend to understand that maximize efficiency.

This video describes how they work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQb2sN6UWkA

and here you can buy one that fits on your coffee/tea mug and is utterly fascinating to see in action:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/gifts/Page.aspx?p=66742&cat=4,53210,66742

[ho84]

thx the sterling engine for tea is so cool
yes i googled sterling engine when i am finding stiring generator, i thought engine is consuming rather than generating electricity so i neglected it.
so if the sterling engine is used to push the turbine, it become the generator?