Dune

This is what always kills me about "scientists". If x is n the y must be 1n. Did it ever ocur to you that if x could be n, without proving y is 1n?

The film is a fake. The length of the shadows don't match. Compare the shadow of the zebra to those of the humans and it is clear.

Thankyou Captain. I would much prefer non pulse operation, I only considered it as a possible nesessity. I am not sure if I have been clear enough in my descriton for you to thoroughly understsand my proposal. The goal is an external combustion engine, utilizing the expansion of air only as the driving force, similar to a stirling cycle engine. I do have an alternative plan which may be required, but I would like to follow the hot air as working fluid plan first, as to pursue the alternative seems to be taking the path of least resistance, at the cost of greater complexity, especialy in relation to the quality of the fuel. I have considered turbochargers many times, however, the power density of the exhaust of an internal combustion engine is much greater than the power density of a wood stove exhaust. Certainly the configuration need be similar,i.e. two turbines sharing a shaft, however, I think that the compression turbine must be much smaller than the expansion turbine. Again, I apreciate your input.

The turbine is connected to a generator in typical fashion. The color green repesents the coolant, which circulates through passages in the turbine housing and is not part of the engine cycle. It does not turn to steam or even boil, but removes heat from the system. The heat emitter is one of the following, radiant floor, baseboard radiator or water to air heat exchanger depending upon the original design of the home's heating system. It seems to me to be more of a modernized open erricson cycle. Pulse would allow the compressed air more time to develop pressure in the expansion chamber, the area at the bottom of the turbine/top of the fire box. The complete cycle is as follows: Cold outside air is forced into the expansion chamber by the compresser. (compression) Air is heat in expansion chamber. (heat input) Air expands, propeling turbine. (expansion) Turbine housing is cooled by water (heat rejection)

This is my first attempt at paint. The quality is poor. Hopefully it is complete enough. I think a pulse sequence may be needed.

Thankyou for your reply Captain. I apologise for my incomplete description. I am attempting to design an external combustion engine utilizing wood (firewood) as fuel. My goal is to entice those already habituated to heating with wood, to also generate electricity though the availability of said engine, a move towards residential Co-generation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogeneration I will create a schematic as quickly as possible.

Hello, I am new to this forum. I got tired of waiting for Engineering Forum.Org to come back on line. I used to ask questions there. In my mind, I equate a stirling cycle engine to a tripple expansion steam piston engine, as compared with a steam turbine. I think that there must be a way to have rotor(s) and stator(s) replace the multitude of parts used in a stirling piston engine. I have thought about this for several years now. I have reached the limits of my mental ability, and need help. Since no one that I know personaly is familar with the stirling cycle, I have come here. My ideas so far; 1. I am considering an open as oposed to a closed system. This greatly simplifies construction. Since cold air is constantly being introduced, the recuperator and regenerator are not needed. The theoretical loss of efficiency does not bother me, as my primary goal is co-gen, the "lost" energy will be used anyhow. My primary question in this regard, is whether the additional force generated by the cold end in the typical (alpha, beta and gamma) engine is needed. 2. I am aware that the difference in volume between water and steam is a ratio of 1-1700 IIRC. This makes steam engines powerful, there is a lot to work with. I imagine that the rate and volume of expansion of air, given a delta T of perhaps 600 degrees F to be dramaticly less. It is possible that I could increase the delta T to 1000 F or thereabouts, max, given my present inability to work with advanced ceramics. With my present goal of 3-5 K.W. electrical generation, could a hot air turbine fit in a house, considering a firebox of at least 24" height must be incorperated beneath the turbine? How do I calculate or determine the increase in volume of air for a given temp rise? 3. I surmise that it may be necessary to compress the cold air which enters the "hot end" or expansion chamber in order to create an effective engine. Do others agree? If compression of the cold air is required, I would like, if possible, to incorperate the compresser into the (hopefully) single rotor. I asume that the parasitic drain would be overcome by added effiency. I am completely unconcerned, at this point, with fuel effiency. 4. I am aware of the operation of centrifical pumps. They draw fluid into the center of the rotor and expel it though the outer circumference. This seems to me to be more effective than impulse or reaction style. In this case, the nozzles would be integral to the turbine. I realize that this is the oposite effect of a Tessla turbine, however,the air should be accelerating, as opposed to slowing, as in the Tessla turbine. The other possibility is a Tessla turbine, but perhaps they require greater pressure/ flow rates than could ever be acheived. I seem to recall that Tessla's turbine needs at least 35 P.S.I. to work at all. 5. It occurs to me that due to the low amount of working energy available, a wide turbine would be needed, many turbines on one rotor. I also occurs to me that a larger diameter would compensate for the weak work force. I don't have the knowledge to differentiate between the two concepts. Help in this area would be especialy benificial. 5. I feel that I am overlooking something so basic as to be embarrassing. I cannot put my finger on it, which is why I am posting here. In my mind, I cannot see the entire enterprise at once, only segments at a time. I am not an engineer. I am a competent machinist, fully equipped to manufacture a prototype. I appreciate any and all responses. I will take offence at none, however, kindness is always appreciated.