# Stirling engine brainstorm **URL:** \ **Category:** Conversion Kits\ **Created:** [September 7, 2008, 11:07am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/stirling-engine-brainstorm/962 "2008-09-07T11:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jfarrackand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@jfarrackand](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jfarrackand)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 11:07am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/stirling-engine-brainstorm/962/1 "2008-09-07T11:07:01Z")
Hello, like many of you I’m ticked off at gas prices and would like to get rid of the oil monkey. However I dont have the time or cash to do a EV conversion due to a new child, new dog, new house and a relatively new job. I have a background in Mechanical engineering and have done some field electrical installations so I can work with my hands if needed. Anyway here’s my idea. How about a stirling engine to recharge your low range batteries? > **[Stirling engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine)** > > A Stirling engine is a heat engine that is operated by a cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas (the working fluid) at different temperatures, such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. More specifically, the Stirling engine is a closed-cycle regenerative heat engine with a permanently gaseous working fluid. Closed-cycle, in this context, means a thermodynamic system in which the working fluid is permanently contained within the system, and regenera Origi... One of the things I noticed about stirling engines are that they can be solar powered and operate with a 5 deg Celsius differential. Heres a homemade Stirling generator [http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/stirling\_generator.htm](http://www.windstuffnow.com/main/stirling_generator.htm) Using a propane torch he was able to charge a 12 volt batttry. So how about 10 stirlings daisy chained together with the hydrogen from a Joe Cell heating them? A propane torch will give you a temp of approx 2,000 celsius > **[Propane torch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propane_torch)** > > A propane torch is a tool normally used for the application of flame or heat which uses propane, a hydrocarbon gas, for its fuel. Propane is one of a group of by-products of the natural gas and petroleum industries known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Propane and other fuel torches are most commonly used in the manufacturing, construction and metal-working industries. > Propane is often the fuel of choice because of its low price, ease of storage and availability, hence the name "propane torch"... A hydrogen flame in air will give youa bout 2,100 Celsius > **[Oxyhydrogen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyhydrogen)** > > Oxyhydrogen is a mixture of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) gases. This gaseous mixture is used for torches to process refractory materials and was the first > gaseous mixture used for welding. Theoretically, a ratio of 2:1 hydrogen:oxygen is enough to achieve maximum efficiency; in practice a ratio 4:1 or 5:1 is needed to avoid an oxidizing flame. > This mixture may also be referred to as Knallgas (Scandinavian and German Knallgas: "bang-gas"), although some authors define knallgas to be a generic ... Obviously insulating would be needed but what do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![voltsrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b487fb/32.png) [@voltsrus](https://community.electricforum.com/u/voltsrus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/stirling-engine-brainstorm/962/2 "2008-09-07T13:32:02Z")
There is a much simpler solution. Just purchase a Zenn Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). They are available now, they don’t cost a fortune, and - for most people - they will handle the vast majority of ones driving needs. Mine is adjusted so that the max speed is 37 MPH, adequate for all of the city streets I travel. My Zenn is used 100 percent for all of my local errands, and when I need to get on a freeway or interstate, I dust off the cobwebs on my ICE vehicle and use it. Savings are outstanding. Gasoline purchases are down by 75 percent, and I hardly even notice the small amount my electric bill has gone up (for charging the NEVs batteries). It is so cool. 🆒 [QUOTE=jfarrackand;4914]Hello, like many of you I’m ticked off at gas prices and would like to get rid of the oil monkey. However I dont have the time or cash to do a EV conversion due to a new child, new dog, new house and a relatively new job. ---
**Author:** ![jfarrackand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@jfarrackand](https://community.electricforum.com/u/jfarrackand)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/stirling-engine-brainstorm/962/3 "2008-09-07T17:00:19Z")
Due to the nature of my employment I can be assigned to a job site 12 minutes away (the closest so far) or 58 minutes away (the furthest so far) via freeway/highway. Currently I’m driving 40 minutes to work mostly freeway, and a good portion of it is highway driving at 70mph. What I’m brainstorming about is a way to completely break the ICE necessity at my house. ---
**Author:** ![voltsrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b487fb/32.png) [@voltsrus](https://community.electricforum.com/u/voltsrus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/stirling-engine-brainstorm/962/4 "2008-09-07T21:12:48Z")
Them you will have to wait - but not very long. Several electric vehicle manufacturers will be offering highway capable EVs in about a year. For example, Zenn will be offering an all-electric EV in late 2009 called the cityZenn. It will have a 250 mile range and a maximum speed of 85 mph. So hang in there. 🙂 By the way, I like my Zenn - but I have no connection to the Zenn Motor Company. I’m just a retired guy in my mid seventies and an enthusiastic Zenn owner. [QUOTE=jfarrackand;4916]Due to the nature of my employment I can be assigned to a job site 12 minutes away (the closest so far) or 58 minutes away (the furthest so far) via freeway/highway. Currently I’m driving 40 minutes to work mostly freeway, and a good portion of it is highway driving at 70mph. What I’m brainstorming about is a way to completely break the ICE necessity at my house.[/QUOTE]