The Stirling engine
Runs on a cup of coffee. Or on an ice pack.
The revolutionary concept of this hot air engine was invented back in 1816 by Scottish minister Robert Stirling and has now regained particular relevance.
The principle is as ingenious as it is simple: in a sealed cylinder heated at the bottom, a piston pushes the enclosed air back and forth between the hot and cold sides. Each time, the air expands and contracts, and this is converted into a rotary motion by a working piston and a crankshaft.
Any source of heat or cold that can generate a temperature difference can be used as an energy source, from open fires and solar energy to otherwise unused heat or cold.
Place this fully functional Stirling engine on a cup of boiling hot coffee (tea or water will also work, of course), give the flywheel a little push to the left, and the frugal device will begin to pound quietly – for up to an hour!
But that's not all: place it on a cold compress or ice pack from the freezer and push the flywheel to the right – it will continue to chug away, and for even longer.
It's truly amazing.
Kit made of sturdy, die-cut cardboard with a beautifully designed gold print, complete with all accessories, including laser-cut aluminium sheets, low-friction plastic axle bearings and spring steel wire parts.
- Suitable for: secondary school
- Target group: pupils, teachers
- Educational areas: science lessons, technology lessons, physics
- Possible uses: teaching aid, teaching material, craft projects, suitable for school and home use
- Skills: Understanding scientific concepts, fine motor skills, planning and implementing a technology-related project
- Height when assembled: 165 mm, width and depth 126 mm each.
