Sterling Engine Technology (SET) work best in machines that need to produce power continuously using the difference between something hot and something cold. They're ideal for solar power plants, where the Sun's heat plays on a mirror that acts as the heat source, and high-efficiency combined heat and power plants that need to produce steady supplies of electricity.

 The biggest advantage of Sterling Engine Technology (SET) is that they're much more efficient than steam engines (largely because of the closed cycle and regenerative heat exchanger). They don't have boilers that can explode, don't need supplies of water, and don't have the complex system of opening and closing valves that steam engines require. That's one reason why they're much quieter than steam engines and, because they don't necessarily involve burning fuel, can be much cleaner. Unlike steam enines, which typically burn coal to boil water, Sterling Engine Technology (SET) can run from all kinds of different fuels.

There are a few basic parts to the kind of Sterling Engine Technology (SET) we are going to build. There is the flywheel, power piston and displacer. The power piston is what captures the expansion and contraction of the working fluid. The displacer moves air inside the engine to heat                     it up or cool it off. The flywheel keeps momentum and turns the engine to the next stage while the power piston isn't pushing or on the pull stroke when it is weaker.

Sterling Engine Technology (SET)  heat and cool a working fluid (air) to cause it to expand and contract to push and pull on the power piston which turns the fly wheel and causes the displacer to change positions. There are 4 steps in this process:

1. The displacer is lifted and the air is pushed to the heated side, causing the air to heat up

2. The heated air expands and pushes the piston out, turning the wheel

3. The displacer is lowered and moves the air to the cooler side

4. The cooled air contracts pulling the piston in, turning the wheel causing the cycle to repeat.

 

Sterling Engine Technology (SET) Applications

Sterling Engine Technology (SET) are now starting to gain popularity for it's high fuel efficiency and being relatively quiet while running. They are used in some generators as they can be powered by any heat source like solar or gas/wood flame. There are larger scale solar farms that produce power using stirling engines. 

The navy has built a line of stirling powered submarines, or air independent propulsion submarines. They are the newest diesel electric subs that can stay underwater for several times longer than other diesel electric vessels, something only nuclear subs could do.

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