A Stirling Engine which runs of a coffee cup

Created on 01-31-01 - JLN Labs - Updated on 02-02-01

The Stirling-cycle engine has been patented in 1816 by Robert Stirling, a Scottish engineer. The Stirling-cycle engine runs on the expansion and contraction of a gas forced between separate hot and cold chambers. The resulting change in volume is then used to drive a piston, which can then be used to power external devices.

Imagine a compact, quiet power plant that delivers some kilowatts of electricity-plus hot water for heating. Let's say this power source is also virtually pollution-free, able to burn most fuels, and requires minimal maintenance.

I have purchased my own Stirling Engine model at the American Stirling Company, the model is the "Coffee Cup Stirling Engine MM-1". This model works very well and turn at a high speed on a simple coffee cup filled with water and heated in a simple microwaves oven...

When the air inside the engine is heated it expands and pushes up on the piston.
Then when the air is cooled, it contracts and pulls down on the piston.

See the video of the Stirling engine MM-1 inaction

Download the Video of the test ( size 989 kb )

To see this video, the free downloadable RealPlayer is required

Interesting links, patents and documents references :

• "Cantilevered crankshaft stirling cycle machine" by Dean Kamen and Co ( May 16, 2000 ) : Patent US6062023

• Analysis of a recent Stirling engine patent of Dean Kamen and others

• American Stirling Home page

• Full Power: About the New Stirling engine patents from Dean Kamen

• A tutorial for assembling yourself the MM-1 coffee cup Stirling engine

• Stirling engine history

• BUILD YOURSELF YOUR OWN STIRLING ENGINE ( Full detailled diagrams ) from Steam&Engine from australia

• A low temperature Stirling Engine by Penn Clower from Live Steam Magazine

• Let's Build a Can Stirling Engine by Mr.Saburo Tsucchida ( with full diagrams and photos )

• The Stirling engine home page from Koichi Hirata ( Must be visited, many diagrams, plans and photos )

• The Stirling Engine at Ship Research Institute

• A replication of the Can Stirling Engine by Bob Blick

• Laken's Stirling engines and Model Engineering ( with full diagrams and photos )

• The Fizgig Stirling engine by Mick Collins ( with full diagrams and photos )

• The Roy Rice's Stirling Engines

• The Swiss Stirling Society

• The Stirling Engine - The Aircraft Power Plant of the Future from Quiet Revolution Motor company LLC
• "Fluid displacement apparatus and method" by Quiet Revolution Motor company ( May 23, 2000 ) : Patent US6065289

• A two stages Stirling cooler at the NASA

• An Acoustic Stirling Heat engine at the Los Alamos National Laboratory

• Stirling engines and Hot air engines, documentation, diagrams, pictures...

• Many photos of various Stirling engines by Ken Rhodes

• Developpement of 1kW Stirling engine by Donald Isaac, Jr. from Tamin Enterprises