Andrew Hall's Stirling Engine Boat

Andrew Hall's Stirling Engine boat at Beale Park Boat Show, June 2013. Engine originally built by Norris Bomford. Propane burners. Small 12V electric water pump pumps river water through the engine for cooling. Speed about 3-4mph. Designed for UK rivers and canals where the speed limit is 5mph. Direct drive from engine to propeller. Two rudders to steer and brake (pulling both rudders so they are at right angles to the propeller).

[@pjwlk]

Congrats. This is the first useful (non-comercial) implementation of a sterling engine I've seen. Nice work!

[@carmelpule6954]

Congratulations, this is a well thought out engine arrangement. The workmanship is excellent as that vacuum is not obtained through anything else. Well done.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

brilliant !

[@darkscienceyt]

beautiful!

[@stadafradabrikenbraken9106]

lovely

[@ilia77ru2008]

incredible)

[@peatsch2779]

Are there some Kind of math formula available to calculate the temperature difference? It will be so much cooler if the cold water itself could run the engine.

[@keithreynolds7740]

Imagine if you could figure a way to submerse the cooling fins in water. Being able to better reject heat from your radiator means more power for your boat.

[@aziv00]

Water from the lake is pumped around the cool end of the displacer to do exactly that. The fins that are visible are only there because the cylinders are from an old petrol engine.

[@lesnerkroklyn7057]

Car guy should watch this

[@esunisen3862]

Nice engine. You could add a watercooling on the cold side and thermal protection on the hot side to increase efficiency.

[@aziv00]

The cold side is water cooled by the lake water.

[@esunisen3862]

Oh i see, is it this black tube on port side ?

[@SimmoneOrganWorks]

How much power does it have?

[@LuizCma]

Very good, Brasil ok.

[@gogoyhg]

귀여운 엔진이네

[@aydnlademistihbarat2729]

yotutu beyi çok seviyorum.

[@scottneil2427]

How do they stop water from leaking in around the driveshaft? Super tight rubber donut-shape seals?

[@aziv00]

The drive shafts are the normal setup for boats of this size - a rubber seal at the end that goes towards the engine. It doesn't have to be super-tight as water pressures are not high (it's not deep below the waterline). Of course, if it is tight then the friction would take away a lot of the power of the engine.

[@Jefferson-ly5qe]

Haha that's wicked

[@durgeshnikam2553]

Sir, I need help, I want to blow the grass on the river's water. They are stuck in a similar water pipe

[@harrisonlong644]

do these beta engines use propane or butane?

[@aziv00]

LPG (propane)

[@alexpencek2172]

that's awesome

[@johnknox6779]

Looks like VW cylinders

[@tbirdracefan]

Thats what I am thinking too.