I am interested in making a smaller model (maybe something like 10 to
30 cm^3 in volume) solar fluidyne for pumping water and have found
some good resources on the web and in the local univ library, but
still have some questions that are bugging me, so if you have build
one that works or not I would like to hear your answers.
If I use copper pipe for most of the tubing it see to me that over
time the solar heated section of the hot pipe will conduct heat away
from this area and will warm up the cooler areas and thus decrease the
temp difference between the hot and cold sides with will decrease the
power of the fluidyne. What kind of insulators have you used to
minimize this conduction of heat from hot to cold areas?
I would like to use water, and I understand that people have used
styrofoam, as an insulating float material to help minimize the water
from eva****ating due to the high temperatures of the solar heated
air. Have you used styrofoam, how did it work, what else have you
tried, anyone used a ceramic?
If you used one way valves to do your pumping, what kind did you use
and what did you learn?
More questions to come.
Here are some references if you dont know what I am asking about and
are curious about these fascinating devices.
Proposal
http://www.engin.swarthmore.edu/academics/courses/e90/2005_6/E90Proposal/FK_AO.pdf
Final Re****t - excellent design info on their experience
http://www.engin.swarthmore.edu/academics/courses/e90/2005_6/E90Re****ts/FK_AO_Final.pdf
http://www.midcoast.com/~nlund/engineering/engines/stirlingmanual.pdf
Liquid Piston Stirling Engines, by Colin West, Van nostrand reinhold
Free Piston Stirling Engines, G. Walker & J.R. Senft, springer-verlag
Michael
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