Stirling Engine
Version 0.1
Design
Two beta style engines coupled together.
Piston
I want to use a piston instead of a diaphragm because it has a larger displacement, more displacement equals more power. I want to build my diaphragm using a steel wool core and some small pieces of metal (coat-hanger?) to reinforce it, pour concrete over that and seal the whole thing with silicon. This should allow me to make any shape I want while still getting a good smooth seal.
Notes
I saw a video using metal water bottles for the chamber - metal and already very smooth.
Combustion Heat Transfer
I would like to build a wood burning model and attempt to produce a very efficient heat transfer.
The cold portion will be water cooled. The pump is operated by the engine. The water reservoir will have a heat sink. A fan will pump air over the heat sink. That air (now slightly warmed) passes through a heat exchange with the exhaust. It is then forced in to the combustion chamber (wood burning). The exhaust from the combustion chamber is then forced back through the heat exchange, where most of the energy is reclaimed.