Great Video! Finally really made me understand that the displacer piston is not affected by pressure differentials, but rather is moved by the power piston. All the other animations I've ever seen made me think the displacer piston was pushed on the bottom by expanding hot air while the top was pulled up by the vacuum of condensing air. I finally understand that only the power piston is effected, because it has one side to atmospheric pressure, and the displacer piston is just there to move around the gas so the gas is expanding or condensing overall... whew! So weird that I never really understood that before... now I can look at a stirling engine without my head hurting. Thank you!
This video is wonderful and this comment allowed me to understand this concept that I may have missed without reading this. Thank you both for your time!!!
I concur it finally made sense to me in this video and your comment helped it sink in. Thank you both it was making me crazy for a while, I’ll sleep better tonight . LoL 🙏
Just watched 5 other videos about how a Sterling engine works before finding this one. This was the first one that actually made sense. Thanks for explaining the concept and not just the construction =)
I watched two other Stirling engine "how it works" vids, both were over ten minutes, I didn't get either of them being the expanding gases makes it all move. This vid at less than five minutes explained it all much more efficiently. Than you for this vid :)
This is a really good video. Compared to the other videos I've seen, this guy really knows how to explain things well. He introduces concepts and computer generated models sequentially so that you understand operations from the simple on to the more complex. BRAVO 👏 Others can definitely learn from you
This is outstanding. Short and to the point, and really helped me understand. Like many people, all the other explanations were confusing me about how it works. Thank you for such a great video!
Thank you! I wanted to build a stirling engine but all of the sources I could find would tell the function in a confusing manner, with different sources giving different answers. This really helped!
You really made a fantastic video, the best one about stirling engines by far, you really explained the basics in such a way everybody can understand it. Great job
Thanks so much! understood all the principles behind the engine, but wasn't really grasping how it all came together. Watched a few other videos that were mostly flashy demos, when I just wanted a simple animation, time to watch it, and a clear explanation!
Great Video! Yours is the first one that I've come across where someone actually talks and D explains what's going on. Easier to grasp the concept, at least for me. I was starting to think that none of the Sterling Engine crowd could speak. Thanks for a great and informative video!
Going back many years when I was living in Western Australia I was working at the siding called Hines Hill & in the bar of the hotel they had a Stirling engine fan. The driving force was a small flame I think produced by kerosene. If the only one I've ever seen and it is always add me fascinated and it is memories of that that brought me to this page. Thank you very much for the explanation.
I have been looking at vids for this engine for a few weeks and have wanted to try to make one for myself. I have looked at a few various "how too" vids but i was none the wiser on the priciples of the actual workings of the engine. Thankyou Michael S, i got a good idea now from your excellent explaination and demo.
Very, very good!!! And almost perfect. Since you have such great animation, I would add arrows or some other way of showing the air expanding below the displacer and moving into the power piston and then the cooler air above the displacer contracting and pulling down the power piston. Thank you very much for a great explanation!!!!
Really informative. Thanks! Learning about different types of solar thermal power production (which includes Stirling engines), so naturally I ended up here.
I didnt understand before. I thought the big piston was actually the one being acted on, but to my surprise it is the smaller piston that is acted upon! Great explanation.
This is the best production that explains Stirling engines both in animation and examples. I have watched many but most videos seem to assume you know more about the engine than you do. Thank you for producing such a well made and explanatory video. I wish others would take notice of this and do it in a similar format as you have.
Thanks! I'm not sure about all types of Stirling engines, but this type won't start on its own. You have to spin the flywheel before it will start. It of course also needs heat energy in the form of a temperature difference between the top and bottom before it will run.
Literally the best video on SEs. Simplistically done, marvelously explained. Thank you ! The only thing I don't understand is that how is it enough time for the air to exchange heat, when the engine movies at such high RPMs..
I'm not an expert beyond the basics, but sources I've read seem to agree that Stirling engines have the potential to be very efficient. I believe this is at least in part because the heat that is put into it is not sent out an exhaust pipe like it is with a gasoline engine for example.
There's a science facility in Iceland I've seen and a friend worked in for 2 months. They're connected to the grid, but most of the time by he put energy back into it. Because Iceland is so far north it's temperate in the summer because of the gulf stream (like here in Ireland) but cold in the winter (a lot more than Ireland). They use the geothermal energy to heat the bottom of what he was told were 12 engines that power 2 alternators (6 engines each) between these and their emergency battery back they run practically fossil fuel free 12 months a year. Even their heating system is heated with a coil like an emersion. Granted it's slower than a gas or oil burner, burn its more reliable (according to them) and can simply be left on at a certain current setting depending on what time of the year. I really think it's a highly simple machine that can be tuned to take advantage of an specific temperature differential. Their engines looked more like the fire field ones you can get or see on TH-cam, rather than Rhian low differential one. This permits more revs (as far as I'm told). However as much as I'd like to know... I dont know the exact physics behind tuning them. Either way, not even my love for rotary engines can beat my fascination of these! I'd love to see them used in computer server rooms one plate and the flywheel in the room, the other plate as part of the outer wall of the building. Imagine the energy savings! Grasshopper tea your not getting energy for free, it's measly recycling a large portion of lost heat energy from the current in the server electronics. Or like in Iceland. Use geothermal energy in cold climates, or cool underground temperatures in warm climates (that may not be as efficient or successful though). Hey stick them in a car or god bless you if someone reads this and stick 's one in a Bike..... (But efficiency may be a problem on that part...) Either way... Best engine i by he world olid you asked me...
Clear explanation and now I know the diffrence between hot cold (stirling)engine and an internal combustion engine. I hope to see more about these kind of fun science facts and mysteries
The Swedish Navy recently deployed a submarine with a Sterling engine! It burns diesel fuel for heat and it is extremely efficient and here's the best part: it is virtually SILENT compared to more common nuclear and diesel-electric types! This makes it extremely stealthy and thus one of the best submarines on earth. The US Navy "lost" an Aircraft Carrier to one of these Swedish Sterling engine subs in war games and so the US has leased one of the amazing boats, to study it's amazing properties!
The HMS (HSwMS) Gotland and its sibling Uppland were actually made back in 1995... but they were upgraded somewhat recently with improved Stirling engines. (Amongst other things.) Also those war games + lease were back in 2005-2007. (All according to Wikipedia....)
Had to watch it 2 times. Now I get it, and hope this helps someone: the displacer is NOT moved by the air at all, but by the piston. It's so simple now, wish you mentioned that. I was getting stuck at "how in the hell does the air move the displacer so it can move the piston and so on?" 😂
Great Video! Finally really made me understand that the displacer piston is not affected by pressure differentials, but rather is moved by the power piston. All the other animations I've ever seen made me think the displacer piston was pushed on the bottom by expanding hot air while the top was pulled up by the vacuum of condensing air. I finally understand that only the power piston is effected, because it has one side to atmospheric pressure, and the displacer piston is just there to move around the gas so the gas is expanding or condensing overall... whew! So weird that I never really understood that before... now I can look at a stirling engine without my head hurting. Thank you!
You're welcome! Thank you and everyone else for the nice comments.
I had the exact same issue! This is the first time I could really understand how it works.
This video is wonderful and this comment allowed me to understand this concept that I may have missed without reading this. Thank you both for your time!!!
Me too - thanks for clearing that up
I concur it finally made sense to me in this video and your comment helped it sink in. Thank you both it was making me crazy for a while, I’ll sleep better tonight . LoL 🙏
This really helped me understand my Stirling engine. Thank you!
Ditto
Yup
I just got here from your video!
Oh cool hi
Yes , a first rate explanation
I've seen a lot of videos trying to describe how Stirling engines work. Yours is by far the clearest.
Thank you! After watching 4 other "How it works" videos, I still didn't have a clue. Now I do. Thank you very much. Perfectly explained!!!
That's probably the best explanation I've see on how a stirling engine works. Thanks!
what a great explanation. i think the reason it works so well is leaving the dispalcer out to begin with.
Just watched 5 other videos about how a Sterling engine works before finding this one. This was the first one that actually made sense. Thanks for explaining the concept and not just the construction =)
Same here, the ice part was really cool.
Thank you! I appreciate that you broke it down to where each force is acting when and what the cause of the force is. Great explanation!
Liked and subscribed btw
Thank you, I searched a lot for a full explanation that explains the details of the mechanism of work, and this explanation is the best
Is this about thermodynamics?
I am only half way through and this is already the best explanation of a Stirling Engine. Thank you.
This is litteraly the only video on stirling engines that actually explains it well.
I watched two other Stirling engine "how it works" vids, both were over ten minutes, I didn't get either of them being the expanding gases makes it all move. This vid at less than five minutes explained it all much more efficiently. Than you for this vid :)
I love this video I watched it because I have one and wanted to know how it works thank you very much
You are the first person I have encountered who can explain a Sterling engine in plain English. Thanks, for this useful video!
Best explanation of the engine that uses the power piston! Thanks for sharing!!
You don't need the dis-placer, just drill some holes on the top of the cylinder to let cool air in and hot air out.
This is a really good video. Compared to the other videos I've seen, this guy really knows how to explain things well. He introduces concepts and computer generated models sequentially so that you understand operations from the simple on to the more complex. BRAVO 👏 Others can definitely learn from you
This is the only video in the results for “how a sterling engine works” that is worth watching. Thank you!
Micheal, thank you for your time, effort and very simple explanation. I think these models are brilliant, and i am planning to build one myself.
Best explanation so far. Many explanations are creating confusion between piston and displacer.
Every other video I watched I couldn’t understand but this one finally made me understand thanks so much!
This is outstanding. Short and to the point, and really helped me understand. Like many people, all the other explanations were confusing me about how it works. Thank you for such a great video!
Thank you! I wanted to build a stirling engine but all of the sources I could find would tell the function in a confusing manner, with different sources giving different answers. This really helped!
You really made a fantastic video, the best one about stirling engines by far, you really explained the basics in such a way everybody can understand it. Great job
Thanks so much! understood all the principles behind the engine, but wasn't really grasping how it all came together.
Watched a few other videos that were mostly flashy demos, when I just wanted a simple animation, time to watch it, and a clear explanation!
Best explanation of a Stirling Engine I've heard.
Best sterling engine explanation ever!
you have no idea how much i apreciatte you
You have the only correct and good explanation of this on youtube haha. Thank you.
Great Video! Yours is the first one that I've come across where someone actually talks and
D explains what's going on. Easier to grasp the concept, at least for me. I was starting to think that none of the Sterling Engine crowd could speak. Thanks for a great and informative video!
The explanation of the displacer was helpful.
Going back many years when I was living in Western Australia I was working at the siding called Hines Hill & in the bar of the hotel they had a Stirling engine fan. The driving force was a small flame I think produced by kerosene. If the only one I've ever seen and it is always add me fascinated and it is memories of that that brought me to this page. Thank you very much for the explanation.
thank you Mr Michael for this explain prototype and animation help any one not engineer understand the concept hot gas engine
This hit my recommended list in early 2021. Even 7 1/2 years later it's still the best explanation of how a Stirling engine works. Great job!
i cant say more thanks for u, such a good-designed video! i can not know more clearly about the striling engine!!!!
The best explanation of a sterling engine that I have seen. Thank you!
Thats awesome. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. You've done a great job at explaining the cycle in an easy to follow manor.
Best Stirling cycle explanation on TH-cam! Thank you!
I have been looking at vids for this engine for a few weeks and have wanted to try to make one for myself. I have looked at a few various "how too" vids but i was none the wiser on the priciples of the actual workings of the engine. Thankyou Michael S, i got a good idea now from your excellent explaination and demo.
Excellent explanation of how it works. After watching several others,I finally got it.
My
Exceptionally well explained! Such basic thermodynamics explained like crap all over the internet. You have however done a very good job! Thank You!
Great video. You really made it simple to understand how it works. Thanks
Fantastic animation! Thank you for explaining things so clearly.
Finally, the video that really explain how the motor works !!!!
U were able to transfer the ideas.
Great video, thank u.
Finally. Someone who actually EXPLAINS it.
I need to make a presentation in physics explaining how a Stirling engine works. Thanks to you, I finally understood
Very, very good!!! And almost perfect. Since you have such great animation, I would add arrows or some other way of showing the air expanding below the displacer and moving into the power piston and then the cooler air above the displacer contracting and pulling down the power piston. Thank you very much for a great explanation!!!!
The best I have found, by a large margin. Now I understand. Thank you very much.
One of the through video reference for how sterling engine works. Thanks.
Really informative. Thanks! Learning about different types of solar thermal power production (which includes Stirling engines), so naturally I ended up here.
Fascinating
Best explanation on TH-cam
Dear Michael, can you please tell me where you bought this Stirling Engine from ? thanks
I didnt understand before. I thought the big piston was actually the one being acted on, but to my surprise it is the smaller piston that is acted upon! Great explanation.
Thank you so much for this , Finally this help me to understand the action of Stirling engine !!!
nice explanation, I was having a hard time understanding how this model of Stirling engines worked. this was the best explanation.
Simple and clear explanation.
They have a practical use sitting on top of a wood burning stove to move the hot air around
This is the best production that explains Stirling engines both in animation and examples. I have watched many but most videos seem to assume you know more about the engine than you do. Thank you for producing such a well made and explanatory video. I wish others would take notice of this and do it in a similar format as you have.
Yes!
Michael, really nice job at explaining and demonstrating the principle. Well done and thanks!
Simple and best explanation I ever come across, nice one
Thanks! I'm not sure about all types of Stirling engines, but this type won't start on its own. You have to spin the flywheel before it will start. It of course also needs heat energy in the form of a temperature difference between the top and bottom before it will run.
Best explanation of this - PERIOD. Thank you!
Thank you for the brilliant explanation.
Thank you for sharing. Indeed helped me a lot. It was a big motivation for me to build one. Thank you again.
Thank you, that was a really clear description
Thank you! What a joy to understand the world just a little bit more.
Thank you very much, in my opinion, best explanation out there.
Thanks a lot Michael, it is the best explanation of striling engine!
You did that beautifully
Thank you so much
-from South Korea
Wicked video. That engine is a marvel of engineering 🙂😊
Literally the best video on SEs. Simplistically done, marvelously explained. Thank you !
The only thing I don't understand is that how is it enough time for the air to exchange heat, when the engine movies at such high RPMs..
Thanks! Yes, it's amazing and counter-intuitive that the air can expand and contract so fast.
Magic?
lovely video. well done
Wow! Great explanation and animation!
Thank u soo much brother..I understood clearly what a Stirling engine is
Great visual explanation, cheers!
Nice video. Clear explanation, graphics sand demonstration.
Best description of the gamma engine I've found!
I'm not an expert beyond the basics, but sources I've read seem to agree that Stirling engines have the potential to be very efficient. I believe this is at least in part because the heat that is put into it is not sent out an exhaust pipe like it is with a gasoline engine for example.
Finally an explanation that makes sense!! Thanks Michael.
So simple the explanation. Very good this video. Thanks to you! André
There's a science facility in Iceland I've seen and a friend worked in for 2 months. They're connected to the grid, but most of the time by he put energy back into it. Because Iceland is so far north it's temperate in the summer because of the gulf stream (like here in Ireland) but cold in the winter (a lot more than Ireland). They use the geothermal energy to heat the bottom of what he was told were 12 engines that power 2 alternators (6 engines each) between these and their emergency battery back they run practically fossil fuel free 12 months a year. Even their heating system is heated with a coil like an emersion. Granted it's slower than a gas or oil burner, burn its more reliable (according to them) and can simply be left on at a certain current setting depending on what time of the year. I really think it's a highly simple machine that can be tuned to take advantage of an specific temperature differential. Their engines looked more like the fire field ones you can get or see on TH-cam, rather than Rhian low differential one. This permits more revs (as far as I'm told). However as much as I'd like to know... I dont know the exact physics behind tuning them. Either way, not even my love for rotary engines can beat my fascination of these! I'd love to see them used in computer server rooms one plate and the flywheel in the room, the other plate as part of the outer wall of the building. Imagine the energy savings! Grasshopper tea your not getting energy for free, it's measly recycling a large portion of lost heat energy from the current in the server electronics. Or like in Iceland. Use geothermal energy in cold climates, or cool underground temperatures in warm climates (that may not be as efficient or successful though). Hey stick them in a car or god bless you if someone reads this and stick 's one in a Bike..... (But efficiency may be a problem on that part...)
Either way... Best engine i by he world olid you asked me...
One of the most energy efficient motors ever created, even muchg better than modern internal combustion engines.
Clear explanation and now I know the diffrence between hot cold (stirling)engine and an internal combustion engine.
I hope to see more about these kind of fun science facts and mysteries
Many explanation of stirling engine.. but it's the best one
simple, clear and amazing
thank you
This is a great explanation. Just fantastic!!!
The Swedish Navy recently deployed a submarine with a Sterling engine! It burns diesel fuel for heat and it is extremely efficient and here's the best part: it is virtually SILENT compared to more common nuclear and diesel-electric types! This makes it extremely stealthy and thus one of the best submarines on earth. The US Navy "lost" an Aircraft Carrier to one of these Swedish Sterling engine subs in war games and so the US has leased one of the amazing boats, to study it's amazing properties!
The HMS (HSwMS) Gotland and its sibling Uppland were actually made back in 1995... but they were upgraded somewhat recently with improved Stirling engines. (Amongst other things.)
Also those war games + lease were back in 2005-2007.
(All according to Wikipedia....)
Super cool! Thanks for the explanation
Well done! Best explanation I’ve found.
My dad loves these engines and talks about them a lot. Now I finally understand how they work. Thank you!
Very Good video, been reading into this a while and this has been the most informative!
Niiiice, thanks for the video, great explanation. I dig the graphics too, well done 👏
Had to watch it 2 times. Now I get it, and hope this helps someone: the displacer is NOT moved by the air at all, but by the piston.
It's so simple now, wish you mentioned that. I was getting stuck at "how in the hell does the air move the displacer so it can move the piston and so on?" 😂
such a nice guy. thanks for sharing.
Very well done. Great explanation!
This was a great explanation
Thanks, Michael, very nice!
nice blender work .
Outstanding explanation!
Well done!