Thermoacoutsitc Stirling Engine

The thermo-acoustic engine is an amazing device. It runs so smoothly and quietly ... like a ghost.Even people familiar with physics and thermodynamics have trouble figuring out the exact operating principles.Demonstrate one and amaze your friends.

The wood base came with a cheap looking Dstar logo and some Chinese characters.I had to sand it down and revarnish the wood.

It's cool to have sitting in my room and people always ask what it is, but unfortunately mine doesn't work. It won't spin at all, no matter how much heat I apply to the back. Fun to look at.

This engine is a gem. It runs very quietly and smoothly. When you assemble the engine, be sure that all of the o ring seals are in place. Also, make sure that the steel wool in the glass tube that looks like a test tube is pushed all the way back in the tube. Also, there is a small plastic tube in the spare parts bag. When you attach the rod from the piston to the wheel, put the plastic tube on the end of the rod on the flywheel. runs on 91% alcoholWould recommend.

Works beautifully! Looks good as a display piece also. Give it about about 1-2 minutes of heating the glass before it will run on its own.

The device is well made, and had been tested prior to being shipped to my home to check to make sure that it is in working order. It comes mostly assembled, and what I liked was that it came with a spare set of the glass parts. Be sure to put the o-ring in the piston cylinder before putting in the glass test tube shaped piece to make sure that it gets a good seal. My only disappointment is that the instructions that come with the device or online are a bit spartan.It takes about 20 seconds or so to heat to the point where it will run.Over time the steel wool will oxidize and can be fairly easily replaced.This device demonstrates in a clear manner how the thermoacoustic priniciple works.Seeing an actual device in action fills in a lot of gaps left from reading about such devices in books or papers.