3B Scientific Stirling Engine D - Manual (Page 4)

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7. Getting the engine ready for use
Fig. 7 Stirling engine as secured for storage
• Remove the rubber band (3) from the securing
hook (4) for the displacement piston and take
the hook out of the hose nozzle.
• Seal off the hose nozzle with the red cap (5).
• Remove the foam plastic block (2) between the
stand and the rotor weight.
• Undo the securing screw (1), align the rotor
horizontally so that it is balanced and tighten
the screw back up again.
The engine is then ready for use.
The Stirling engine must not be transported unless
the displacement piston is secured.
• To secure it, take the sealing cap of the hose
nozzle, put the securing hook back in and se-
cure it in place with the rubber band.
• Secure the rotor as well.
8. Operation
8.1 Operation as a heat engine
8.1.1 Electric heating
The following power supplies are recommended for
heating the Stirling engine electrically:
1 DC power supply, 15 V, 1.5 A (230 V, 50/60 Hz)
U8521121-230
or
1 DC power supply, 15 V, 1.5 A (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
U8521121-115
• Connect the power supply to the pair of sockets
and set the heater voltage up to 12 V (1.5 A
approx.).
• After heating for about one or two minutes,
start the engine by pushing the rotor clockwise
as seen from the front of the engine.
• If the Stirling engine fails to keep moving of its
own accord, wait about a minute longer and
push the rotor round again.
The speed of the engine is nearly proportional to
the difference in temperature between the top
plate and the bottom plate and is thus largely de-
pendent on the heat supplied.
• Reduce the heater voltage in steps down to
about 8 V and observe how the speed reduces.
8.1.2 Heating via a candle flame
• Light a tea candle and place it on a heat-
resistant mat.
• Place the Stirling engine over the candle so the
hole in the middle is over the flame.
• Wait for several minutes until the lower plate
has heated up.
• Push the rotor clockwise as seen from the front
of the engine.
• If the Stirling engine fails to keep moving of its
own accord, wait about a minute longer and
push the rotor round again.
8.1.3 Heating via a lamp (spotlight)
• Shine a light on the top plate from about 1 or 2
cm using a lamp with a 60-W bulb and a focus-
sed beam (spotlight). In this case it is the lower
plate that will cool the air in the displacement
cylinder.
• Alternatively, the upper plate can be heated
via sunlight focused using a concave mirror.
• Wait for about 8 to 10 minutes until the upper
plate has heated up.
• Push the rotor anti-clockwise as seen from the
front of the engine.
• If the Stirling engine fails to keep moving of its
own accord, wait about a minute longer and
push the rotor round again.
8.2 Recording a pV diagram
To record a pV diagram, the following pieces of
equipment are also required:
1 Supplementary set for Stirling engine D U8440455
1 3B NETlog™ unit (230 V, 50/60 Hz) U11300-230
or
1 3B NETlog™ unit (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
U11300-115