PROOF OF EFFICACY

STERLING ENGINE

Tak Maga
Nihal Nazeem Cais Wang
Matthew Sargent STEM Chemistry, 3
 2

HOW CAN WE DESIGN AND BUILD AN ENERGY

TRANSFER DEVICE?
Our Design and Process __________________________________________ 3
Flaming Gel _____________________________________________________________ 3
Sterling Engine ___________________________________________________________ 3
Generator _______________________________________________________________ 5
LED ___________________________________________________________________ 6

EFFICACY SUMMARY ___________________________________________ 7

Specifications___________________________________________________ 8
Flaming Gel _____________________________________________________________ 8
Energy from gel __________________________________________________________ 8
Marshmallows ___________________________________________________________ 9

NOTES_______________________________________________________ 10
Loss of Energy __________________________________________________________ 10
Unrealized Conversions ___________________________________________________ 10
The Engine _____________________________________________________________ 11
LED __________________________________________________________________ 11
Flaming Gel ____________________________________________________________ 11
Generator ______________________________________________________________ 11
 3

OUR DESIGN AND PROCESS

Flaming Gel

Sterling Engine

Generator

LED

Flaming Gel
The design starts with a flaming chemical gel. This gel provides the heat required to run the
Sterling Engine. This gel went through several iterations to provide for this. The original
formula that was used was ineffective, producing a chalky white powder that did not combust.
Our second trial, using Calcium Acetate and Ethyl Alcohol was successful, providing
substantial heat. As an aesthetic highlight, our third batch of the gel used Copper and
Strontium to color the flame.

The intention was to have the gel be ignited by a lemon battery that was short-circuited. This
was to be provided by another group. However, they experienced unforeseen difficulties, and
this plan was not brought to fruition. Instead, a match was used to start the combustion
process of the gel and convert chemical energy into heat energy.

Sterling Engine
The Sterling Engine is the main focus of our design. It uses the concept of heat expansion to
convert heat energy into mechanical energy. Rising heat excites air molecules, increasing the
pressure in the lower chamber according to the ideal gas law PV=nRT.
 4

The pressure moves

the piston towards the
cold chamber. The
expansion of that
chamber moves the
piston towards the
warm chamber. The
movement of the
cylinder moves a push
shaft, which rotates
the crankshaft.This
process converts
thermal energy into
Sterling Engine Design motion.

The engine was not finished at the end of our project. This was mainly due to the large
amount of refinement that took place during the design cycle. One example of this cycle was
our displacement cylinder. We started with a pool noodle, cut to fit in our tomato can. This did
not work, due to the comparatively low density of the material. Our second trial was
conducted using a rubber stopper. This failed due to the increased weight of the stopper
compared to the weak crankshaft. Our final version incorporated a molded Styrofoam block,
which provided a balance between the two earlier concepts.

Similar variation took place with the rest of our design. The stand that the can sits on was
incorporated only after trials with a pie pan, and the crankshaft was redesigned several times
in order to obtain the correct proportions.

Our complex design, with many steps, was only partly

successful. The main engine failed to work.
 5

Generator
In order to use the mechanical energy in our final process, it was first necessary to convert
the motion into electricity. This was done using a DC motor, run in reverse. If our sterling
engine did work, it is doubtful that enough speed would be produced to convert enough
electricity.

A magnetic field is
created through the
rotation of a metal
coil between two
magnets (F=ILB).
This is converted
into eletricity.

Motor Diagram
 6

LED
The result of our project was an LED. The electricity provided by the generator would power
the light.

Electrons crossing a
bridge and getting
bumped down an
energy level
produces photons,
which are diffused by
the cover of the LED.

Diagram of a LED
 7

EFFICACY SUMMARY

Due to the highly complex nature of the engine, this project failed to come to
fruition . However, other individual components did work as intended, producing
usable results.

• The Stirling Engine did not work.

• The flaming gel, the generator, and the LED did work.

The following images document our project.

The Engine Reaction Materials Molecular Blueprint

Because of the inoperability of our engine, there were no operational measurements taken
from them, and no theoretical calculations were possible in regards to this.
 8

SPECIFICATIONS

Flaming Gel
• The gel is comprised of Calcium Acetate and Ethyl Alcohol. The main source of heat is the
burning of Ethyl Alcohol.
• However, upon being exposed to flame, Calcium Acetate decomposed into Calcium
Carbonate and Acetone.
• The Acetone also burns

Carbon
2(CH3CH2OH) Dioxide and
6O2 Water
• 0.638 moles
• 4CO2+6H2O

Carbon
Dioxide
C3H6O 4O2 and Water
•3CO2+3H2O

(CH3COO)2Ca
CaCO3 C3H6O
• 0.00948 moles

Energy from gel

The acetone produces 6.339 kJ under combustion. The Ethanol converts 872.284 kJ into heat
energy. This produces a total energy of 878.623 kJ from the flaming gel.

Chemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds. This is converted into
thermal energy, which is kinetic energy stored in the atoms and molecules of an object. This
reaction is exothermic.
 9

Marshmallows
• As a result of the overall failure of our engine, our intent was to repurpose our flame.
• We decided to make smores with our flaming gel.
• This process uses already explained concepts.

The smores were put into chocolate and graham crackers and eaten. The flame is food
safe, as the same formula is commonly used in commercial buffets for heating up food
and like purposes. The flavor obtained was suitable for such an endeavor.

7.54g, c = 2.02 kJ/goC

18.9 to 44 degrees C

382.29 kJ
 10

NOTES

Loss of Energy
In several areas, energy is lost to the surroundings. This would result in a less efficient
engine. The first area of loss is in the transfer from the combustion to the engine. Only a
fraction of the energy produced by the gel gets to the air in the warm chamber to make the
engine function. The rest dissipates into the areas around the gel.

The second area of loss would have been found in the engine itself. Friction between the
moving parts of the engine, such as the cylinder, cold cap, and crankshaft, generates heat.
This energy is taken away from the end result of energy that would have been transferred.

Similar losses would be experienced in the generator and the LED.

Unrealized Conversions
In a completed version of our engine, there would be several more transfers of energy. The
engine converts the thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is energy obtained from an
object’s position and motion.

This energy is converted into electricity by a generator. Electric energy is the movement of
charged particles through a medium, in this case a wire. That energy is then converted into
light by an LED. Light energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation consisting of photons.

The Engine
The Sterling Engine is a relatively efficient
method for converting heat into motion without
the use of steam.
LED
The LED is currently one of the ideal methods
for converting energy into light. It is efficient,
and does not produce a substantial amount of
heat compared to traditional bulbs.
11
Flaming Gel
The flaming gel is a food-safe substance that
does not spill, so is easily transported and
used. It can also be colored, for ascetic
purposes.
Generator
The format of the generator used is the
standard for most production of electricity.