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qazwsxedc
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Is the heat difference enough to cause a noticeable power output in some type of sterling engine? Liquid nitrogen is quite cheap (alternative fuel source?)
Where would I get a 1 kilowatt (about 1 HP) Cesium source? Assuming about 1 MeV per decay, this corresponds to about 6.26 x 1015 decays per second, or 169,000 Curies. I once measured the shielding elffect of lead around a 1 milliCurie cesium source, and decided that 2 inches of lead would attenuate the radiation by about a factor of 10. So how many tons of lead are required to shield this source?Count Iblis said:Perhaps you could get radioactive waste free of charge and use that to power an engine. I think that caesium 137 will yield 1 Watt per gram. The half life in 30 years, so you can imagine a car being powered by a block of ceasium that would only have to be replaced every ten years or so.
Yes, it is possible to create a sterling engine that is powered by liquid nitrogen and air. This type of engine is called a cryogenic sterling engine, and it has been successfully designed and tested by scientists.
A cryogenic sterling engine uses the expansion and contraction of liquid nitrogen as it turns into gaseous form to power the engine. The engine works by using the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends to create a cyclic process of heating and cooling the gas inside the engine, which in turn drives the pistons and creates mechanical work.
Research has shown that cryogenic sterling engines can be more efficient than traditional sterling engines, with some designs achieving efficiency rates of up to 40%. This is due to the low temperatures of liquid nitrogen, which allows for a greater temperature difference between the hot and cold ends of the engine.
Cryogenic sterling engines have many potential applications, including power generation, refrigeration, and cryocooling. They could also be used as a renewable energy source, as liquid nitrogen can be easily obtained from the atmosphere and does not produce any harmful emissions.
One of the main challenges of creating a cryogenic sterling engine is finding suitable materials that can withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures involved. Another challenge is designing the engine to operate efficiently and reliably at very low temperatures. Further research and development are needed to overcome these challenges and make cryogenic sterling engines a viable option for various applications.