Hacked air pump as an alpha type Stirling engine heat pump

Hi folks!

Here is my new little HACK just for fun!

I was excited about this configuration, because on the web I can't found too much information from this type of engine. 

Some people said it is failed, and this configuration is not possible to work, but why?

I needed one! :)

OK! I found some pdf documents about some experiments without any usable information for a simple DIY engine. 

So, I started to think as a modeller, how can I create a simple design from something what I can buy in the market.

So a linear air pump was the solution. 

This is a long life, low maintenance solution with a good price and life time period. 

I choosen the RESUN's ACO-003 electromagnetic air pump for it.

It has a 45mm diameter piston with dry sealing in a graphite-steel cylinder.

Some modification on the engine:
- took off the air filter and the nozzle cup

- took off the valves

- closed ALL the holes around the engine 

- fixed the spring's end, took off the ball valve from there and closed it with a bolt

- closed with rubber sheet and insulated the piston's head with polystyrene

The piston's maximum stroke is approximately 15mm.

I created a custom/home made passive hot heat exchanger side from flat
aluminium acetone heat pipes.

The homemade modificated heatpipes dimensions: L: 200mm W: 1,2mm H: 5mm

I collected 30 pcs of them with 0,35mm gap between neighboring parts.

Molded the whole HX with two components polyurethane.

That was the biggest pain in the arse...

The engine's free piston is a 100 mm of a simple motocycle's rubber boots. 

This is a simple solution for this stroke limit. 

The self resonance frequency was near by 30-40 Hz, 

so should compress a bit with an adjustable end for the best phase shift.

The regenerator is fine stainless steel mesh.
I collected them with 45˙ degrees different in every layer for the lower heat conduction.
The length was 30 mm
Fixed with bolts, threaded rod, PVC tubes
 and the chiller was ready to use.

Yes it hasn't got cold side HX actually, because it was a prototype! 

But no insulated around the cold side, so it is loaded via the PVC material from the outside. 

The cold heat exchanger will be the next step. I'll update it as soon as possible!

Shematic drawing cross view

Thanks for your attention!

See you soon!

BLADE