HK1 Tin Can Stirling Engine Plans, DIY Science Projects

Somebody built this and sent it in. They used the Tin Can Stirling Engine Plans from comptune.com These plans were among the first available on the internet for tin can Stirling engines. Now of course there are others. Still, this is a proven design that has been used to win several science fairs. These plans offer more than just the design and diagrams. They explain the technique I use for making these small projects out of metal. Stirling engines are easy to build. These plans can be put together in just a few hours using simple hand tools. It took me a lot longer to write the plans and draw all the sketches than it did to build it. As a kid, I once thought "Sterling" was the correct spelling but I later learned that these engines are named after Robert Sterling, a clever clergyman in the 1800's, who added a "regenerator" to a regular heat engine to improve efficiency. Today, with modern materials, Stirling engines are getting another look because of their ability to use any heat / cold source for power! I have run a model like this one on liquid nitrogen as well as ice.