RHOMBIC STIRLING ENGINE MATERIALS

1. Bushes Used

For lower noise -. Teflon spacers were fitted between all metal drive parts that might make contact; both new Rulon bearings and replacement rollertype bearings were tried. All changes resulted in lower noise. 1. For Piston-Bronze, Aluminium(6082-T6 grade) or Graphite.
Reason:-

Due to machining capabilities and heat transfer the cylinder material was chosen to be aluminium. The piston has to be sealed as well so graphite, or bronze(in the form of an oilite bearing bush) can also be used. 2. For Cylinder- Aluminium(6082-T6 grade), cast iron, steel cylinder and finally glass. Reason:If you are making gears for a Rhombic drive, you must have a milling machine, and a lathe, with that gear you could turn up a cylinder in cast iron, and make the piston of the same material, this would give the best in bearing surfaces/for cost, second best would be a steel cylinder, with a cast iron piston. For a piston, don't use oilite bush, this is porus, and of course contains oil, you don't want oil.Graphite is good, and you can get brass tube with a bore smooth enough to use. Glass is another option. For efficiency, you'v got to do research into materials, ie., friction, heat conductance, rate of corrosion with heat.

3. Crankcase:- Magnesium.
Reason:-

Magnesium was used for the crankcase walls because it has high internal damping and can be relatively thick since it is light weight. However, if either wave coincidence or reverbration appear as problems, porous polyurethane liners will be added inside the crankcase to absorb sound energy, and if the resulting noise level is still too high, the offending panels will be damped. 4. Polyimide displacer rod bearings and

Seals are used. 5. .Phosphorus bronze or PTFE rings for sealing can also be tried.
Overall summary of materials The engine block is usually made from cast ductile iron or a cast aluminum alloy (aluminum and silicon, typically). Many of the internal parts (cranks and pistons) are also made from cast ductile iron or aluminum, but some of the components that require higher strength can be fabricated out of high strength S-7 tool steel. Gaskets and seals are made out of Lexan, Neoprene, or natural rubber. The engine is filled with pressurized helium, hydrogen,or air, which is referred to as the working fluid. The component that transfers heat from the heat source to the working fluid is required to withstand very high and constant temperatures. It can be made out of high-strength steel or a ceramic composite material such as silicon carbide (SiC).

The base plate and the overall support structure of the engine is built either on wooden support for a prototype or with aluminium for a working model.