Quote:
Originally Posted by Christ
Mean while, what drives the sterling motor? It has to have a source of energy, unless you're channeling battery heat into it
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A burner, of course. Something like the burner from a home oil furnace, heating the hot side of the SE directly.
Another point to keep in mind here is that SEs are heat engines, and so the amount of power they can produce is governed by the temperature difference between hot & cold sides. (Basic thermodynamics, IOW.) You're going to be able to get the hot side hotter with a burner than just by running IC exhaust over it.
For the startup time issue, that's why you have the batteries. Your minimum battery requirement is whatever lets you to drive long enough for your SE to get up to speed, though of course if cost & weight allow, you can add more to add more plug-in electric range.