Could a 200 year engine solve today's oil crisis?

[alapolitical]

http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=637532004&20040607021427

[benburch]

1. I've been telling people this for 20 years.

I've built a few Stirling Engines myself. They will run on any fuel. A Stirling-Electric Hybrid automobile burning ethanol, vegetable oil, or methane makes a lot more sense than a hydrogen fuel-cell car, and, in the case of vegetable oil, is much safer in a collision!

[wtmusic]

3. Did you build them from kits?

Just curious--this is a project I've wanted to undertake for a long time.

[benburch]

8. A couple of them.

One simple one from scratch.

There are plans and kits available mail order. Google is your friend! :)

[wtmusic]

2. Stirling-cycle engine research has been "promising" for a long time

I remember a 60's Popular Science issue with a similar optimism.

So I'm probably overly skeptical, but absolutely in favor of pursuing any possible options.

[RC]

4. How Stuff works

http://travel.howstuffworks.com/stirling-engine.htm

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Wow! What a great site!

I had no idea this site existed. I have just spent 30 minutes going over the internal combustion engine and diesel engine explanations.

Explain this to me (anyone), the diesel engine is more efficient, however, is it a greater pollutant than the ICE due to the nature of the fuel?

If not, then if I want to be a better friend to the environment, should I use a diesel car?

Thanks.

[Ironpost]

5. Wish I knew how to send a link

because a Tesla Turbine is very interesting simple and small high output. see what you can find.

[RC]

7. Here ya go.

http://www.lindsaybks.com/arch/turbine/

http://www.frank.germano.com/tesla_turbine.htm

http://www.aircaraccess.com/cattesla.htm

[htuttle]

6. It might be well suited to drive an electric generator...

...which could power electric motors that drive the wheels. That way, you'd get around the drawback of the Stirling engine not being very responsive to changes in speed. It wouldn't need to -- the electric motors would deal with that.

on edit: Ah, I think this is what benburch was getting at in reply #1 regarding a hybrid.