Advertisement
Chinese scientists bring record-breaking Stirling generator to life while Nasa’s patent stays on paper
- A prototype for a thermoacoustic Stirling generator has passed a milestone, in good news for space and submarine sectors
- But, though Nasa has a patent for a similar power system, it has not yet revealed any prototype or performance metrics
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
50
Zhang Tongin Beijing
Chinese scientists have taken a step forward in the race for alternative energy with the development of the most potent thermoacoustic Stirling generator to date.
Powered by heat, the highly efficient generator operates very quietly, which is ideal for applications where silence is critical, such as in submarines and the aerospace industry.
In a recent demonstration, the prototype delivered a groundbreaking 102 kilowatts of power from a heat source of 530 degrees Celsius (986 Fahrenheit). It marked the first time that type of generator had crossed the 100kW threshold – a milestone for practical application.
Historically, heat-to-electricity conversion has been dominated by steam turbines – devices known for their size, noise and maintenance demands. With the need for more reliable and quieter operation, especially in submarines, the new generator represents a significant breakthrough.
Though Nasa’s LEW-TOPS-80 patent aligns with this goal, proposing a thermoacoustic engine paired with an alternator to generate electricity in space, it has yet to unveil any prototypes or specific performance metrics.
The Chinese generator was created by the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and is about 2 metres (6½ feet) in length with a dumbbell-like shape.
Advertisement