PASCO SE-8575 User Manual
Instruction Manual and
Experiment Guide for
the PASCO scientific
Model SE-8575
THE VISIBLE
STIRLING ENGINE
012-06055A
2/96
© 1995 PASCO scientific $5.00
012-06055A The Visible Stirling Engine
T able of Contents
Section Page
Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return .....................................................ii
Introduction ......................................................................................................1
History and Theory of Operation .......................................................................2
Operation
Operating on Ice .........................................................................................3
Power from your Fingertips.........................................................................3
Operating with Hot Water ...........................................................................4
Operating on Maximum Power ...................................................................4
Experiment .......................................................................................................5
Demonstration: An Engine that Runs on Ice ......................................................7
Maintenace .......................................................................................................8
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................9
Credits ............................................................................................................10
Technical Support ...........................................................................inside back cover
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The Visible Stirling Engine 012-06055A
Copyright, Warranty and Equipment Return
Please—Feel free to duplicate this manual
subject to the copyright restrictions below.
Copyright Notice
The PASCO scientific Model SE-8575 The Visible
Stirling Engine manual is copyrighted and all rights
reserved. However, permission is granted to non-profit
educational institutions for reproduction of any part of
this manual providing the reproductions are used only for
their laboratories and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances, without the written
consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited.
Limited Warranty
PASCO scientific warrants this product to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one
year from the date of shipment to the customer. PASCO
will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the product
which is deemed to be defective in material or workmanship. This warranty does not cover damage to the product
caused by abuse or improper use. Determination of
whether a product failure is the result of a manufacturing
defect or improper use by the customer shall be made
solely by PASCO scientific. Responsibility for the return
of equipment for warranty repair belongs to the customer.
Equipment must be properly packed to prevent damage
and shipped postage or freight prepaid. (Damage caused
by improper packing of the equipment for return shipment will not be covered by the warranty.) Shipping
costs for returning the equipment, after repair, will be
paid by PASCO scientific.
Equipment Return
Should the product have to be returned to PASCO
scientific for any reason, notify PASCO scientific by
letter, phone, or fax BEFORE returning the product.
Upon notification, the return authorization and
shipping instructions will be promptly issued.
ä
NOTE: NO EQUIPMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED FOR RETURN WITHOUT AN
AUTHORIZATION FROM PASCO.
When returning equipment for repair, the units
must be packed properly. Carriers will not accept
responsibility for damage caused by improper
packing. To be certain the unit will not be
damaged in shipment, observe the following rules:
➀ The packing carton must be strong enough for the
item shipped.
➁ Make certain there are at least two inches of
packing material between any point on the
apparatus and the inside walls of the carton.
➂ Make certain that the packing material cannot shift
in the box or become compressed, allowing the
instrument come in contact with the packing
carton.
Credits
This manual authored by: Brent Van Arsdell
This manual edited by: Mary Ellen Niedzielski
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: (916) 786-3800
FAX: (916) 786-3292
email: techsupp@pasco.com
web: www.pasco.com
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012-06055A The Visible Stirling Engine
ld
Introduction
The PASCO Visible Stirling Engine is a tool to teach
students how engines work and to excite them about
physics.
Stirling engines have the most efficient cycle in the
world. Does that mean the Model SE-8575 engine is the
most efficient engine in the world? No. It means that
Stirling engines with regenerators have a cycle that
matches the Carnot cycle. The Carnot cycle determines
the maximum theoretical efficiency of a heat engine.
temphot – temp co
temp hot
The temperatures must be measured in absolute degrees
(Kelvin or Rankine) for this formula to work.
No real engine (one that could be built in a machine shop)
can achieve the Carnot theoretical efficiency. But real
Stirling engines come closer to the Carnot cycle than any
other engine! Some research Stirling engines have
attained 50 percent of the theoretical Carnot efficiency!*
The efficiency of the SE-8575 is calculated in the experiments section of this manual.
× 100 = % efficiency
If Stirling engines are so efficient, why don’t we have
them in automobiles? The best answer to this question is
an easy demonstration. Start the SE-8575 on nearly
boiling water and wait for it to get up to full speed. Then
remove the engine from the heat source and notice that it
keeps running for a few minutes.
It is very easy to do an engineering trick to make the
engine stop instantly, but there is nothing in the world that
can be done to make a Stirling engine start instantly.
Today’s drivers want to be able to start their cars instantly
(if not sooner) and some of them want to burn rubber
across the parking lot. Stirling engines can’t do that.
Research automobile Stirling engines generally take
about 30 seconds before the car can be driven away.
Modern drivers do not want to wait.
Computer Compatibility
Photogates may be used to measure the engine rpm.
Additional Equipment Recommended
You may also find it convenient to use:
• A coffee cup.
*
“Stirling Machines: An Emerging Technology Paradigm”
by B. Ross and L.B. Penswick, page 8.
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• A clear water glass
• A Styrofoam dinner plate or a Styrofoam bowl.
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