Soft magnetic powders play key role in Stirling Engine for power generation
March 19, 2013
Microgen Engine Corp., based in Peterborough, UK, has developed a piston-free Stirling Engine for its “microCHP” (Combined Heat and Power) appliance which incorporates inner stators made from Somaloy soft magnetic composite powder produced by Höganäs AB, Sweden.
Somaloy can be used for both inner and outer stator parts
(Courtesy Höganäs)
The microCHP appliance produces 1kW of electrical power which can be used to run household appliances as well as providing heating and hot water.
Unlike most Stirling engines which are kinetic with a crankshaft and rotary motion, the Microgen Engine version has a piston-free linear motion, and thus is not subject to wear and needs no lubrication.
The first piston-free Stirling engines have been incorporated into wall mounted, high efficiency boilers for domestic heating.
The microCHP appliance can produce approximately 1kW
Microgen’s Stirling Engine
By using Somaloy powder in its stator, Microgen was able to improve the production of its Stirling Engine significantly. If laminated steel would have been used for the stator it would have required the production of a laminated stack of 500 sheets with very fine dimensional limits. The Somaloy stator required the compaction of only one part.
The operation of the microCHP appliance can be seen on the company’s website
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