Stirling Engine - Revision history

TK421: correct spelling of celsius. Mention can only use it on Vulcan at night, remove loulan.

2026-02-24T08:35:06Z

correct spelling of celsius. Mention can only use it on Vulcan at night, remove loulan.

RA2lover: add requires_frames to box template, change placement to small grid

2026-01-21T07:05:54Z

add requires_frames to box template, change placement to small grid

RA2lover: /* Working Gas */ Add Steam / Hydrogen efficiencies

2025-12-07T16:51:11Z

‎Working Gas: Add Steam / Hydrogen efficiencies

RA2lover: /* Working Gas */

2025-11-19T16:12:01Z

‎Working Gas

Moomoobeef: added this page to the Power category

2025-10-18T03:54:55Z

added this page to the Power category

Joeoens: Made the explanation how to optimize the stirling engine more understandable.

2025-07-09T15:15:48Z

Made the explanation how to optimize the stirling engine more understandable.

2605:59C8:18CE:E610:10FB:2AD8:5F81:4CBA: /* Working Gas */

2025-03-21T19:02:14Z

‎Working Gas

Poisonbl: Add logic data, both properties and item/structure hashes.

2025-03-16T05:16:37Z

Add logic data, both properties and item/structure hashes.

Duke: minor edit

2025-02-13T21:09:38Z

minor edit

Duke: removed missleading information concerning working environment.

2025-02-13T20:22:43Z

removed missleading information concerning working environment.

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 == Environment ==
-The Stirling engine itself is best placed in a 13-25 Celcius environment to provide the highest efficiency. The only planets where it cannot effectively be used outside are: Venus, Moon and Mimas
+The Stirling engine itself is best placed in a 13-25 Celsius environment to provide the highest efficiency. The only planets where it cannot effectively be used outside are: Venus, Moon and Mimas. On Vulcan it can only be used outside during the night.
 <gallery>
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 === In World ===
 * Moon (Vacuum): 0%
-* [[Venus]]: 12% efficiency @ 463 Celcius
+* [[Venus]]: 12% efficiency @ 463 Celsius
-* Vulcan (Night): 91% efficiency @ 126 Celcius
+* Vulcan (Night): 91% efficiency @ 126 Celsius
 * Mars: 100%
 === In Room ===
 The Stirling engine can be kept in a room to cool it down at maximum efficiency, since the exposed working gas canister heats the room up, it requires an effective cooling system.
 == Working Gas ==

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
   | power_usage      = 1W
   | placed_with_item = [[Kit (Stirling Engine)]]
-  | placed_on_grid   = Large Grid
+  | placed_on_grid   = Small Grid
   | build states     = Three
   | decon_with_tool1 = [[Hand Drill]]

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 <!--Objects.Electrical.StirlingEngine::HandlePressureCheck() - chance of explosion is a roll on every tick, exploding if a random number between 1 and the pressure delta exceeds the maximum rated pressure. unchecked if it's 11MPa, could be slightly lower. -->
 Here are the efficiencies of several gasses:
 * Pollutants: 5%
 * Carbon Dioxide: 8%
@@ Line 80: / Line 81: @@
 * Nitrous Oxide: 12%
 * Volatiles: 15% (Best)
 == User Comments== <!--T:3-->

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 When filling it, 60 mols of gas in the canister is needed, which is usually around 2.4MPa when it is pressurized at room temperature.
-'''''If the canister's pressure ever reaches 11 MPa, the machine will instantly explode.'''''
+'''''If the canister's pressure ever reaches 11 MPa, the machine will have a chance of instantly exploding.''''' This sets a limit on maximum safe operation temperature based on how many mols are present in the canister. At 60 mols, that's 1411 K.
+<!--Objects.Electrical.StirlingEngine::HandlePressureCheck() - chance of explosion is a roll on every tick, exploding if a random number between 1 and the pressure delta exceeds the maximum rated pressure. unchecked if it's 11MPa, could be slightly lower. -->
 Here are the efficiencies of several gasses:
 * Pollutants: 5%

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:54, 18 October 2025
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		+	[[Category:Power]]
	<languages/>		<languages/>
	<translate>		<translate>

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 == User Comments== <!--T:3-->
-The Stirling Generator has a maximum pressure differential of 11000 KPa (11 MPa), if the difference between the internal and external pressure exceeds this it will explode in a radius of more than 3x3, destroying everything in its path and killing players. It works on Temperature difference between two pipes. There needs to be one Canister that is used to transfer the heat, it explodes easily if overpressure is reached, unlike normal canisters it doesn't take time to explode as it is instant. Due to its explosive nature steps of caution i.e. pressure regulators are advised to be placed before the generator input. The Energy output scales on How fast it can transfer that heat(higher pressure in the transfer canister, gases with higher heat transfer rate (due to water no longer being a gas, volatiles is the best) and higher temperature difference). The output Gases need to be connected to a room(or planet with atmosphere) to function it does not work in space or on moons without atmospheres. The new Thermogenic Plants are an option to generate semi free power.
+The Stirling Generator has a maximum pressure differential of 11000 KPa (11 MPa): If the difference in pressure between the internal working gas and external atmosphere exceeds this, it will explode in a radius of more than 3x3, destroying everything in its path and killing players. There needs to be one canister that is used to transfer the heat, it explodes easily if overpressure is reached, unlike normal canisters it doesn't take time to explode as it is instant. Due to its explosive nature, steps of caution i.e. pressure regulators are advised to be placed before the generator input. <br>
 <br>
 Details<br>

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
   | cost        = 5 [[Gold]], 20 [[Copper]], 30 [[Steel]]
   | stacks      = 10
 }}
 {{Structurebox
   | name             = Stirling Engine [[File:Stirling Engine Front.jpg|thumb|Front]] [[File:Stirling Engine Back.jpg|thumb|Back]]
   | power_usage      = 1W
   | placed_with_item = [[Kit (Stirling Engine)]]
@@ Line 103: / Line 107: @@
 <br/><br/>
-<h1>Vulcan</h1>
+The Stirling Engine is a reasonable way to generate night time power on Vulcan when solar power is unavailable. Place it outside so it's in night time (400K) atmosphere, and capture mid-day (900 to 950K) atmosphere into a tank and run the Stirling Generator from that hot air at night, the generator can produce around 1.8 kW from the temperature difference.  For the working gas, a good starting point is 70 moles of H2 in the canister.  You can boost the power output to about 2.1kW by using an active vent to blow cold night air into the large grid that the Stirling Engine is in to cool it down.
-The Stirling Engine is a reasonable way to generate night time power on Vulcan when solar power is unavailable. Place it outside so it's in night time (400K) atmosphere, and capture mid-day (900 to 950K) atmosphere into a tank and run the Stirling Generator from that hot air at night, the generator can produce around 1.8 kW from the temperature difference.  For the working gas, a good starting point is 70 moles of H2 in the canister.  You can boost the power output to about 2.1kW by using an active vent to blow cold night air into the large grid that the Stirling Engine is in to cool it down.
+{{Data Parameters|
 </translate>

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 Harnessing an ancient thermal exploit, the Recurso 'Libra' Stirling Engine generates power via the expansion and contraction of a working gas to drive pistons operating an electrical generator.
-When high pressure hot gas is supplied into the input pipe, this gas will heat the hot side of the unit, then pass into the output pipe. The cooler side uses the room's ambient atmosphere, which must be kept at a lower temperature and pressure in order to create a differential. Add a working gas by inserting a gas canister. The unit must be deactivated when adding or removing canisters, or the working gas may leak into the surrounding atmosphere.
+When high pressure hot gas is supplied into the input pipe, this gas will heat the hot side of the unit, then pass into the output pipe. The cooler side uses the room's ambient atmosphere, which must be kept at a lower temperature in order to create a differential. Add a working gas by inserting a gas canister. The unit must be deactivated when adding or removing canisters, or the working gas may leak into the surrounding atmosphere.
 Gases with a low molecular mass make the most efficient working gases. Increasing the moles of working gas can result in a greater potential power output. However, overpressuring the unit may have... sub-optimal results.