Stirling Engine CPU Cooler

[timmy]

If anyone has had any experience with one of these units, I am interested in hearing how it worked for you and where you obtained it from. I'm quite keen to get one.

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=newsdesc&news_no=591

Thanks...

[Randy]

wow... that could be in no way useful... It would generate the same airflow as the airflow already present in your case.

The idea is generated by someone without a grasp of the first law of thermodynamics.

[MeanDean]

That was my thought too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine Interesting read in regards to solar energy in particular.

[jim chase]

According to the link provided by MeanDean the stirling engine is real, not a perpetual motion machine that ignores the laws of thermal dynamics. Having said that this example is a chipset cooler, not a cpu cooler, that looks big enough to cool any chipset without the fan. The fan appears to be more of a gimmick at this point but they have to start development somewhere.

I've read reviews of copper heat pipe cpu coolers that were claimed to give adequate cooling without the fan running. I find that intriguing though I always go with the cheaper aluminum and a big fan.

Jim

[Randy]

According to the link provided by MeanDean the stirling engine is real, not a perpetual motion machine that ignores the laws of thermal dynamics. Having said that this example is a chipset cooler, not a cpu cooler, that looks big enough to cool any chipset without the fan. The fan appears to be more of a gimmick at this point but they have to start development somewhere.

I've read reviews of copper heat pipe cpu coolers that were claimed to give adequate cooling without the fan running. I find that intriguing though I always go with the cheaper aluminum and a big fan.

Jimthe heat off a system can't be used to cool the system. It can't work, the fan will spin, but not enough to cool the system without another cooling mechanism (the sink).

[timmy]

The fan appears to be more of a gimmick...

Jim: the fan in this case has two purposes: first, it acts like a flywheel, since the Stirling engine is only producing power during the expansion phase and it needs some inertia to carry it around thru the compression phase. Secondly, the compression part of the cycle is aided by the fan blowing across the cooler.

I have seen Stirling engines that run from the heat of the hand and some that require only a 4* temp differential for the cycle to take advantage of.

In this case, the engine runs on the temp differential between the chip and ambient air, and the radiator part is the cooling tank portion of the engine that aids the compression phase of the cycle. As long as a flywheel is needed, there's no reason why whatever energy the engine develops cannot be used to push a little air.

I am wanting to mount an M571 in a picture frame on the wall with a small laptop hard drive. Power will come up a cable from an ATX PS under my desk. The system will be used in conjunction with my modem to screen incoming phone calls. A cooler like this will add to the effect that I want, tho a doubt that one is actually needed. I intended to use it on the CPU, which won't generate too much heat, anyway.

I've been digging around for a place to get one of these things. If I keep drawing a blank, maybe I'll just have to cobble something up on my own.

[jim chase]

I have seen Stirling engines that run from the heat of the hand and some that require only a 4* temp differential for the cycle to take advantage of.

In this case, the engine runs on the temp differential between the chip and ambient air, and the radiator part is the cooling tank portion of the engine that aids the compression phase of the cycle. As long as a flywheel is needed, there's no reason why whatever energy the engine develops cannot be used to push a little air.

I am wanting to mount an M571 in a picture frame on the wall with a small laptop hard drive. Power will come up a cable from an ATX PS under my desk. The system will be used in conjunction with my modem to screen incoming phone calls. A cooler like this will add to the effect that I want, tho a doubt that one is actually needed. I intended to use it on the CPU, which won't generate too much heat, anyway.

I've been digging around for a place to get one of these things. If I keep drawing a blank, maybe I'll just have to cobble something up on my own.

Amazing that it can run on a 4* temp difference. Hence the ability to run off of the chipset heat. An M571 in a picture frame on the wall, what a cool concept for hi-tech art. Put some short lead led's on it for the HD and power lights. I want to see a photo of this when it's done.

Randy, does it really matter where the heat comes from to run the engine? The engine uses heat to produce motion while it doesn't create it's own heat. The first law of thermodynamics mandates conservation of energy, which can be heat and/or motion etc. The total energy is not increased by the engine, it just converts some the heat energy into motion energy the total energy not being greater than the original heat energy. Besides the heat used to run the engine is waste heat. Again I'll say this fan looks like a gimmick, but a "cool" one at that.

Jim

[rob grant]

Tim,

I like it if for nothing but the concept. If you do find a source, let me know.

Rob
FarOutNorthQueensland,Oz

[timmy]

Rob: will do! Hope all is well in Queensland today!

[timmy]

Just an additional note that is somewhat OT: This Swedish submarine uses a Stirling engine for underwater propulsion in lieu of a nuclear powerplant. That it is no joke is underscored by the fact that the US Navy contracted the sub from the Swedish Navy to run tests, as discussed in this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland_class_submarine

My Scottish friend tells me that Stirling's sons and a grandson went on to become prominent in the railroad industry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Stirling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stirling_(1835-1917)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Stirling_(Railway_Engineer)

My friend further went on to discuss the training he received from the Royal Navy on Stirling Engine principles a couple of decades past.

In other words, this is hardly a new discovery at all, tho some new technology has been applied to Stirling's original principles of operation.