Page 27 – If you can't measure it - you can't manage it.
Or at least, that is one on
the “mantras”.
But when one is dealing with
a situation of diminishing returns, measurement is probably
the
only way to establish where the peak point actually is?
For
the Stirling engine, the “diminishing returns”
situations are rather fundamental.
The power peak and
the optimum amount of regenerator.
We are also dealing
with gas heat and pressure, both of which we cannot see.
When
others work with things they cannot see, they use an
appropriate measurement tool.
All electrical workshops
have a multimeter.
So, I argue that all Stirling
workshops need a measurement bench
Aluminium heat
shielding is an example of how measurement has
enabled progress.
We
have long experienced power surges when various engines are
allowed to “cook up”
or raise the temperature of
the hot cap..
This lead to measurement of an engine
with, and without, aluminium cooking foil wrapped
around the
hot cap.
The results can be seen in the chart
opposite.
A 10%
gain.
See the aluminium shrouding around the burner at the top of the engine.
There is also another bonus. Strong winds are prevented from chilling the hot cap
and sapping the engine power.
