Multi Cylinder Stirling Engine

What's Multi-Cylinder Stirling Engine?

The Stirling engines are generally divided into the Alpha stirling engines, Beta stirling engines, and Gamma stirling engines as per the mechanical configurations arrangements. Alpha engines have two pistons in separate cylinders which are connected in series by a heater, regenerator and cooler.

The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 by Rev. Robert Stirling of Scotland. The Stirling is a very simple engine, and was often billed as a safe alternative to steam, since there’s no risk of a boiler explosion. It enjoyed some success in industrial applications, and also in small appliances like fans and water pumps, but it was eclipsed by the advent of inexpensive electric motors. Basically, a standard stirling engine has two cylinders. One cylinder is heated by an external heat source (such as fire), and the other is cooled by an external cooling source (such as ice). So in this case, Multi-Cylinder Stirling Engine means it uses more than two cylinders, an external combustion engine.