The Stirling engine is a type of heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or another gas at different temperature levels. Unlike internal combustion engines, it does not rely on the combustion of fuel within the engine itself; instead, it uses an external heat source to heat the gas, which then expands and drives a piston. This process can be summarized in four main steps:
The efficiency of a Stirling engine can be quite high, especially when operating between significant temperature differences, and it is often praised for its quiet operation and versatility in using various heat sources, including solar energy and waste heat.
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