A Modest Solar Energy Project

[Cobalt-60]

I have in mind a solar+dynamic air conditioner. And I'd be interested in your input.
I like the idea of harnessing the sun to drive air conditioners. This wouldn't work at night, of course. But it does lift part of the load from the conventional unit by day, when it is hottest.
My prototype will be converted from a window unit air conditioner. It should be possible to obtain a unit minus motor on the cheap.
For a collector I propose a frame and aluminized mylar membrane mirror array. It might prove necessary in practice to use polished steel or aluminum. But this should be an acceptable collector for a limited use prototype.
The collector will need to either track the sun or use a double parabolic array to keep it focused in the right place most of the day.
For my cheap proto, a double parabola is best. Sun tracking is a well developed tech and I'm not out to re invent the wheel.
Now comes the hard part. I need a Stirling or Rankine cycle heat engine to convert the sunlight into mechanical power for the compressor.
And they don't exactly grow on trees.
Can any of my fellow DUers assist in the location of such a device?
Or is this a worthwhile idea for that matter?
I've got grander uses for solar power in mind. But this little project has the potential for rapid development.
The snag is the engine. Can anyone point me toward a Heat Engine factory?

[silverojo]

1. I don't have the techie know-how to help

But I like your idea. I love the idea of harnessing the energy of the sun...one source of energy Bu$hCo can't control!

[Cobalt-60]

2. I like the idea of depriving Big Energy

AND saving on the power bill.
The actual tech isn't that rough. Finding a heat engine of suitable power is rough, even with the internet.
I'm handy enough to bolt all this stuff together, but designing and fabricating a stirling cycle engine is one step beyond..

[drm604]

3. Have you checked eBay for Stirling engines?

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&maxrecordsreturned=300&frpp=50&from=R10&satitle=Stirling+engine&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=ZIP%2FPostal&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

It's mostly toys and demo models but there may be something there you could use.

[drm604]

4. You might find this link of interest.

It describes a relatively simple solar powered stirling engine and even describes a possible way to convert the energy directly into cooling.

http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/StirlingProject.html

[Cobalt-60]

5. Thanks!

I had more of a clanking mechanical plant in mind..but this looks better.

[drm604]

6. You're welcome.

I'd be interested in hearing how it works out. Just keep in mind that it's purely theoretical and the article says nothing about it being completed and tested. You may want to start out with a small test model first.