Bart Senior wrote:

Ok, but when I read closer it said this was a Sterling Engine,
that is a good way to blow all the money--engineering an
efficient Sterling Engine that is light enough to be practical.


My understanding is that Sterling engines are pretty much toys at this
point... can't really generate very much useful power for their weight &
heat input. That's a whole seperate engineering problem.

But gas turbines are quite practical & powerful, power to weight is
their best characteristic rather than fuel efficiency. A jet engine is
basically a gas turbine, set up so that the exhaust gas pressure gives
all the "push" and the power train only drives the compressor.
Alternatively you can design one so that the exhaust is not very
powerful and the turbine shaft drives a heavy load. Ford built a turbine
powered truck years ago.

DSK