Evaluation of Potential Military Applications of Stirling Engines

This paper reports on the potential military applications of the Stirling engine. In the applications considered here, the major advantages cited for the Stirling engine are multifuel capability, efficiency, and low noise levels. These potential advantages are small compared to current diesels. Diesels are already able to burn broadcut fuels, have high efficiency, and can be adequately muffled. Their major disadvantages are size, weight, and cost. These disadvantages are only severe in vehicular and mobile power applications where the competition is open-cycle internal combustion engines diesel, spark-ignition, or turbine. In underwater and space power applications where closed-cycle engines are a necessity, the use of Stirling engines shows more promise.