Building a powerful linear generator for cheap DIY energy
My engines 6:01
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I show how I made a powerful linear generator using the magnetic finite element method program FEMM, designed it with FreeCAD and made an iron core on my CNC milling machine, the coils on my lathe and assembled the generator to produce cheap energy using my homemade engines and self-produced biogas.
If you want to support me you get access to exclusive content:https://www.patreon.com/c/Stirlingengines https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCie-_1q_BTL_cpPN_6f0gHw/join
Thanks to Baptiste (alias OfficialyMax) we now have a Discord server:
https://discord.com/invite/TDABS5z2mT
It would be very nice if we could discuss there everything about Stirling engines, 3D printing and more, thank you very much Baptiste.
For the increasing power of my thermoacoustic Stirling engine I need an efficient way to convert mechanical to electrical energy.
I tried a bidirectional impulse turbine, oscillating stepper motors, a common slider crank drive and a simple linear generator.
So far, nothing has really been satisfactory.
For this reason, I would like to design and build a powerful linear generator using the finite element method and the FEMM program.
For this, I need strong magnets, powerful coils, a reinforcing iron core, and a stable but smooth-running linear bearing.
With this design, I hope to efficiently convert the energy and support our solar plant with inexpensive, self-generated power during periods of low sunshine.
For years, I have been producing my own energy using self-generated biogas and my self-built Stirling engines.
My mechanical Stirlings are also very powerful and a lot of fun, but unfortunately they are too expensive and maintenance-intensive to be used to produce your own energy economically in the long term.
For this reason, I consistently try to avoid all machine elements that cause friction, wear, and high costs.
My current approach with the very elegant thermoacoustic engine theoretically does not require any moving parts.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to extract electrical energy from the motor without moving parts.
That is why this conversion is so important for the engine.
I studied the arrangement of energy-converting components in various electric motors, linear motors, and large commercial linear generators, and learned the basics of induction and the path of magnetic field lines.
FEMM is a free program for solving electromagnetic problems using the finite element method.
I simulated the various magnet, iron core, and coil arrangements and discussed them with you on YouTube and Discord.
After finding the optimum design using FEMM simulation, I moved on to the design stage using FreeCAD, where I had to take into account the available materials and inexpensive components.
For the iron core, I have 5 mm thick pure iron sheet metal in my scrap box that can just about withstand the required magnetic field strengths without reaching saturation.
The coils are wound from 0.5 mm copper wire.
I will experiment extensively with the number of turns and adapt them to the constantly changing engine power.
MGN07 linear guides ensure stable, lightweight, and low-friction mounting.
The 10x10x30 mm N45 neodymium magnets are much stronger than I thought, and I will have great problems attaching them properly to the iron sheets.
I will now continue with the manufacture and assembly of the linear generator and hope to be able to report on the first performance tests soon.
I will gradually upload the CAD files, 3D models for 3D printing, and drawings to Patreon and the members' area so that you can take a close look at the linear generator and build your own.
As always, I am very grateful if you send me plenty of criticism, suggestions for improvement, ideas, and requests here on YouTube or Discord.
Special thanks to my supporters on Patreon and all YouTube channel members—without you, none of this would be possible!
Thank you very much for your interest!
Thanks for the background music:
Song: Jim Yosef - Eclipse [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/eclispe
Watch: • Jim Yosef - Eclipse | House | NCS
If you want to support me you get access to exclusive content:https://www.patreon.com/c/Stirlingengines https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCie-_1q_BTL_cpPN_6f0gHw/join
Thanks to Baptiste (alias OfficialyMax) we now have a Discord server:
https://discord.com/invite/TDABS5z2mT
It would be very nice if we could discuss there everything about Stirling engines, 3D printing and more, thank you very much Baptiste.
For the increasing power of my thermoacoustic Stirling engine I need an efficient way to convert mechanical to electrical energy.
I tried a bidirectional impulse turbine, oscillating stepper motors, a common slider crank drive and a simple linear generator.
So far, nothing has really been satisfactory.
For this reason, I would like to design and build a powerful linear generator using the finite element method and the FEMM program.
For this, I need strong magnets, powerful coils, a reinforcing iron core, and a stable but smooth-running linear bearing.
With this design, I hope to efficiently convert the energy and support our solar plant with inexpensive, self-generated power during periods of low sunshine.
For years, I have been producing my own energy using self-generated biogas and my self-built Stirling engines.
My mechanical Stirlings are also very powerful and a lot of fun, but unfortunately they are too expensive and maintenance-intensive to be used to produce your own energy economically in the long term.
For this reason, I consistently try to avoid all machine elements that cause friction, wear, and high costs.
My current approach with the very elegant thermoacoustic engine theoretically does not require any moving parts.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to extract electrical energy from the motor without moving parts.
That is why this conversion is so important for the engine.
I studied the arrangement of energy-converting components in various electric motors, linear motors, and large commercial linear generators, and learned the basics of induction and the path of magnetic field lines.
FEMM is a free program for solving electromagnetic problems using the finite element method.
I simulated the various magnet, iron core, and coil arrangements and discussed them with you on YouTube and Discord.
After finding the optimum design using FEMM simulation, I moved on to the design stage using FreeCAD, where I had to take into account the available materials and inexpensive components.
For the iron core, I have 5 mm thick pure iron sheet metal in my scrap box that can just about withstand the required magnetic field strengths without reaching saturation.
The coils are wound from 0.5 mm copper wire.
I will experiment extensively with the number of turns and adapt them to the constantly changing engine power.
MGN07 linear guides ensure stable, lightweight, and low-friction mounting.
The 10x10x30 mm N45 neodymium magnets are much stronger than I thought, and I will have great problems attaching them properly to the iron sheets.
I will now continue with the manufacture and assembly of the linear generator and hope to be able to report on the first performance tests soon.
I will gradually upload the CAD files, 3D models for 3D printing, and drawings to Patreon and the members' area so that you can take a close look at the linear generator and build your own.
As always, I am very grateful if you send me plenty of criticism, suggestions for improvement, ideas, and requests here on YouTube or Discord.
Special thanks to my supporters on Patreon and all YouTube channel members—without you, none of this would be possible!
Thank you very much for your interest!
Thanks for the background music:
Song: Jim Yosef - Eclipse [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/eclispe
Watch: • Jim Yosef - Eclipse | House | NCS
Playback is via YouTube's official embedded player. Data from YouTube; Exumo is not affiliated with YouTube.