Vintage Stirling engine generator.

[adam2]

Here is an interesting video of a Phillips "bungalow set" a small paraffin fuelled Stirling engine generator.
Not particularly efficient, but had the merits of being simple and robust, and using a cheap and safe fuel. With good ventilation they could be run indoors, the fumes being no worse than a couple of Tilley lamps or a paraffin heater.

Note that the vaporised paraffin was burnt in an efficient blue flame burner, and not in the engine cylinder.

Output was 200 watts. Suggested uses included powering a small TV set, or a small radio transmitter or operating fluorescent lamps, or charging accumulators for lighting or radio purposes.

If compared to a small petrol engine these did not spoil radio or tv reception as they had no ignition system.

I recall these being use !https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IdXTippOQA

[mr brightside]

That must be a bastard to do in the rain with cold hands.

[adam2]

Unlike a petrol engine, you can bring it indoors into the warm, and then warm your hands over the exhaust.
And if it IS used outdoors it should be reliable, no ignition system to get wet.
I not only recall these being used, 1960s, early 1970s, but have recently used a washing machine powered by a petrol engine. only a few years ago.

[BritDownUnder]

I think if someone comes up with a good wood powered electricity generating Stirling engine that does not need too much tinkering and oiling then it will sell well. Or get copied by China very quickly.

I see quite a few on YouTube that look a bit too much high maintenance for my liking.

[adam2]

I suspect that Peltier effect generators may be more suitable for generating electricity from a wood stove or similar heat source.
Peltier effect generators are still improving, mainly due to improved materials.
Stirling engines are a mature technology, in which significant improvement seems unlikely

Neither option is very efficient, in low single figures at best.
For significant power demands from a wood fire, a steam engine is probably better or a petrol engine running on wood gas.

[BritDownUnder]

I think there were Soviet era wood stoves that used the Peltier effect to generate some electricity. Enough to run a TV to watch Soviet propaganda I guess. Maybe invalid should get one. I can only see about 100 watts output on the largest ones.

I was thinking of larger outputs - around one kilowatt - to give a lot of power for home appliances and small workshop items during the collapse times.

[adam2]

One kilowatt is substantial by either Stirling engine or Peltier generator standards and might be better served by either an engine driven generator, or a large battery bank and an inverter.