Stirling Cycle

The Stirling cycle is a thermodynamic process used in Stirling engines, which convert heat into mechanical energy. It operates through a sealed chamber containing a gas that expands and contracts as it is heated and cooled. The cycle involves four stages: heating the gas to expand it, moving this expansion to produce work (like turning a piston), then cooling and compressing the gas, and finally heating again to repeat the process. This cycle is efficient, quiet, and can run on diverse heat sources, making it useful for applications like power generation and cooling systems.