Stirling engine

A Stirling engine is a type of heat engine that converts heat energy into mechanical work using a sealed system with a fixed amount of gas. It operates through the cyclic expansion and compression of this gas, driven by a heat source and cooled by a sink. When the gas is heated, it expands and pushes a piston; when cooled, it contracts. This continuous cycle of heating and cooling creates movement that can turn a shaft to generate power. Stirling engines are efficient, quiet, and environmentally friendly, often used in niche applications like solar power or underwater devices.