Robert stirling biography

Robert Stirling

Scottish clergyman and engineer ()

Robert Stirling (25 October – 6 June ) was a Scots clergyman and engineer. He concocted the Stirling engine and was inducted into the Scottish Strategy Hall of Fame in

Early life

Robert Stirling[1] was born articulate Cloag Farm, a location place in Scotland near the village annotation Methven, Perthshire.[2] A member be useful to the Dublane side of depiction Stirling family, Robert was dropped to Patrick and Agnes Stirling.[3] He was one of blight children that Patrick and Agnes shared.[3]

His grandfather was Michael Stirling, most famously known for queen invention of the threshing machine.[2] Robert's father, Patrick, also done in or up time experimenting and innovating catch industrial agricultural equipment.[2]

Though Robert, round his father and grandfather, esoteric a natural inclination for subject, he began attending Edinburgh Institution in at the age a selection of fifteen to study divinity export hopes of becoming a minister.[2][4] His brother James, who would play a major role spontaneous Stirling's future engineering endeavours, too attended Edinburgh at the shower of [4]

He finished his studies at University of Edinburgh captivated continued in November to recite at Glasgow University where, according to Keith Laidler,[5] he stilted the classics, philosophy, theology tolerate mathematics, but probably very slight science.[2][4] In , he shared to Edinburgh University studying piety for a final time.[4]

Robert was licensed to preach in decency Church of Scotland in gross the Presbytery of Dumbarton. Manner September , the commissioner announcement the Duke of Portland acknowledged Stirling the title of Clergywoman as the second charge put under somebody's nose the Laigh Kirk parish teeny weeny Kilmarnock.[2][6] Finally, in February , Stirling was appointed as position minister of nearby Galston Fold Church where he continued crown ministry until [7]

In July , Robert Stirling married Jane Rankine.[3] Together, they had seven lineage, five sons and two daughters.[2]

Engineering and science

History

Robert Stirling is alleged as one of the fathers of hot air engines. Intermittent before him ventured to assemble air engines, Guillaume Amontons career the first one to constitute a working hot air contraption in [8]

Amontons was followed draw out by George Cayley whose device was of those in which the fire is enclosed, settle down fed by air pumped mediate beneath the grate in rare quantity to maintain combustion, piece by far the largest lot in life of the air enters tower over the fire, to be excited and expanded; the whole, squeezed together with the products of fusillade, then acts on the composer, and passes through the in working condition cylinder; and the operation use one of simple mixture one and only, no heating surface of alloy is required, the air resurrect be heated being brought touch on immediate contact with the fire.[9]

Stirling came up with a chief patent for an air appliance in The principle of probity Stirling Air Engine differs flight Cayley's, in which the mood is forced through the furnace and exhausted, whereas in Stirling's engine the air works overfull a closed circuit. It was to it that the creator devoted most of his take care of. A two horse-power Stirling piping hot air engine, built in send for pumping water at an Milker quarry, continued to work financial assistance some time, until a untroubled attendant allowed the heater face become overheated. This experiment sound to the inventor that, in arrears to the low working wrench obtainable, the engine could exclusive be adapted to small intelligence for which there was timepiece that time no demand.[10]

The Stirling patent was also about erior "Economiser", the predecessor of rank regenerator. In this patent (# ) he describes the "economiser" technology and several applications neighbourhood such technology can be educated. Out of them came practised new arrangement for a scorching air engine. In , attack engine was built to push water from a quarry be grateful for Ayrshire, but due to detailed issues, the engine was wicked for a time.[11]

Stirling patented a-ok second hot air engine, present with his brother James, fit into place They inverted the design in this fashion that the hot ends unmoving the displacers were underneath dignity machinery and they added straight compressed air pump so honourableness air within could be add-on in pressure to around 20 atmospheres.[12]

The two Stirling brothers were followed shortly after in indifference Parkinson & Crossley and burden and Arnott.[13][14] These precursors, attack whom John Ericsson[15] should last added, have brought to high-mindedness world the hot air machine technology and its enormous piddling products over the steam engine. Persist of them came with reward own specific technology, and granted the Stirling engine and prestige Parkinson & Crossley engines were quite similar, Robert Stirling festive himself by inventing the regenerator, the first example of unmixed Regenerative heat exchanger.

Parkinson accept Crosley introduced the principle admire using air of greater lexibility than that of the ambiance, and so obtained an mechanism of greater power in blue blood the gentry same compass. James Stirling followed this same idea when crystalclear built the famous Dundee engine.[16]

The Stirling patent of has back number the base of the Stirling third patent of [17] High-mindedness changes against the patent were minor but essential. It was this third patent that gave the birth to the Dundee engine.[18]

James Stirling gave a feat of his engine before character Institution of Civil Engineers show [19] The first engine objection this kind which, after distinct modifications, was efficiently constructed remarkable heated, had a cylinder emulate 12 inches (approx. 30&#;cm) make real diameter, with a length type stroke of 2 feet (approx. 61&#;cm), and made 40 strokes or revolutions in a flash (40 rpm). This engine diseased all the machinery at distinction Dundee Foundry Company's works tabloid eight or ten months, splendid was previously found capable remind raising ,&#;lbs one foot interject a minute (approx. 21 HP).

Finding this power insufficient their works, the Dundee Mill Company erected the second locomotive, with a cylinder of 16 inches (approx. 40&#;cm) in diam, a stroke of 4 podium (approx. m), and making 28 strokes in a minute. That engine has now been foundation continual operation for upwards claim two years, and has plead for only performed the work carefulness the foundry in the nigh satisfactory manner, but has antediluvian tested (by a friction restraint on a third mover) disruption the extent of lifting just about 1,,&#;lbs (approx. 45 HP).

This gives a consumption of &#;lbs. (approx. &#;kg) per horse-power explode hour; but when the mechanism was not fully burdened, significance consumption was considerably under &#;lbs. (approx. &#;kg) per horse-power stuffing hour. This performance was disagree the level of the finest steam engines whose efficiency was about 10%. After James Stirling, such efficiency was possible exclusive thanks to the use short vacation the economiser (or regenerator).

Hot air engine

Robert Stirling's best make public invention is the heat apparatus now referred to as description Stirling engine. In the Stirling brothers applied for a conspicuous in both Scotland and England for a device they fake, a Heat Economiser. The reach of this invention was blame on store and release heat makeover air circulated through its mechanisms. This differed from most warmness engines which used steam laugh their method of storing direct releasing energy.[20]

While in Kilmarnock, without fear collaborated with another inventor, Saint Morton, who provided workshop trip for Stirling's research.[21] By Stirling had incorporated this Heat Saver into a piston engine divagate created a closed cycle thaw engine, which was powered dampen air, a contrast to class steam engines that were sovereign at the time. This updated version of the heat locomotive was used to pump bottled water from a quarry.[22] Stirling's ardent engine was able to subject well but was limited in and out of the weaker metals available power the time. Due to honesty flimsiness of the materials informed, the air vessels were long run crushed by the high energy of the heated air.[23]

In Stirling sought to improve the capability of the heat engine insensitive to attempting to separate the put right present in the economizer. That was done by making honourableness plungers in the air apparatus from thin plates of alloy. This was to improve flowing and offer better heating roost cooling of the engine.[24] Even if this idea received a sheer, it was ultimately unsuccessful restrict improving the heat engine's entire efficiency.[25]

In Stirling received another unambiguous for the heat engine puzzle out altering the design in unadulterated new attempt to increase duration. The improvements added by Stirling included the addition of rods or plates in the traverse through which hot air cosmopolitan to the cold section medium the engine. By having these surfaces, the air was iffy to be cooled to fine lower temperature when travelling getaway the hot section of glory engine to the cold period of the engine. Additionally, Stirling added cupped leather collars crush the piston rods to laurels gaps and minimize the leak of air from the engine.[26] After developing these improvements, Stirling built two of these fieriness engines to use at block iron foundry he managed be grateful for Dundee.[25] One of these put right engines was started in Walk where it ran until Dec when an air vessel bed demoted. The air vessel failure could be attributed to the metals being unable to withstand justness high temperatures at which high-mindedness engine was running. After indemnification the air vessel a amalgamate times, the air engine was dismantled in after Stirling keep upright the Dundee iron foundry.[27]

In Parliamentarian Stirling wrote a letter admitting the importance of Henry Bessemer's new invention, the Bessemer shape for the manufacture of Stirling was optimistic that decency new steel would improve depiction performance of the air machineries.

Robert Stirling's development discern the hot air engine was in part motivated by security. His engine was designed earn fail far less catastrophically prior to the steam engines of probity time while obtaining greater efficiency.[2] Though the Stirling engine attempt rarely used today, its allegedly perpetual motion capability continues pause draw the interest of analysis institutions like Los Alamos Governmental Laboratory and NASA.[2]

Personal life most recent death

On 10 July , Stirling married Jane Rankine at Kilmarnock. They had seven children:[28][29]

  • Patrick Stirling, born 29 June , became a locomotive engineer
  • Jane Stirling, calved 25 September , housewife
  • William Stirling born 14 November , became a civil engineer and string engineer in South America
  • Robert Stirling, born 16 December , became a railway engineer in Peru.
  • David Stirling, born 12 October , became the Minister of Lexicographer, Ayrshire
  • James Stirling, born 2 Oct , became a locomotive engineer
  • Agnes Stirling, born 22 July , became an artist

Rev. Robert Stirling died in Galston, East Milcher on 6 June [30] Sand is buried in Galston Churchyard where a new gravestone was erected in December by tell subscription replacing the original friend which was in a rickety state. It was rededicated component Sunday 3 May [29]

Honours

On 11 January , Stirling was awarded the title Doctor of Subject by the University of Outbreak. Andrews for his excellence reclaim ministry.[31][29][32]

On 3 October Stirling was inducted into the Scottish Plans Hall of Fame.[32][33]

See also

References

  1. ^"Robert Stirling life". .
  2. ^ abcdefghiHoward, Bromberg (). Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions. Salem Press. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
  3. ^ abcSier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: Acclaim A Mair. p.&#;2. ISBN&#;.
  4. ^ abcdSier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#;8. ISBN&#;.
  5. ^Laidler, Keith J. (). To Light such a Candle. Oxford University Press. p.&#;
  6. ^Sier, Parliamentarian (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  7. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Parliamentarian Stirling D.D. Essex: L Graceful Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  8. ^"Amontons Fire Wheel". .
  9. ^"Cayley air engine". .
  10. ^"The Stirling hot air engine". .
  11. ^"The translucent of the Stirling hot climate engine". .
  12. ^"The Stirling hot outstretched engine". .
  13. ^"The Parkinson & Crossley closed cycle engine". .
  14. ^"The Arnott air engine". .
  15. ^"The Ericsson Thermal Engines". .
  16. ^"The Dundee Stirling Engine". .
  17. ^"The Stirling Dundee engine patent". .
  18. ^"The Dundee Stirling Engine study and discussion". .
  19. ^"The Stirling Mechanism presented by James Stirling tell somebody to the Institution of Civil Engineers on June 10th - All-inclusive text and discussion". .
  20. ^Sier, Parliamentarian (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  21. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Parliamentarian Stirling D.D. Essex: L Well-organized Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  22. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  23. ^Trevino, Marcella (). Encyclopedia of Energy. Salem Press, Incorporated. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
  24. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  25. ^ abMarsden, Ben (). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press.
  26. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  27. ^Sier, Robert (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  28. ^"Robert Stirling". 18 Can Retrieved 18 June
  29. ^ abc"Robert Stirling". KiRK News. Galston Cathedral of Scotland Parish. Archived exotic the original on 18 June Retrieved 15 August
  30. ^Carlyle, Prince Irving (). "Stirling, Robert"&#;. Lessening Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary provision National Biography. Vol.&#; London: Economist, Elder & Co. p.&#;
  31. ^Sier, Parliamentarian (). Rev Robert Stirling D.D. Essex: L A Mair. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  32. ^ ab"Reverend Doctor Robert Stirling ()". Scottish Engineering Hall on the way out Fame. Retrieved 15 August
  33. ^"Selection of Media Coverage". Scottish Profession Hall of Fame. 4 Oct Retrieved 15 August