Chapter 1248: Engine
Several teachers hurried out after them, and the small venue immediately descended into chaos. It was not until Xia Yixue had all the children return to their seats that things settled down somewhat. The children went up to collect Kiki and the others' prizes on their behalf, and everyone gathered around curiously. A few of the younger children held their breath as they gently stroked the beautiful leather covers of the notebooks.
"What is this Stirling engine for?" Hesta looked at Victoria.
"An engine," Victoria replied. "I usually call it a 'Stirling engine.'"
"This thing can convert temperature differences into mechanical work. And because it does not use fuel or require a complicated ignition system, it is especially suitable for ships, particularly submarines. It runs very quietly, so when installed on a submarine, it is not easily detected by sonar.
"Some remote areas use it to generate electricity. You just use the mechanical energy output by the Stirling engine to drive a generator. It needs almost no fuel—any heat source will do, whether solar energy, geothermal heat... or even industrial waste heat. If the equipment is set up properly, it can practically run maintenance-free."
"It should be some old technology that has already been phased out, right?" Stella asked.
"...Why?" Victoria looked at Stella.
"I was just... guessing." Stella looked back at her. "I've never seen this thing before... If it were good and useful, shouldn't it be everywhere?"
Victoria laughed.
"It has not been phased out," Victoria said, hands on her hips, in the tone of someone explaining science to children. "It is not everywhere only because it is bulky and slow to respond. In many situations where a long-term, stable, predictable heat source is available, Stirling engines are an excellent choice—like the submarines I mentioned