Stirling Heat Engine:
The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 by Robert Stirling who wanted to create a safer alternative to the steam engine. The boilers off of steam engines constantly exploded due to the high pressure and low quality materials used to create them. The Stirling engine is a heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gasses. The gasses used inside the engine never leave the engine, and therefore there are no exhaust valves. The Stirling heat engine has had many uses in history, for example: to run refrigerators, fans, cars, and sewing machines.
Modern Day Uses:
The Stirling engine is not used as widely in modern day technology, but it is still used.
– Solar Power Generation: Because it can convert solar energy to electricity more efficiently.
-Marine Engines: Swedish shipbuilders have built around eight successful submarines using the stirling engine.
Peltier Device:
A Peltier device is a heat pump that uses the Peltier effect to move heat. The Peltier effect states that heat is emitted or absorbed when a voltage is applied to two connected materials. The Peltier device creates a different temperature on each part, one part warm and one cool. The air conditioners that we use everyday work in the same general way as a Peltier device.
http://www.mpoweruk.com/stirling_engine.htm
http://stirlingshop.com/html/applications_.html
http://www.activecool.com/technotes/thermoelectric.html