The most practical use of the Sterling engine these days is in homework problems for a thermodynamics class, since they illustrate the principles and are easier to calculate about (the math is a lot simpler and more idealized) than an internal combustion engine.
For some really exotic environments like a space traveling instrument pack in a near solar orbit, able to radiate heat into space at close to absolute zero, with a heat source that is constant, a working fluid like hydrogen, and no gravity to add additional forces to the moving parts, they might have a use. Their big advantage for that environment would be that they are not affected by radiation like semiconductors are.
For some really exotic environments like a space traveling instrument pack in a near solar orbit, able to radiate heat into space at close to absolute zero, with a heat source that is constant, a working fluid like hydrogen, and no gravity to add additional forces to the moving parts, they might have a use. Their big advantage for that environment would be that they are not affected by radiation like semiconductors are.
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