On the basis of a ?-type small scale Stirling engine

a design of Stirling engine heater which is suitable for two external heat sources

solar energy and combustion

is proposed. The structure intergrates working gas channels into walls of the heater. The numerical simulation results show that

under all the three conditions

only combustion as heating source

only solar energy as heating source and equal heating load of the two heating sources

the above heater can meet the requirement of providing enough heat(1 600 W) for working gases

and the temperature distribution on the heater's walls is reasonable.