The present invention relates to a single-cylinder internally heated
hot air engine, which comprises: a cylinder body
assembly, comprising a hot end cylinder body and a cold end cylinder body, the hot end cylinder body and the cold end cylinder body being butt-combined to form a sealed single cylinder body and being provided with a heat insulation ring therebetween; a first
heat exchanger, which is arranged inside the hot end cylinder body and is in fluid communication with an external heat source and is used for heating a working gas in the hot end cylinder body; a second
heat exchanger, which is arranged in the cold end cylinder body and is in fluid communication with an external cold source and is used for cooling a working gas in the cold end cylinder body; a
piston, which is installed in the cylinder body
assembly, the
piston being provided with an
airflow channel and an air valve, the
airflow channel being used for communicating the working gases in the hot end cylinder body and in the cold end cylinder body, and the air valve being used for controlling the on-off of the
airflow channel; and a
piston rod, one end thereof being fixed to the piston, and the other end thereof being connected to a transmission mechanism outside the cylinder body. The
hot air engine of the present invention involves a simple cylinder structure, has
high pressure tolerance, and achieves a higher thermal power.