Chapter 69 - Theoretical prediction on the coupling of thermoacoustic prime mover and RC load

Abstract

This chapter investigates a thermoacoustic prime mover to use it to drive a load, such as a pulse tube refrigerator or a thermoacoustic refrigerator etc. When the load is connected to the prime mover, the coupling between them is of great importance for the performance of the thermoacoustic system. To investigate the coupling relation, a standing wave thermoacoustic prime mover connected with an RC (resistance and capacitance) load is simulated with linear thermoacoustics. The coupling of thermoacoustic prime mover and its load is of great importance for the performance of thermoacoustic system. A standing wave thermoacoustic prime mover with RC load is simulated, and the influence of RC load and dimensions of the resonance tube on the behavior of the thermoacoustic system is discussed according to the computed results. The computed results indicate that the behavior of the thermoacoustic system is greatly influenced by the impedance of the load and the dimensions of the resonance tube. C of RC load is a key influencing factor when 1/ωC is larger than R, while R is of great importance, when 1/ωC is less than R. The maximum acoustic power output can be achieved when 1/ωC equals to R, while pressure amplitude is the minimum and hot end temperature of the stack is the highest.