Coupled model and flow characteristics of thermoacoustic refrigerators

Abstract

In this paper, a new coupled membrane-hydrodynamics-heat conduction model is proposed, which is verified by both experiments and linear thermoacoustic theory. The temperature and normalized volume flow rate generated by the coupled model are consistent with both experimental data and the results of the DeltaEC® simulation. The coupled model can also deal with large amplitude and multidimensional flows in thermoacoustic refrigeration systems. The flow loss of the thermoacoustic refrigerator is analysed quantitatively based on the coupled model. The effects of the stack thickness, the roughness of the resonance tube and the expansion angle of the contraction tube on the flow loss are studied. These analyses are of great significance in avoiding flow loss and improving the efficiency of thermoacoustic refrigeration systems.