Experiments and Valve Modelling in Thermoacoustic Device

Abstract

In a so called heat driven thermoacoustic refrigerator, using either a pulse tube or a lumped boost configuration, heat pumping is induced by Stirling type thermodynamic cycles within the regenerator. The time phase between acoustic pressure and flow rate throughout must then be close to that met for a purely progressive wave. The study presented here relates the experimental characterization of passive elements such as valves, tubes and tanks which are likely to act on this phase relationship when included in the propagation line of the wave resonator. In order to carry out a characterization — from the acoustic point of view — of these elements, systematic measurements of the acoustic field are performed varying various parameters: mean pressure, oscillations frequency, supplied heat power. Acoustic waves are indeed generated by use of a thermoacoustic prime mover driving a pulse tube refrigerator. The experimental results are then compared with the solutions obtained with various one‐dimensional linear models including non linear correction factors. It turns out that when using a non symmetrical valve, and for large dissipative effects, the measurements disagree with the linear modelling and non linear behaviour of this particular element is shown.