Performance alteration of standing-wave thermoacoustically-driven engine through resonator length adjustment

Abstract

The production of sound-wave in thermo-acoustic device is necessary to induce cooling or generate electricity. The magnitude of the sound-wave is normally proportional to the amount of heat provided to the device. The possibility to use waste heat in any locations can be enough to justify the use of thermo-acoustic technology for sustainable electricity generation or refrigeration. In this work, an adjustable thermoacoustically-driven engine has been developed using the Design Environment for Low-amplitude ThermoAcoustic Energy Conversion (DELTAEC). Many studies have highlighted the relationship between the geometry of the stack and the performance of the device. Unlike previous studies, the resonator of this thermoacoustically-driven device, made of two portions, was adjusted. The performance of the device has been analysed in order to evaluate the influence of the alteration of the resonator on the heat-to-sound conversion. Performance indicators like the acoustic power, the temperature difference across the stack and the frequency of the sound-wave have been studied. This work points out the possibility to regulate the performance of thermo-acoustic engine by adjusting the geometry of the resonator.