Thermoacoustic sound generation under the influence of resonator curvature

Abstract

This work discusses the effect of resonator curvature on the thermoacoustic effect. The introduction of curvature to the design of thermoacoustic devices has important implications to the packaging of future devices. Although some previous CFD studies have attempted to quantify the effect of this curvature, there are several mechanisms that occur in thermoacoustic engines that are difficult to model using CFD, so further work is needed. A standing wave engine design is utilized in the study with a square channel ceramic stack. The temperatures on both sides of the stack and the pressure at the antinode are examined under the influence of curvature. Increased curvature is shown to adversely effect sound pressure level and increase temperature difference across the stack at constant heat input. A close relationship is shown between the temperature variation across the stack and sound pressure level.