Oscillating Gas Flow Research Articles

Thermally induced oscillatory rarefied gas flow inside a rectangular cavity

Thermally induced oscillatory rarefied gas flow inside a two-dimensional rectangular cavity is investigated based on the hybrid macro-/mesoscopic scheme. The effects of the Knudsen (Kn) numbers and the oscillation frequency of lid temperature on the flow parameters are analyzed. The Shakhov model equation is solved numerically based on the mesoscopic approach in the near-wall region, and the macroscopic approach is adopted in the bulk flow region to reduce the computational cost. To close the numerical iteration procedure, the velocity distribution functions serving as the pseudo boundary between macroscopic and mesoscopic methods are reconstructed using the high-order Hermite polynomials. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the temperature profile at the central vertical of the cavity predicted by the hybrid method is in good agreement with results from the mesoscopic method, with a maximum error of 0.23%. In addition, the computational memory cost can be saved up to about 69.91%. The hybrid approach is able to capture the nonlinear phenomenon in the thermally induced oscillatory rarefied gas flow under high Kn numbers, where the horizontal velocity no longer obeys the law of periodic oscillating cosine function, and the rise time of the horizontal velocity is much longer than the fall time. The thickness of the viscous penetration layer and the disturbed region increases as the Kn number increases and decreases as the Strouhal number increases.

Multidimensional numerical simulation of thermodynamic and oscillating gas flow processes of a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler

Abstract The Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers are considered to be prominent candidates for the cooling of high-temperature superconducting magnets, liquefaction of permanent gases, helium recondensation in magnetic resonance imaging machines, cooling of superconducting quantum interference device, etc. In this paper, multi-dimensional numerical simulation is performed to visualize the oscillating heat and fluid flow processes that happen in a mechanically driven GM cryocooler. Influence of the ideal gas equation and real gas equation of states on the cooling behaviour is explained. The minimum achievable refrigeration temperature of a uniform mesh regenerator is compared with a multi-mesh regenerator. It is noticed that a multi-mesh regenerator produces a lower refrigeration temperature as compared to a uniform mesh regenerator. In addition to this, a one-dimensional simulation is conducted and results are compared with multi-dimensional numerical simulation. The no-load temperature value calculated by the one-dimensional model and multi-dimensional model with ideal gas is lower than that of real gas equations. Additionally, the refrigerating capacity calculated by the one-dimensional model and multi-dimensional model with the ideal gas equation is higher than those of the real gas equation of state.

Experimental study on the oscillatory Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of a planar liquid sheet in the presence of axial oscillating gas flow

The oscillatory Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) instability of a planar liquid sheet was experimentally investigated in the presence of an axial oscillating gas flow. An experimental system was initiated to study the oscillatory K–H instability. The surface wave growth rates were measured and compared with theoretical results obtained using the authors’ early linear method. Furthermore, in a larger parameter range experimentally studied, it is interesting that there are four different unstable modes: first disordered mode (FDM), second disordered mode (SDM), K–H harmonic unstable mode (KHH) and K–H subharmonic unstable mode (KHS). These unstable modes are determined by the oscillating amplitude, oscillating frequency and liquid inertia force. The frequencies of KHH are equal to the oscillating frequency; the frequency of KHS equals half the oscillating frequency, while the frequencies of FDM and SDM are irregular. By considering the mechanism of instability, the instability regime maps on the relative Weber number versus liquid Weber number (Werel–Wel) and the Weber number ratio versus the oscillating frequency (Werel/Wel– $\varOmega$ s2) were plotted. Among these four modes, KHS is the most unexpected: the frequency of this mode is not equal to the oscillating frequency, but the surface wave can also couple with the oscillating gas flow. Linear instability theory was applied to divide the parameter range between the different unstable modes. According to linear instability theory, K–H and parametric unstable regions both exist. However, note that all four modes (KHH, KHS, FDM and SDM) corresponded primarily to the K–H unstable region obtained from the theoretical analysis. Nevertheless, the parametric unstable mode was also observed when the oscillating frequency and amplitude were relatively low, and the liquid inertia force was relatively high. The surface wave amplitude was small but regular, and the evolution of this wave was similar to that of Faraday waves. The wave oscillating frequency was half that of the surface wave.

Influence of gas axial conduction enhancement factor on the oscillating flow behavior of an inertance pulse tube cryocooler

Most one-dimensional simulation models developed so far to estimate the theoretical performance of pulse tube cryocoolers ignore the effect of heat loss arising out of thermal dispersion in porous media and turbulent conduction in pipes. In this paper one-dimensional numerical simulation of an inertance type pulse tube cryocooler has been carried out to illustrate the effect of thermal dispersion and turbulent conduction on the oscillating gas flow and heat transfer behavior. The study has been conducted under three conditions: simulation of cryocooler without considering gas axial heat conduction effects, simulation of cryocooler with gas axial heat conduction but neglecting the influence of thermal dispersion and turbulent conduction, and simulation of the cryocooler with gas axial heat conduction including the influence of thermal dispersion and turbulent conduction. The effect of thermal dispersion and turbulent conduction in the gas phase has been expressed in terms of an axial-conduction-enhancement-factor in the gas energy equation. It is revealed that the inclusion of axial-conduction enhancement factor in the porous media and tubes of the pulse tube cryocooler creates a positive phase shift in all oscillating physical quantities. This phase change causes an adverse effect on the cooling mechanism of the pulse tube cryocooler. It is found that, the coefficient of performance decreases by 8.6% and the minimum cooling temperature increases by 6.67% when the axial-conduction enhancement factor is included in the one-dimensional simulation model.

Linear harmonic oscillatory rarefied gas flow with arbitrary frequency in comb finger blocks

The linear oscillatory two-dimensional rarefied gas flow in the zig-zag channel between the shuttle and stator fingers of typical comb elements, due to the harmonic motion of the shuttle finger with arbitrary frequency, is numerically investigated, via the linearized unsteady Shakhov kinetic model equation, subject to purely diffuse boundary conditions. The amplitude and phase distributions of the velocity components, normal and shear stresses, density and temperature are thoroughly investigated in the whole range of the gas rarefaction and oscillation parameters, characterizing the flow. The low, moderate and high flow oscillation regimes are defined by the ratio of the gas rarefaction over the oscillation parameters. It is shown that in the low oscillation regime the flow may be approximated by the corresponding steady-state analysis, while in the high oscillation one by the superposition of the associated oscillatory one-dimensional normal sound propagation and Couette flows. In the former case edge and compressibility effects are considerable and in the latter one the flow is characterized by gas trapping along the shuttle finger. In the moderate oscillation regime the fully oscillatory two-dimensional flow must be analysed. Here, the antiresonance and resonance states of the flow are considered. The ratios of the gas rarefaction over the oscillation parameters, where the average normal and shear stresses acting on the shuttle finger are minimized are computationally specified. Changing the main geometry parameters of the comb finger block, significantly affects the normal and shear stresses acting on the shuttle finger, mainly in the low oscillation regime. The present work may be applied to minimize the damping forces in comb finger blocks, as well as to optimize the design of new generation devices operating in moderate and high frequencies.

The Half-Range Moment Method in Harmonically Oscillating Rarefied Gas Flows

The formulation of the half-range moment method (HRMM), well defined in steady rarefied gas flows, is extended to linear oscillatory rarefied gas flows, driven by oscillating boundaries. The oscillatory Stokes (also known as Stokes second problem) and the oscillatory Couette flows, as representative ones for harmonically oscillating half-space and finite-medium flow setups respectively, are solved. The moment equations are derived from the linearized time-dependent BGK kinetic equation, operating accordingly over the positive and negative halves of the molecular velocity space. Moreover, the boundary conditions of the “positive” and “negative” moment equations are accordingly constructed from the half-range moments of the boundary conditions of the outgoing distribution function, assuming purely diffuse reflection. The oscillatory Stokes flow is characterized by the oscillation parameter, while the oscillatory Couette flow by the oscillation and rarefaction parameters. HRMM results for the amplitude and phase of the velocity and shear stress in a wide range of the flow parameters are presented and compared with corresponding results, obtained by the discrete velocity method (DVM). In the oscillatory Stokes flow the so-called penetration depth is also computed. When the oscillation frequency is lower than the collision frequency excellent agreement is observed, while when it is about the same or larger some differences are present. Overall, it is demonstrated that the HRMM can be applied to linear oscillatory rarefied gas flows, providing accurate results in a very wide range of the involved flow parameters. Since the computational effort is negligible, it is worthwhile to consider the efficient implementation of the HRMM to stationary and transient multidimensional rarefied gas flows.

Ubiquitous velocity fluctuations throughout the molecular interstellar medium

The density structure of the interstellar medium determines where stars form and release energy, momentum and heavy elements, driving galaxy evolution1–4. Density variations are seeded and amplified by gas motion, but the exact nature of this motion is unknown across spatial scales and galactic environments5. Although dense star-forming gas probably emerges from a combination of instabilities6,7, convergent flows8 and turbulence9, establishing the precise origin is challenging because it requires gas motion to be quantified over many orders of magnitude in spatial scale. Here we measure10–12 the motion of molecular gas in the Milky Way and in nearby galaxy NGC 4321, assembling observations that span a spatial dynamic range 10−1–103 pc. We detect ubiquitous velocity fluctuations across all spatial scales and galactic environments. Statistical analysis of these fluctuations indicates how star-forming gas is assembled. We discover oscillatory gas flows with wavelengths ranging from 0.3–400 pc. These flows are coupled to regularly spaced density enhancements that probably form via gravitational instabilities13,14. We also identify stochastic and scale-free velocity and density fluctuations, consistent with the structure generated in turbulent flows9. Our results demonstrate that the structure of the interstellar medium cannot be considered in isolation. Instead, its formation and evolution are controlled by nested, interdependent flows of matter covering many orders of magnitude in spatial scale. Statistical analysis of velocity fluctuations in the interstellar medium (ISM) of the Milky Way and NGC 4321 show that the motion of molecular gas over scales ranging from 0.1 to 1,000 pc is similar, and consistent with that generated by a combination of gravity and turbulence. ISM structure at one scale is therefore linked to structure at other scales.

Absorption of CO2 from flue gas under oscillating gas flow conditions in gas-solvent hollow fibre membrane contactors

Membrane gas-solvent contactors are a viable approach for the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) into solvents, such as potassium glycinate, compared to traditional solvent absorption. The hollow fibre membrane design does have limitations, as the presence of the membrane adds extra resistance to mass transfer compared to traditional solvent absorption. To reduce the impact of this extra resistance it is necessary to increase mass transfer in the solvent and gas phase boundary layers. This investigation aimed to increase mass transfer in the gas phase boundary layer of a membrane contactor process by applying oscillating gas flow conditions. For an asymmetric polydimethylsiloxane membrane contactor undergoing oscillating gas flow conditions, an average increase of 19% in overall mass transfer coefficient (KG) compared to non-oscillating gas flow was observed, for 15 wt% potassium glycinate solvent. The oscillating frequency of the gas phase had only a minor impact on performance, above 2 Hz, implying that oscillation of the gas phase was important for mixing, not the rate of the oscillation. Alternatively, KG approximately doubled in value as a function of increased oscillating amplitude. This was due to the resulting pressure wave producing localized increases in the partial pressure driving force for mass transfer across the membrane. For the membrane contactors studied, mass transfer correlations, in terms of Sherwood number, were proposed for the oscillating and non-oscillating flow conditions and fitted to the experimental data. This outcome highlighted the importance of inducing mixing within the gas phase to maximise mass transfer in membrane contactors.

Introduction of Disruptive Gas Flow Via Fluidic Oscillation to Improve Solid Oxide Cell Performance

An increased focus on renewable technologies is necessary to meet the level of carbon emission reduction required to achieve the 2°C scenario (2DS). Carbon containing materials are at the root of most industrial value chains and currently 90% of organic chemicals are made from fossil fuels and 5-10% of global crude oil demand is for the manufacture of chemicals. By providing a process to convert waste CO2 into high value CO we can take steps towards the goal of reducing emissions and provide an important link between various sectors to turn waste materials into new products, improving resource efficiencies, and reducing negative environmental factors. This presents a significant opportunity to leverage CO2 as a feedstock while supporting global goals in green energy, manufacturing, etc.Solid oxide cells (SOCs) provide an effective mode of simultaneously reducing CO2 and separating O2, however, over 80% of the cost to co-electrolyse CO2 and H2O comes from electrical input necessary to drive a SOEC. While changes in cell geometry and composition have been used to improve performance, energy inputs need to be reduced to increase overall device efficiency for widespread commercialisation to be realised.In this work we focus on the use of oscillating the gas flow into an SOC to create a highly efficient energy conversion device to facilitate the reduction of CO2 to CO. Fluidic oscillation is known to cause disruptive flow which promotes turbulence in small flow fields, thereby increasing the overall efficiency – key to furthering their commercialisation.Fluidic oscillators are one of a variety of fluidic switching devices developed in the field of microfluidics. A single gas supply inlet guides an incoming gas flow into a destabilising microfluidic feature, generating the necessary disruption that results in jet diversion between two identical channels. This switching results in a pulsed flow in each of the outlet channels, alternating between full forward flow, and very slight backflow. The flow in the forward regime bears similarity to laminar flow, whereas the slight backflow regime more closely resembles turbulence. This effect can be observed even in extremely small channel diameters and causes a disruptive effect which interrupts the formation of a boundary layer of stagnant gas flow along flow field chamber walls. While conventional oscillators require high flow rates on the order of 50-80 L/min, for this particular work we are utilising a novel fluidic oscillator capable of producing an oscillatory flow at low onset flow rates of as low as 50 ml/min, which is necessary for operation with lab scale SOCs.Experimental results show improved performance with the addition of oscillating gas flow and no other changes to cell geometry, materials composition, or gas composition. The magnitude of improvement in polarization resistance was dependent on operating conditions, the reasons for which will be discussed in the paper.

Origin of spurious oscillations in lattice Boltzmann simulations of oscillatory noncontinuum gas flows.

Oscillatory noncontinuum gas flows at the micro and nanoscales are characterized by two dimensionless groups: a dimensionless molecular length scale, the Knudsen number Kn, and a dimensionless frequency θ, relating the oscillatory frequency to the molecular collision frequency. In a recent study [Shi et al., Phys. Rev. E 89, 033305 (2014)10.1103/PhysRevE.89.033305], the accuracy of the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method for simulating these flows at moderate-to-large Kn and θ was examined. In these cases, the LB method exhibits spurious numerical oscillations that cannot be removed through the use of discrete particle velocities drawn from higher-order Gauss-Hermite quadrature. Here, we identify the origin of these spurious effects and formulate a method to minimize their presence. This proposed method splits the linearized Boltzmann Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) equation into two equations: (1) a homogeneous "gain-free equation" that can be solved directly, containing terms responsible for the spurious oscillations; and (2) an inhomogeneous "remainder equation" with homogeneous boundary conditions (i.e., stationary boundaries) that is solved using the conventional LB algorithm. This proposed "splitting method" is validated using published high-accuracy numerical solutions to the linearized Boltzmann BGK equation where excellent agreement is observed.

MRT-LBM modelling of the oscillatory gas slide film damping in the transition regime

In this paper, the slide film damping (SFD) of micro-scale oscillatory Couette flow has been researched by an effective multiple relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method (MRT-LBM). The validity and effectiveness of MRT-LBM for solving SFD have been verified through contrasting the velocity distribution between the upper plate and the substrate of MRT-LBM and the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model. The impacts of the vibration frequency and gap of plates on the damping are discussed, and the result shows that the nonlinear character of velocity profiles is manifest and SFD increases substantially for a larger vibration frequency in the oscillatory gas flow; SFD reduces obviously with the gap increases. Consequently, the results further confirm the implementation of LBM in analysis of the non-equilibrium micro-scale gas flow.

Improving the Efficiency of High-Temperature Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide in a Solid Oxide Cell

This work focuses on the development of a bespoke rig which allows for the simultaneous use of non-thermal plasmas (NTPs), oscillating gas flow via a Desai-Zimmerman Fluidic Oscillator (DZFO) and a Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) to create a highly efficient energy conversion device to facilitate the reduction of CO2 to CO. Both fluidic oscillation and NTPs have the potential to reduce resistances in a SOC, key to furthering their commercialisation. The potential role of NTPs in improving the kinetics and efficiency of reactions relevant to CO2 reduction, such as the dissociation of CO2, is presented. Performance improvements using a rapidly oscillating gas flow, provided by the DZFO, to minimise concentration polarisation resistance by disrupting boundary layer formation and increasing overall efficiency are also discussed. The intersection of these technologies provide a path for a paradigm shift in the ability to convert waste CO2 into high value feedstock using renewable energy.

Heat and mass transfer of oscillatory lid-driven cavity flow in the continuum, transition and free molecular flow regimes

Although effective cooling of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) with oscillatory components is essential for reliable device operation, the role of oscillation on heat transfer remains poorly understood. In this work, heat and mass transfer of the oscillatory gas flow inside a square cavity is computationally studied by solving the Boltzmann model equation, i.e. the Shakhov model. The oscillation frequency of the lid and rarefaction and nonlinearity of the flow field are systematically investigated. Our results show that, when the oscillation frequency of the lid increases, the usual cold-to-hot heat transfer pattern for highly rarefied flow changes to hot-to-cold, which contradicts the well-known anti-Fourier (i.e. cold-to-hot) heat transfer in a non-oscillatory lid-driven cavity. In addition, the thermal convection will be dramatically enhanced by lid oscillation, which may play a dominant role in the heat transfer. Meanwhile, the average Nusselt number varies non-monotonically with the oscillation frequency, with the maximum occurring at the anti-resonance frequency. Finally, the average Nusselt number on the lid at various oscillation frequencies is found to reduce when the gas becomes more rarefied. These findings may be useful for the thermal design of MEMS.

Oscillatory rarefied gas flow inside a three dimensional rectangular cavity

The oscillatory rarefied gas flow in a three-dimensional (3D) rectangular cavity, which is frequently encountered in micro-electro-mechanical systems, is investigated on the basis of the gas kinetic theory. The effects of the cavity aspect ratio, the cavity depth ratio, and the oscillation frequency of the driving lid on flow characteristics and damping force are systematically studied using the discrete unified gas-kinetic scheme over a broad range of gas rarefactions. For the highly rarefied flow, when the lid oscillates at a low frequency, as a consequence of the strong rarefaction effect, the damping force on the lid in a 3D cavity could even be smaller than that of a corresponding 2D one (i.e., the depth in the lateral direction approaching infinity). This finding contradicts our intuitive understanding that the damping force is expected to be amplified due to the presence of the lateral walls. Meanwhile, when the lid oscillation frequency becomes sufficiently high, due to the effect of gas anti-resonance, the damping force on the oscillating lid will increase again as the depth reduces for the highly rarefied flow. In addition, the gas resonance and anti-resonance found inside the 2D cavity also appear in 3D ones, and the anti-resonance and resonance frequencies as a function of the cavity aspect ratio are nearly the same. However, the presence of the lateral walls will suppress their formation: the smaller the depth, the weaker the intensity of the (anti-)resonance. These findings can help to design the structure of the micro-electro-mechanical devices.

Variational method enabling simplified solutions to the linearized Boltzmann equation for oscillatory gas flows

Nanomechanical resonators and sensors, operated in ambient conditions, often generate low-Mach-number oscillating rarefied gas flows. Cercignani [C. Cercignani, J. Stat. Phys. 1, 297 (1969)JSTPBS0022-471510.1007/BF01007482] proposed a variational principle for the linearized Boltzmann equation, which can be used to derive approximate analytical solutions of steady (time-independent) flows. Here we extend and generalize this principle to unsteady oscillatory rarefied flows and thus accommodate resonating nanomechanical devices. This includes a mathematical approach that facilitates its general use and allows for systematic improvements in accuracy. This formulation is demonstrated for two canonical flow problems: oscillatory Couette flow and Stokes' second problem. Approximate analytical formulas giving the bulk velocity and shear stress, valid for arbitrary oscillation frequency, are obtained for Couette flow. For Stokes' second problem, a simple system of ordinary differential equations is derived which may be solved to obtain the desired flow fields. Using this framework, a simple and accurate formula is provided for the shear stress at the oscillating boundary, again for arbitrary frequency, which may prove useful in application. These solutions are easily implemented on any symbolic or numerical package, such as Mathematica or matlab, facilitating the characterization of flows produced by nanomechanical devices and providing insight into the underlying flow physics.

Universal stability curve for pattern formation in pulsed gas-solid fluidized beds of sandlike particles

A granular layer can form regular patterns, such as squares, stripes, and hexagons, when it is fluidized with a pulsating gas flow. These structures are reminiscent of the well-known patterns found in granular layers excited through vibration, but, contrarily to them, they have been hardly explored since they were first discovered. In this work, we investigate experimentally the conditions leading to pattern formation in pulsed fluidized beds and the dimensionless numbers governing the phenomenon. We show that the onset to the instability is universal for Geldart B (sandlike) particles and governed by the hydrodynamical parameters = ua/(utφ¯) and f/fn, where ua and f are the amplitude and frequency of the gas velocity, respectively, ut is the terminal velocity of the particles, φ¯ is the average solids fraction, and fn is the natural frequency of the bed. These findings suggest that patterns emerge as a result of a parametric resonance between the kinematic waves originating from the oscillating gas flow and the bulk dynamics. Particle friction plays virtually no role in the onset to pattern formation, but it is fundamental for pattern selection and stabilization.

Mathematical simulation of a gas flow in the vicinity of the open end of a tube for harmonic oscillations of a piston at the resonance frequency at the other end of the tube

The structure of the gas flow in the vicinity of the open end of a tube for the oscillating gas flow caused by piston oscillations at the first resonance frequency at the other end of the tube has been determined by numerical integration of the Navier–Stokes equations using the ANSYS FLUENT program package. For the variant of the tube with an infinitely long flange and a sharp edge, the influence of the piston displacement amplitude on the gas flow rate in the tube is investigated, and the phases of gas inflow and outflow during the period of oscillation have been determined.

Effect of forced flow oscillations on churn and annular flow in a long vertical tube

An experimental study has been carried out to investigate the effects of periodic forced flow oscillations on gas-liquid two-phase flows using a 42m long, 0.05m ID vertical pipe system. From the knowledge of the authors, there is no experimental work available in the literature on the forced flow oscillations for churn flow regime. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to experimentally characterize churn and annular flows in a long vertical tube. The time variation of liquid holdup, pressure drop and pressure gradient were analyzed under two superficial liquid velocities (0.017 and 0.3m/s), and superficial gas velocities oscillations ranging from 4m/s to 21m/s. The impact of flow oscillations in two-phase flow regime transitions is also investigated.The observations of flow regimes under oscillatory conditions showed significant differences compared to the ones expected in steady-state flow under the same conditions. Under oscillatory conditions, the local liquid holdup and the amplitude of its waves decreased with the distance from the inlet. For the experimental runs with oscillatory gas flow and low superficial liquid velocities (Uls=0.017m/s), the liquid holdup at the bottom of the tube decreased while the gas flow rate was lowered, whereas in steady-state conditions the liquid holdup should increase while reducing superficial gas velocities. This process is described in this study by the formation of large waves in the bottom of the pipe as a consequence of the flow oscillations.

Frequency-domain deviational Monte Carlo method for linear oscillatory gas flows

Oscillatory non-continuum low Mach number gas flows are often generated by nanomechanical devices in ambient conditions. These flows can be simulated using a range of particle based Monte Carlo techniques, which in their original form operate exclusively in the time-domain. Recently, a frequency-domain weight-based Monte Carlo method was proposed [D. R. Ladiges and J. E. Sader, “Frequency-domain Monte Carlo method for linear oscillatory gas flows,” J. Comput. Phys. 284, 351–366 (2015)] that exhibits superior statistical convergence when simulating oscillatory flows. This previous method used the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) kinetic model and contains a “virtual-time” variable to maintain the inherent time-marching nature of existing Monte Carlo algorithms. Here, we propose an alternative frequency-domain deviational Monte Carlo method that facilitates the use of a wider range of molecular models and more efficient collision/relaxation operators. We demonstrate this method with oscillatory Couette flow and the flow generated by an oscillating sphere, utilizing both the BGK kinetic model and hard sphere particles. We also discuss how oscillatory motion of arbitrary time-dependence can be simulated using computationally efficient parallelization. As in the weight-based method, this deviational frequency-domain Monte Carlo method is shown to offer improved computational speed compared to the equivalent time-domain technique.

Possibility of using a bi-directional impulse turbine in a thermo-acoustic engine

The paper is devoted to one of engine types with external heating a thermoacoustic engine. Ways of transforming the energy of a shock wave of oscillating gas flow into electric energy are discussed. The authors suggest using a bidirectional impulse turbine as an energy converter. The distinctive feature of this kind of turbine is that the shock wave of oscillating gas flow passing through the turbine is reflected and passes through the turbine again in the opposite direction. The direction of turbine rotation does not change in the process. Different types of bidirectional impulse turbines for thermoacoustic engines are analyzed. The Wells turbine is the simplest and least efficient of them. A radial impulse turbine has more complicated design and is more efficient than the Wells turbine. The most appropriate type of impulse turbine was chosen. This type is an axial impulse turbine which has a simpler design than that of a radial turbine and similar efficiency. The peculiarities of the method of calculating an impulse turbine are discussed. They include changes in gas pressure and velocity as functions of time during the generation of gas oscillating flow shock waves in a thermoacoustic system.