Development of thermoacoustic devices for power generation and refrigeration

Abstract

This paper is intended as a technical overview of the research and development work initially undertaken at the University of Manchester and subsequently transferred to the University of Leicester as part of the EPSRC-funded SCORE project (Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity supply). The objectives of the work were twofold: Firstly, to develop an early demonstrator of a low-power electricity generator (to deliver approximately 10-20 W of electricity). This was to be based on the concept of using low-cost materials, working fluids and linear alternators suitable for deployment in rural areas of developing countries. The issues of concern here were the development of a suitable thermoacoustic engine topology and control measures; design of suitable heat exchanger configurations from initial use of electrical heaters to heat input through propane combustion; and characterisation of commercial loudspeakers to work as linear alternators and subsequent incorporation of selected models for engine prototyping purposes. These matters will be illustrated by a number of demonstrators and their testing in the laboratory environment. Secondly, to develop a demonstrator of a combustion driven thermoacoustic cooler for storage of vital medical supplies in remote and rural areas where there is no access to electricity grid. To this end, the paper will describe the design, construction and test results of an electrically driven demonstrator of a standing wave thermoacoustic engine coupled to a travelling wave thermoacoustic cooler. The final part of the paper will summarise the achievements to date and outline future work that has spun out from the original SCORE project. This will in particular include the current work on a scaled up version of electricity generator designed to deliver 100 W of electricity by using a two-stage engine configuration and the issues of integration of the thermoacoustic electricity generator and thermoacoustic cooler into one system.

Experimental investigation of thermal performance of random stack materials for use in standing wave thermoacoustic refrigerators

“…Page 4 of 31 (Jaworski and Mao, 2013). Hence, air is used as the working gas in the work presented here.…”

Pengaruh Panjang Stack Selubung Kabel Terhadap Perubahan Suhu Pada Sistem Pendingin Termoakustik

“…Termoakustik merupakan bidang kajian tentang interaksi antara kalor dan bunyi, yaitu konversi energi termal menjadi energi bunyi yang disebut dengan "efek termoakustik" [1]. Sedangkan pendingin termoakustik (thermoacoustic refrigeration) merupakan fenomena perpindahan energi dari dingin ke panas yang dihasilkan dengan membangkitkan medan gelombang akustik disekitar batas benda padat yang diambil dari sebuah stack yang terbuat dari tumpukan benda paralel pada perangkat gelombang berdiri [2] dalam pengertian yang lebih mudah di pahami adalah gelombang bunyi yang dapat menyebabkan perbedaan suhu karena adanya udara yang melalui kanal-kanal kecil dalam perambatannya.…”

Influence of magnetic field on the periodically oscillating fluid inside a porous medium attached to a thick solid plate

“…This wave can be converted into other forms of energy (e.g., electricity) using proper transducers (e.g., piezoelectric transducer) [15]. On the other hand, if acoustic energy is used as an input to a thermoacoustic system, a temperature difference between the two heat exchangers can be obtained if the temperature gradient across the stack is lower than a critical value [19] Although the thermoacoustic system has many inherent advantages, poor efficiency is still the major drawback of the http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.01.063 0017-9310/Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. thermoacoustic system.…”