Characteristics of onset and damping in a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine driven by liquid nitrogen

We explore characteristics of onset and damping in a thermoacoustic engine (TE) driven by cryogens instead of conventional heat sources above the ambient temperature by a comprehensive study of a self-made standing-wave thermoacoustic engine driven by liquid nitrogen. The experiments verify the feasibility of enhancing the thermoacoustic oscillation at cryogenic temperatures. The onset temperature difference along the stack of the TE significantly decreases, compared with that of a conventional TE driven by high-temperature heat sources. The resonance frequency of the cryogen-driven TE is smaller than that of the heat-source-driven TE, mainly due to the lower average temperature of the working gas. Experiments and calculations show that the temperature discrepancy between onset and damping is partly caused by the linear temperature distribution along the stack before damping, together with the nonlinear distribution before onset. These results will contribute to a better understanding of thermoacoustic oscillation and to the recovery of the cold energy of cryogens.

Study on the onset temperature of a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine based on circuit network theory

Onset mechanism is one of the most fundamental issues in thermoacoustic field.However,the onset conditions and the phenomena happening in the onset process have not been well explained theoretically.In this paper,a novel model based on the circuit network analogy is proposed to predict the onset temperature of a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine.The activity and instability criteria are proposed to be the onset criteria in the model.The influences of the porosity of the heat exchanger and the stack,and the length of the resonant tube on the onset temperature are analyzed.The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental results,which indicates that the activity and instability criteria can be used to predict the onset conditions of a thermoacoustic engine.

Temperature Difference and Stack Plate Spacing Effects on Thermodynamic Performances of Standing-Wave Thermoacoustic Engines Driven by Cryogenic Liquids and Waste Heat

The standing-wave thermoacoustic engines(TAE)are applied in practice to convert thermal power into acoustic one to generate electricity or to drive cooling devices.Although there is a number of existing numerical researches that provides a design tool for predicting standing-wave TAE performances,few existing works that compare TAE driven by cryogenic liquids and waste heat,and optimize its performance by varying the stack plate spacing.This present work is primarily concerned with the numerical investigation of the performance of TAEs driven by cryogenic liquids and waste heat.For this,three-dimensional(3-D)standing-wave TAE models are developed.Mesh-and time-independence studies are conducted first.Model validations are then performed by comparing with the numerical results available in the literature.The validated model is then applied to simulate the standing-wave TAEs driven by the cryogenic liquids and the waste heat,as the temperature gradientΔT is varied.It is found that limit cycle oscillations in both systems are successfully generated and the oscillations amplitude is increased with increasedΔT.Nonlinearity is identified with acoustic streaming and the flow reversal occurring through the stack.Comparison studied are then conducted between the cryogenic liquid-driven TAE and that driven by waste heat in the presence of the same temperature gradientΔT.It is shown that the limit cycle frequency of the cryogenic liquid system is 4.72%smaller and the critical temperatureΔT_(cri)=131 K is lower than that of the waste heat system(ΔT_(cri)=187 K).Furthermore,the acoustic power is increased by 31%and the energy conversion efficiency is found to increase by 0.42%.Finally,optimization studies on the stack plate spacing are conducted in TAE system driven by cryogenic liquids.It is found that the limit cycle oscillation frequency is increased with the decreased ratio between the stack plate spacing and the heat penetration depth.When the ratio is set to between 2 and 3,the overall performance of the cryogenic liquid-driven TAE has been greatly improved.In summary,the present model can be used as a design tool to evaluate standing-wave TAE performances with detailed thermodynamics and acoustics characteristics.The present findings provide useful guidance for the design and optimization of high-efficiency standing-wave TAE for recovering low-temperature fluids or heat sources.

Measuring Sound Pressure Levels during Thermoacoustic Instabilities in Large Engines: Case Study

This paper attempts to present some registers of sound pressure levels during the operation of large diesel engines (10 MW). During these registers we have found the preparation, occurrence and ending of events of thermoacoustic instability. They appear after a loosing of chaos period or a reduction in fluctuations in some frequencies. The most interesting phenomena were registered at low frequencies. However, they were accompanied by variations in sound emissions at medium and high frequencies. As there has been very little published data concerning these phenomena at real scale, it is imperative to point out that every quasi-stationary state we have measured during these episodes has lasted some minutes, significantly much more time than that of lab scale results.

Development and Assessment of Thermoacoustic Generators Operating by Waste Heat from Cooking Stove

This paper presents the development and assessment of two low-cost, travelling wave, thermoacoustic generators operating by waste heat energy from cooking stove. One powered by waste heat from a propane-driven stove, the other powered by waste heat from a wood-burning stove. The propane-driven thermoacoustic generator was successfully demonstrated to produce approximately 15 watts of electricity using a commercial audio loudspeaker. The wood-burning thermoacoustic generator was successfully constructed and tested to generate a maximum of 22.7 watts of electricity under a pressurised condition. The latter has a high potential to be used by over 1.5 billion people in rural communities for applications such as LED lighting, charging mobile phones or charging a 12V battery. A comprehensive power assessment of the propane-driving generator as well as the development and performance assessment of the wood-burning generator are described throughout this article.

Impact of load impedance on the performance of a thermoacoustic system employing acoustic pressure amplifier

An acoustic pressure amplifier (APA) is capable of improving the match between a thermoacoustic engine and a load by elevating pressure ratio and acoustic power output. A standing-wave thermoacoustic engine driving a resistance- and-compliance (RC) load through an APA was simulated with linear thermoacoustics to study the impact of load impedance on the performance of the thermoacoustic system. Based on the simulation results, analysis focuses on the distribution of pressure amplitude and velocity amplitude in APA with an RC load of diverse acoustic resistances and compliance impedances. Variation of operating parameters, including pressure ratio, acoustic power, hot end temperature of stack, etc., versus impedance of the RC load is presented and analyzed according to the abovementioned distribution. A verifying experiment has been performed, which indicates that the simulation can roughly predict the system operation in the fundamental-frequency mode.

The Myth of the High-Efficiency External-Combustion Stirling Engine

The reported discrepancy between theory and experiment for external combustion Stirling engines is explained by the addition of thermal resistance of the combustion gasses to the standard Carnot model. In these cases, the Stirling engine ideal efficiency is not as is normally reported equal to the Carnot cycle efficiency but is significantly lower. A new equation for ideal Stirling engine efficiency when the heat is obtained through external combustion without pre-heating the air, is presented and results for various fuels tabulated. The results show that petrol and diesel, internal combustion engines (Otto cycle) have a higher ideal efficiency than the Stirling engine. When comparing thermoacoustic engines heated by wood, efficiency should not be quoted as a percentage of the Carnot efficiency, but against a figure 48% lower than Carnot. The effect is not seen with electrically heated rigs, solar or nuclear fission heated engines.

高功率热驱动热声制冷系统优化设计

为了提高热声热机功率密度兼顾总热效率,使用DeltaEC软件对二级环路热驱动热声制冷系统进行数值模拟,分析了回热器水力半径和长度对系统的总热效率、发动机热声转换效率以及功率密度、制冷机制冷系数以及功率密度等因素的影响。结果表明,实现高功率密度的回热器水力半径区间为38—76μm,实现高功率密度的回热器长度区间为10—32 mm,发动机实现高功率密度的最优相位区间为-14.74—-5.63°,制冷机实现高功率密度的最优相位区间为11.132—20.457°。

Thermodynamic analysis of onset characteristics in a miniature thermoacoustic Stirling engine

This paper analyzes the onset characteristics of a miniature thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine using the ther-modynamic analysis method. The governing equations of components are reduced from the basic thermodynamic relations and the linear thermoacoustic theory. By solving the governing equation group numerically, the oscillation frequencies and onset temperatures are obtained. The dependences of the kinds of working gas, the length of resonator tube, the diameter of resonator tube, on the oscillation frequency are calculated. Meanwhile, the influences of hydraulic radius and mean pressure on the onset temperature for different working gas are also presented. The calculation results indicate that there exists an optimal dimensionless hydraulic radius to obtain the lowest onset temperature, whose value lies in the range of 0.30 0.35 for different working gases. Furthermore, the amplitude and phase relationship of pressures and volume flows are analyzed in the time-domain. Some experiments have been performed to validate the calculations. The calculation results agree well with the experimental values. Finally, an error analysis is made, giving the reasons that cause the errors of theoretical calculations.

Numerical analysis on thermoacoustic engine using network method

The network method for modeling thermoacoustic engines is described. Some simulation results on acoustic fields and phases in engine, especially in the thermoacoustic stack are presented and analyzed. The effects of some key factors on performance of stack and engine system are simulated and discussed. These effect factors include the spaces of plates of stack, the position of stack in engine system, the source parameter of stack, and the mean working pressure of the engine system.

An acoustical pump capable of significantly increasing pressure ratio of thermoacoustic heat engines

Pressure ratio is one of the important parameters for evaluating a thermoacoustic heat en- gine. A so-called acoustical pump, which is capable of significantly increasing pressure ratio of a ther- moacoustic heat engine, is proposed. Its operating principle is given. Also, a verification experiment is done with nitrogen gas in the energy-focused ther- moacoustic heat engine, showing that the pressure ratio increased from 1.25 to 1.47.

Lumped parameter model for resonant frequency estimation of a thermoacoustic engine with gas-liquid coupling oscillation

Gas-liquid coupling oscillation is a novel approach to reducing the resonant frequency and to elevating the pressure amplitude of a thermoacoustic engine.If a thermoacoustic engine is used to drive low-frequency pulse tube refrigerators,the frequency matching between the thermoacoustic engine and the refrigerator plays an important role.Based on an acoustic-electric analogy,a lumped parameter model is proposed to estimate the resonant frequency of a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine with gas-liquid coupling oscillation.Furthermore,a simplified lumped parameter model is also developed to reduce the computation complexity.The resonant frequency dependence on the mean pressure,the gas space volume,and the water column length is computed and analyzed.The impact of different working gases on the resonant frequency is also discussed.The effectiveness of the models is validated by comparing the computed results with the experimental data of the gas-liquid coupling oscillation system.An increase in the mean working pressure can lead to a rise in the resonant frequency,and a lower resonant frequency can be achieved by elongating the liquid column.In comparison with nitrogen and argon,carbon dioxide can realize a lower frequency due to a smaller specific heat ratio.

Design and experimental validation of looped-tube thermoacoustic engine

The aim of this paper is to present the design and experimental validation process for a thermoacoustic looped-tube engine.The design procedure consists of numerical modelling of the system using DELTA EC tool,Design Environment for Low-amplitude ThermoAcoustic Energy Conversion,in particular the effects of mean pressure and regenerator configuration on the pressure amplitude and acoustic power generated.This is followed by the construction of a practical engine system equipped with a ceramic regenerator-a substrate used in automotive catalytic converters with fine square channels.The preliminary testing results are obtained and compared with the simulations in detail.The measurement results agree very well on the qualitative level and are reasonably close in the quantitative sense.

热声发动机中的交变流动换热器特性研究

为阐明热声发动机交变流动换热器内基本换热与阻力特性,以10 kW直线热管耦合自由活塞斯特林发电机的发动机核心为例,对三维模型进行等效,分别利用Sage一维和CFD二维模型两种方法,对交变流动换热单元在额定工况下的沿程基本状态参数、时均能量的分布特征进行计算并比较。结果表明:Sage一维模型中的换热分布特征及换热总量均与CFD二维模型计算结果相近,即Sage一维模型可以较好地捕捉换热器内的瞬态与时均特征;同时,Sage一维模型对换热器界面的突变截面损失则与CFD二维模型计算差异较大,可利用CFD二维模型的阻力计算结果,提出采用有效压降与有效速度获得突变截面处的局部阻力系数修正,并添加修正因子后代入Sage一维模型,可使Sage一维模型的阻力特性与CFD二维模型的阻力特性基本吻合。所得热声热机中换热器特性规律及分析方法同样可用于指导其他热声热机的相关研究与工程设计,具有一定的普适性。

大型多功能热声发动机的研制及初步实验 第一部分 热声发动机的研制

设计并制作了一台大型多功能行波热声发动机 ,该热声发动机长 4 5m ,高 1 2 5m ,设计最大输入功率 5kW。它不仅可以用于行波与驻波混合型热声发动机实验 ,还可以单独进行行波环路实验及热声发动机驱动脉管制冷机实验。该热声发动机中没有任何运动部件 ,同驻波热声发动机相比起振温度低、压比大 ,这对低品位能源的利用具有重要意义。着重介绍该热声发动机系统的研制和测量系统的组成 ,相关实验结果将另文介绍。

热声驱动器谐振频率影响因素分析

分析了结构参数、操作参数以及工质等因素对热声驱动器谐振频率的影响 ,并结合驻波型热声驱动器 ,给出了相应的计算结果和实验数据。

大型多功能热声发动机的研制及初步实验 第二部分:热声发动机的初步实验

行波热声发动机在回热器中进行的是可逆热声转换过程 ,理论上可以更高效地产生和传输声功 ,因而具有广阔的研究应用前景。对自行研制的大型多功能热声发动机进行了初步实验 ,着重研究了系统的起振、消振过程及压力波动情况。实验结果表明 ,该热声发动机比纯驻波型热声发动机具有更低的起振温度、更大的压比及更高的热声转换效率。以氮气为工质 ,在充气压力为 9× 10 5Pa的条件下 ,该热声发动机最大压比达 1 2 1,工作频率为 2 5Hz ,这是当前国际上处于前列的实验结果。

行波热声斯特林热机起振模态的实验研究

设计和建造了一台小型的行波热声发动机 ,实现了与谐振管负荷的耦和匹配。介绍了所研究的热声系统中热声振荡过程的一些实验结果和实验中观察到的两个起振模态以及模态间周期性交替变化的现象 。

黄铜与不锈钢丝网板叠性能比较分析

综合轴向和横向传热特性 ,比较分析了黄铜和不锈钢丝网板叠的性能 ,并采用黄铜和不锈钢两种丝网板叠进行了热声驱动脉管制冷的对比实验 ,给出了详细的实验结果和讨论。