Latest developments in thermoacoustic devices have demonstrated comparable power output and efficiency, but higher reliability and lower cost when compared to conventional low-grade heat recovery technologies. A good coupling between multiple physical fields plays a pivotal role in realizing these potentials. This article provides a comprehensive review of the multi-physics coupling effects, namely, thermal-acoustic coupling, acoustic-mechanical coupling and mechanical-electric coupling, inside thermoacoustic devices including thermoacoustic engines, thermoacoustic electric generators, thermoacoustically-driven refrigerators, etc. The basic principles, operating characteristics, design strategies and future prospects are discussed individually for each coupling effect. System-level design techniques and synthetic optimization methodologies in consideration of the multi-physics coupling effects are presented. This review work gives insights into the underlying mechanisms of various coupling effects in thermoacoustic devices and provides guidelines for improvements of modern thermoacoustic technologies for low-grade thermal energy recovery, refrigeration and electric power generation purposes.

Multi-physics coupling in thermoacoustic devices: A review

Modelling and analysis of a thermoacoustic-piezoelectric energy harvester

Justifying performance of thermo-acoustic Stirling engines based on a novel lumped mechanical model

Study of a gas-liquid-coupled heat-driven room-temperature thermoacoustic refrigerator with different working gases

Performance of a looped thermoacoustic engine with multiple loads capable of utilizing heat source below 200 °C

A numerical study of a looped-tube thermoacoustic engine with a single-stage for utilization of low-grade heat

Numerical analysis of competing methods for acoustic field adjustment in a looped-tube thermoacoustic engine with a single stage

Thermoacoustics has become a promising technology to use heat from low temperature sources to drive engines. This study proposes a single-stage thermoacoustic travelling-wave engine for waste-heat recovery at 150°C. All the construction details of such a system are provided. A recently developed configuration of a looped tube with an impedance matching side-branch stub is proposed. A numerical model of the engine is built in DeltaEC software to conduct the simulations. Furthermore, a detailed thermodynamic analysis of the engine is presented, including an energy balance, a description of the basic acoustic parameters in a steady state, as well as a study of a variable load influence on the performance of the engine. The Authors pointed out the necessity of the engine optimization and a proper choice of load related acoustic impedance, which would consider a trade-off between high power and high efficiency. Eventually, a possibility of achieving 40% exergy efficiency of the proposed engine is confirmed.

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Adam Ruziewicz

Papers

A numerical study of a looped-tube thermoacoustic engine with a single-stage for utilization of low-grade heat

Numerical analysis of competing methods for acoustic field adjustment in a looped-tube thermoacoustic engine with a single stage

Thermodynamic analysis of a thermoacoustic travelling wave engine

Novel industrial gas filling station with an internal cooling system dedicated for speeding up cylinder charging process - Energy and exergy analysis