Traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator
TL;DR: In this paper, a traveling-wave thermo-acoustic electric generator was designed for use with an electrodynamic linear alternator, which can convert high-temperature heat to acoustic power with high efficiency.
Abstract: Traveling-wave thermoacoustic heat engines have been demonstrated to convert high-temperature heat to acoustic power with high efficiency without using moving parts Electrodynamic linear alternators and compressors have demonstrated high acoustic-to-electric transduction efficiency as well as long maintenance-free lifetimes By optimizing a small-scale traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine for use with an electrodynamic linear alternator, we have created a traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator; a power conversion system suitable for demanding applications such as electricity generation aboard spacecraft
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TL;DR: In this article, a review of the research development of Stirling cycle engines for recovering low and moderate temperature heat is presented, which includes four types of engines: kinetic, thermoacoustic, free-piston, and liquid piston types.
Abstract: A review is presented for the research development of Stirling cycle engines for recovering low and moderate temperature heat. The Stirling cycle engines are categorized into four types, including kinetic, thermoacoustic, free-piston, and liquid piston types. The working characteristics, features, technological details, and performances of the related Stirling cycle engines are summarized. Upon comparing the available experimental results and the technology potentials, the research directions and the possible applications of different Stirling cycle engines are further discussed and identified. It is concluded that kinetic Stirling engines and thermoacoustic engines have the greatest application prospect in low and moderate temperature heat recoveries in terms of output power scale, conversion efficiency, and costs. In particular, kinetic Stirling engines should be oriented toward two directions for practical applications, including providing low-cost solutions for low temperatures, and moderate efficient solutions with moderate costs for medium temperatures. Thermoacoustic engines for low temperature applications are especially attractive due to their low costs, high efficiencies, superior reliabilities, and simplicities over the other mechanical Stirling engines. This work indicates that a cost effective Stirling cycle engine is practical for recovering small-scale distributed low-grade thermal energy from various sources.
166 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a traveling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator, which employs a looped-tube travelling-wave engine to convert thermal energy into acoustic power, an ultra-compliant alternator within the engine loop to extract and convert the engine acoustic power to electricity, and an acoustic stub matching technique to match the alternator to the engine.
158 citations
Cites background or methods from "Traveling-wave thermoacoustic elect..."
...Torus type travelling wave engines have high thermal efficiencies [3,9], and the generator based on this type of engine has shown a high generator efficiency [9]....
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...as 10 lm to avoid friction losses [9]....
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...A compact travelling-wave thermoacoustic generator prototype has been developed for electricity generation aboard spacecraft by integrating the TASHE concept with a linear alternator [9]....
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TL;DR: An overview of the current research and experimental prototypes including typical thermo-acoustic prime movers, thermo acyclic refrigerators, thermodynamic driven pulse tube refrigerators and miniature thermoacoustic engines is presented in this article.
97 citations
Cites background or methods from "Traveling-wave thermoacoustic elect..."
...In 2004, a travelling-wave thermoacoustic engine was used to generate electricity by integrating it with a linear alternator [144], as shown in Fig....
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...Line drawing and photo of the travelling-wave thermoacoustic engine and the analogous lumped-element electrical circuit (inset) [144]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator is proposed, which consists of a multi-stage traveling wave thermo-acoustic heat engine and linear alternators, which is capable of converting thermal energy to acoustic power with advantage of heat source flexibility, reliability and efficiency.
96 citations
TL;DR: The stability limit of the thermally induced gas oscillation is numerically investigated by using the linear stability theory and a transfer matrix method to determine the existence of the stability limits of the looped and straight tubes.
Abstract: A gas in a tube spontaneously oscillates when the temperature gradient applied along the wall of the tube is higher than the critical value. This spontaneous gas oscillation is caused by the thermal interaction between the gas and the tube wall. The stability limit of the thermally induced gas oscillation is numerically investigated by using the linear stability theory and a transfer matrix method. It is well known that an acoustic wave excited by the spontaneous gas oscillation occurring in a looped tube is different from that in a straight tube with two ends; a traveling acoustic wave is induced in a looped tube, whereas a standing acoustic wave is caused in a straight tube. The conditions for the stability limits in both tube types were calculated. The calculated and measured conditions were compared and were found to be in good agreement. Calculations performed by varying the value of the Prandtl number of the gas were used to determine the reasons for the existence of the stability limits of the looped and straight tubes.
90 citations
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TL;DR: The Atomic Processes in Plasmas Conference as mentioned in this paper is a bi-annual international conference on topics covering high-energy density plasmas, magnetically confined fusion, astrophysical plasms, fundamental atomic data and advanced modeling and plasma diagnostics, where international researchers share cutting-edge results in plasma creation, plasma experiments and plasma modeling.
Abstract: The Atomic Processes in Plasmas Conference is a bi-annual international conference on topics covering high-energy-density plasmas, magnetically confined fusion plasmas, astrophysical plasmas, fundamental atomic data and advanced modeling and plasma diagnostics. The conference lets international researchers share cutting-edge results in plasma creation, plasma experiments and plasma modeling.
770 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an inexpensive thermo-acoustic engine that employs the inherently efficient Stirling cycle is presented, which achieves an efficiency of 0.30, which is comparable to that of the common internal combustion engine and piston-driven Stirling engines.
Abstract: Electrical and mechanical power, together with other forms of useful work, are generated worldwide at a rate of about 1012 watts, mostly using heat engines. The efficiency of such engines is limited by the laws of thermodynamics and by practical considerations such as the cost of building and operating them. Engines with high efficiency help to conserve fossil fuels and other natural resources, reducing global-warming emissions and pollutants. In practice, the highest efficiencies are obtained only in the most expensive, sophisticated engines, such as the turbines in central utility electrical plants. Here we demonstrate an inexpensive thermoacoustic engine that employs the inherently efficient Stirling cycle1. The design is based on a simple acoustic apparatus with no moving parts. Our first small laboratory prototype, constructed using inexpensive hardware (steel pipes), achieves an efficiency of 0.30, which exceeds the values of 0.10–0.25 attained in other heat engines5,6 with no moving parts. Moreover, the efficiency of our prototype is comparable to that of the common internal combustion engine2 (0.25–0.40) and piston-driven Stirling engines3,4 (0.20–0.38).
534 citations
219 citations
01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: A next generation flexure bearing compressor which features high efficiency, high capacity per unit mass, enhanced producibility and ease of integration into payloads is reported on.
Abstract: In this paper we report on the development of a next generation flexure bearing compressor which features high efficiency, high capacity per unit mass, enhanced producibility and ease of integration into payloads. The compressor was developed for the 95K High Efficiency Cryocooler programme.
29 citations