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Optimization of thermoacoustic refrigerators using second law analysis

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  • Piccolo, A.

Abstract

In this paper a simplified two-dimensional computational method for studying the entropy generation characteristics inside the core porous structures of a thermoacoustic refrigerator is presented. The model integrates the equations of the standard linear thermoacoustic theory into an energy balance-based numerical calculus scheme. The numerically computed spatial distributions of the time-averaged entropy generation rate within a channel of the stack and adjoining heat exchangers (HXs) evidence as the stack-HXs junctions act as strong sources of thermal irreversibility. The study also shows as, for a fixed refrigerating output level and temperature span, minimum in entropy generation can be effectively used as a suitable design criterion for optimizing simultaneously the stack length, the stack position and the plates interspacing. The same method, when applied to the optimization of the HXs, reveals that the length of the HXs along the direction of the acoustic vibration should be comprised between x1 (the amplitude of the acoustic displacement) and 2x1, the optimal value resulting an increasing function of the fin interspacing and of the drive ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Piccolo, A., 2013. "Optimization of thermoacoustic refrigerators using second law analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 358-367.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:103:y:2013:i:c:p:358-367
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.044
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yu, Zhibin & Jaworski, Artur J. & Backhaus, Scott, 2012. "Travelling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator using an ultra-compliant alternator for utilization of low-grade thermal energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 135-145.
    2. Yang, Qin & Luo, Ercang & Dai, Wei & Yu, Guoyao, 2012. "Thermoacoustic model of a modified free piston Stirling engine with a thermal buffer tube," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 266-270.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jakub Kajurek & Artur Rusowicz, 2020. "Experimental Investigation on the Thermoacoustic Effect in Easily Accessible Porous Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Al-Kayiem, Ali & Yu, Zhibin, 2016. "Numerical investigation of a looped-tube travelling-wave thermoacoustic engine with a bypass pipe," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 111-120.
    3. Kang, Huifang & Cheng, Peng & Yu, Zhibin & Zheng, Hongfei, 2015. "A two-stage traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator with loudspeakers as alternators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 9-17.
    4. Sun, D.M. & Wang, K. & Zhang, X.J. & Guo, Y.N. & Xu, Y. & Qiu, L.M., 2013. "A traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator with a variable electric R-C load," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 377-382.
    5. Antonio Piccolo & Alessio Sapienza & Cecilia Guglielmino, 2019. "Convection Heat Transfer Coefficients in Thermoacoustic Heat Exchangers: An Experimental Investigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-10, November.
    6. Jin, Tao & Huang, Jiale & Feng, Ye & Yang, Rui & Tang, Ke & Radebaugh, Ray, 2015. "Thermoacoustic prime movers and refrigerators: Thermally powered engines without moving components," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 828-853.

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