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A traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator with a variable electric R-C load

Author

Listed:
  • Sun, D.M.
  • Wang, K.
  • Zhang, X.J.
  • Guo, Y.N.
  • Xu, Y.
  • Qiu, L.M.

Abstract

A traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator, which is composed of a traveling wave thermoacoustic engine and linear alternators, is promising in solar power generation and energy recovery due to its high efficiency, high reliability, and capability of utilizing low-grade heat. An equivalent acoustic circuit of a linear alternator is first built and analyzed using electro–mechano-acoustical analogy. It is found that the acoustic coupling of the linear alternators to the traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine is crucial to the performance of the system. A traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator with a variable electric R-C load is then constructed and experimentally studied. Both the theoretical analysis and the experimental results show the importance of mechanical and electrical resonances to the overall performance of the system. Furthermore, the thermal-to-electric efficiency and the electric power are found to be proportional to the pressure amplitude and the square of it in front of the piston of the linear alternator, respectively. By optimizing the load impedance, the traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator has achieved a maximum electric power of 345.3W with a thermal-to-electric efficiency of 9.34% and a maximum efficiency of 12.33% with an electric power of 321.8W at around 65Hz when helium of 3.0MPa is used as the working gas.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:106:y:2013:i:c:p:377-382
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.01.051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Zhao, Dan & Chen, Geng & Bi, Tianjiao & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy investigation on a high-power traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
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    5. Wu, Zhanghua & Zhang, Limin & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2014. "Investigation on a 1kW traveling-wave thermoacoustic electrical generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 140-147.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Wang, Kai & Dubey, Swapnil & Choo, Fook Hoong & Duan, Fei, 2017. "Thermoacoustic Stirling power generation from LNG cold energy and low-temperature waste heat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 280-290.
    9. Bi, Tianjiao & Wu, Zhanghua & Chen, Wei & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang & Zhang, Bin, 2022. "Numerical and experimental research on a high-power 4-stage looped travelling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
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    12. Wang, Kai & Sanders, Seth R. & Dubey, Swapnil & Choo, Fook Hoong & Duan, Fei, 2016. "Stirling cycle engines for recovering low and moderate temperature heat: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 89-108.
    13. Kisha, Wigdan & Riley, Paul & McKechnie, Jon & Hann, David, 2021. "Asymmetrically heated multi-stage travelling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    14. Bi, Tianjiao & Wu, Zhanghua & Zhang, Limin & Yu, Guoyao & Luo, Ercang & Dai, Wei, 2017. "Development of a 5kW traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1355-1361.
    15. Wang, Kai & Sun, Daming & Zhang, Jie & Xu, Ya & Zou, Jiang & Wu, Ke & Qiu, Limin & Huang, Zhiyi, 2015. "Operating characteristics and performance improvements of a 500W traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 853-862.
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