IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v271y2020ics0306261920306796.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on a heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator for low-grade heat recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Xu, Jingyuan
  • Luo, Ercang
  • Hochgreb, Simone

Abstract

Recovering low-grade heat from renewable energy sources and waste heat is crucial for improving energy utilizing efficiency as well as reducing CO2 emissions. Conventional thermoacoustically-driven refrigerators have a high onset temperature and low cooling efficiency, which significant limit their capacity for low-grade heat utilization. This paper investigates a novel thermoacoustically-driven refrigerator with gas-liquid resonators which enable a lower onset temperature and better cooling performance for harvesting low-grade heat. Theoretical analyses were performed on multi-stage systems to explore the onset characteristics and steady performance. Onset characteristics analysis was conducted by using a transfer matrix method. The effects of mean pressure, liquid volume ratio and the expected liquid mechanical damping coefficient on the onset temperature difference and working frequency were studied for systems with different numbers of stages. A comparison of system onset performance was made with conventional systems containing a gas-only resonator. The research illustrated that for a mean pressure of 1 MPa, the proposed system can significantly reduce the onset temperature difference from 144.1 K to below 35.5 K. In addition, an analysis was then conducted to study the parametric sensitivity of the thermodynamic performance. Calculation results show that the proposed system can achieve a baseline cooling power of 2.7 kW and a thermal-to-cooling efficiency of 0.67 at a heating temperature of 420 K and a cooling temperature of 270 K. This represents significant increases by a factor of 5.6 in cooling power and 1.5 in efficiency from a gas-only to a gas-liquid resonator.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang & Hochgreb, Simone, 2020. "Study on a heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:271:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306796
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115167
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920306796
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115167?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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. Langdon-Arms, Samuel & Gschwendtner, Michael & Neumaier, Martin, 2018. "A novel solar-powered liquid piston Stirling refrigerator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 603-613.
    3. Pantaleo, Antonio M. & Fordham, Julia & Oyewunmi, Oyeniyi A. & De Palma, Pietro & Markides, Christos N., 2018. "Integrating cogeneration and intermittent waste-heat recovery in food processing: Microturbines vs. ORC systems in the coffee roasting industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 782-796.
    4. Yang, Rui & Meir, Avishai & Ramon, Guy Z., 2020. "Theoretical performance characteristics of a travelling-wave phase-change thermoacoustic engine for low-grade heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    5. Yang, Zhao & Zhuo, Yang & Ercang, Luo & Yuan, Zhou, 2014. "Travelling-wave thermoacoustic high-temperature heat pump for industrial waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 397-402.
    6. Kristiansen, A.B. & Ma, T. & Wang, R.Z., 2019. "Perspectives on industrialized transportable solar powered zero energy buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 112-124.
    7. Xu, Jingyuan & Yu, Guoyao & Zhang, Limin & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2017. "Theoretical analysis of two coupling modes of a 300-Hz three-stage thermoacoustically driven cryocooler system at liquid nitrogen temperature range," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 2134-2141.
    8. Emadi, Mohammad Ali & Chitgar, Nazanin & Oyewunmi, Oyeniyi A. & Markides, Christos N., 2020. "Working-fluid selection and thermoeconomic optimisation of a combined cycle cogeneration dual-loop organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) waste-heat recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    9. Xu, Jingyuan & Zhang, Limin & Hu, Jianying & Wu, Zhanghua & Bi, Tianjiao & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2016. "An efficient looped multiple-stage thermoacoustically-driven cryocooler for liquefaction and recondensation of natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 427-433.
    10. Hu, J.Y. & Luo, E.C. & Dai, W. & Zhang, L.M., 2017. "Parameter sensitivity analysis of duplex Stirling coolers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1039-1046.
    11. Jin, Tao & Yang, Rui & Wang, Yi & Liu, Yuanliang & Feng, Ye, 2016. "Phase adjustment analysis and performance of a looped thermoacoustic prime mover with compliance/resistance tube," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 290-298.
    12. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang, 2016. "A looped three-stage cascade traveling-wave thermoacoustically-driven cryocooler," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 804-809.
    13. 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.
    14. Li, Xiaowei & Liu, Bin & Yu, Guoyao & Dai, Wei & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Li, Haibing, 2017. "Experimental validation and numeric optimization of a resonance tube-coupled duplex Stirling cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 604-612.
    15. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Zhang, Limin & Dai, Wei, 2019. "A cascade-looped thermoacoustic driven cryocooler with different-diameter resonance tubes. Part I: Theoretical analysis of thermodynamic performance and characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 943-953.
    16. Li, Dong-Hui & Chen, Yan-Yan & Luo, Er-Cang & Wu, Zhang-Hua, 2014. "Study of a liquid-piston traveling-wave thermoacoustic heat engine with different working gases," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 158-163.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mubarak Ismail & Metkel Yebiyo & Issa Chaer, 2021. "A Review of Recent Advances in Emerging Alternative Heating and Cooling Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-24, January.
    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).
    3. Chang, Depeng & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Zhang, Limin & Chen, Yanyan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Numerical investigation on key parameters of a double-acting free piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    4. Sun, Haojie & Yu, Guoyao & Dai, Wei & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "Dynamic and thermodynamic characterization of a resonance tube-coupled free-piston Stirling engine-based combined cooling and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    5. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Chi, Jiaxin & Chen, Geng & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang & Xu, Jingyuan, 2023. "Study on a direct-coupling thermoacoustic refrigerator using time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    6. Qian, Suxin & Wang, Yao & Xu, Shijie & Chen, Yanliang & Yuan, Lifen & Yu, Jianlin, 2021. "Cascade utilization of low-grade thermal energy by coupled elastocaloric power and cooling cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    7. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Hu, Jianying & Jia, Zilong & Chen, Geng & Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Transient and steady performance analysis of a free-piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    8. Luo, Jiaqi & Zhou, Qiang & Jin, Tao, 2023. "Theoretical and experimental investigation of acoustic field adjustment of a gas-liquid standing-wave thermoacoustic engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    9. Ding, Zhixiong & Wu, Wei & Huang, Si-Min & Huang, Hongyu & Bai, Yu & He, Zhaohong, 2023. "A novel compression-assisted energy storage heat transformer for low-grade renewable energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    10. Yang, Rui & Meir, Avishai & Ramon, Guy Z., 2022. "A standing-wave, phase-change thermoacoustic engine: Experiments and model projections," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    11. Wang, Yinglong & Chen, Zhengrun & Shen, Yuanyuan & Ma, Zhaoyuan & Li, Huiyuan & Liu, Xiaobin & Zhu, Zhaoyou & Qi, Jianguang & Cui, Peizhe & Wang, Lei & Ma, Yixin & Xu, Dongmei, 2021. "Advanced exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of an integrated system combining CO2 capture-storage and waste heat utilization processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    12. Wang, Xin & Xu, Jingyuan & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "A thermoacoustic refrigerator with multiple-bypass expansion cooling configuration for natural gas liquefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    13. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Hu, Jiangfeng & Zhang, Limin & Hochgreb, Simone, 2022. "Numerical study on a heat-driven piston-coupled multi-stage thermoacoustic-Stirling cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    14. Chen, Geng & Wang, Yufan & Tang, Lihua & Wang, Kai & Yu, Zhibin, 2020. "Large eddy simulation of thermally induced oscillatory flow in a thermoacoustic engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    15. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Wang, Huizhi & Wu, Zhanghua & Hu, Jiangfeng & Hochgreb, Simone & Luo, Ercang, 2020. "A cascade-looped thermoacoustic driven cryocooler with different-diameter resonance tubes. Part Ⅱ: Experimental study and comparison," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    16. Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang & Hochgreb, Simone, 2021. "A thermoacoustic combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system for waste heat and LNG cold energy recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xu, Jingyuan & Luo, Ercang & Hochgreb, Simone, 2021. "A thermoacoustic combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) system for waste heat and LNG cold energy recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    2. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Hu, Jiangfeng & Zhang, Limin & Hochgreb, Simone, 2022. "Numerical study on a heat-driven piston-coupled multi-stage thermoacoustic-Stirling cooler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    3. Chen, Geng & Tang, Lihua & Mace, Brian & Yu, Zhibin, 2021. "Multi-physics coupling in thermoacoustic devices: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    4. 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).
    5. Wang, Xin & Xu, Jingyuan & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "A thermoacoustic refrigerator with multiple-bypass expansion cooling configuration for natural gas liquefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    6. Xiao, Lei & Luo, Kaiqi & Chi, Jiaxin & Chen, Geng & Wu, Zhanghua & Luo, Ercang & Xu, Jingyuan, 2023. "Study on a direct-coupling thermoacoustic refrigerator using time-domain acoustic-electrical analogy method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    7. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Wang, Huizhi & Wu, Zhanghua & Hu, Jiangfeng & Hochgreb, Simone & Luo, Ercang, 2020. "A cascade-looped thermoacoustic driven cryocooler with different-diameter resonance tubes. Part Ⅱ: Experimental study and comparison," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    8. Xu, Jingyuan & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang & Zhang, Limin & Dai, Wei, 2019. "A cascade-looped thermoacoustic driven cryocooler with different-diameter resonance tubes. Part I: Theoretical analysis of thermodynamic performance and characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 943-953.
    9. Kisha, Wigdan & Riley, Paul & McKechnie, Jon & Hann, David, 2021. "Asymmetrically heated multi-stage travelling-wave thermoacoustic electricity generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    10. Chen, Geng & Wang, Yufan & Tang, Lihua & Wang, Kai & Yu, Zhibin, 2020. "Large eddy simulation of thermally induced oscillatory flow in a thermoacoustic engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    11. Hu, J.Y. & Luo, E.C. & Zhang, L.M. & Chen, Y.Y. & Wu, Z.H. & Gao, B., 2018. "Analysis of a displacer-coupled multi-stage thermoacoustic-Stirling engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 507-514.
    12. 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.
    13. Hamood, Ahmed & Jaworski, Artur J. & Mao, Xiaoan & Simpson, Kevin, 2018. "Design and construction of a two-stage thermoacoustic electricity generator with push-pull linear alternator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 61-72.
    14. Sun, Haojie & Yu, Guoyao & Dai, Wei & Zhang, Limin & Luo, Ercang, 2022. "Dynamic and thermodynamic characterization of a resonance tube-coupled free-piston Stirling engine-based combined cooling and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    15. Napolitano, Marialuisa & Romano, Rosario & Dragonetti, Raffaele, 2017. "Open-cell foams for thermoacoustic applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 147-156.
    16. Chang, Depeng & Hu, Jianying & Sun, Yanlei & Zhang, Limin & Chen, Yanyan & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Numerical investigation on key parameters of a double-acting free piston Stirling generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    17. Elhawary, M.A. & Ibrahim, Abdelmaged H. & Sabry, Ashraf S. & Abdel-Rahman, Ehab, 2020. "Experimental study of a small scale bi-directional axial impulse turbine for acoustic-to-mechanical power conversion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 414-426.
    18. Li, Xinyan & Huang, Yong & Zhao, Dan & Yang, Wenming & Yang, Xinglin & Wen, Huabing, 2017. "Stability study of a nonlinear thermoacoustic combustor: Effects of time delay, acoustic loss and combustion-flow interaction index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 217-224.
    19. Luo, Jiaqi & Zhou, Qiang & Jin, Tao, 2023. "Theoretical and experimental investigation of acoustic field adjustment of a gas-liquid standing-wave thermoacoustic engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    20. Xu, Jingyuan & Zhang, Limin & Hu, Jianying & Wu, Zhanghua & Bi, Tianjiao & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2016. "An efficient looped multiple-stage thermoacoustically-driven cryocooler for liquefaction and recondensation of natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 427-433.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:271:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920306796. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.