Design of a Traveling Wave Thermoacoustic Engine Driven Cooler with Hybrid Configuration

Kees de Blok proposed a “hybrid configuration” travelling wave thermoacoustic engine and his prototype using atmosphere air as the working gas achieved an onset temperature difference as low as 65 K. However, no further research work has been reported on this type of thermoacoustic engine to reveal whether this type of engine can achieve higher efficiency, or how to couple it with acoustic loads such as a thermoacoustic cooler or a linear alternator. This paper investigates these problems based on a series of comprehensive numerical simulations. A numerical model is established using the reported parameters and validated by the published data. The physical principles behind the design were then understood in detail. The validated model is then modified and an acoustic load (i.e., a thermoacoustic cooler) is installed to the engine. The simulation results show that the engine can achieve about 46.5% of the Carnot efficiency and the cooler can achieve 39.6% of Carnot COP. The research of this paper shows that this new engine configuration has the potential to achieve high efficiency. Key words— thermoacoustic engine, travelling wave, cooler, resonator