Development and performance evaluation of a standing-wave thermo-acoustic engine

The current work describes the development, construction and experimental investigation of a simple StandingWave Thermo-Acoustic Engine (SWTAE). This work aims at providing additional clarity on the construction and the performance of simple SWTAEs. The proposed SWTAE will be used to drive a traveling wave thermo-acoustic refrigerator, through the generated sound wave and ultimately induce cooling. For experimental purposes, the heat supply used in this experimental study are electric cartridge heaters. This study provides clarity as far as the temperature supplied to the system is concerned. To characterize the acoustic power of the SWTAE, the onset temperature differences across the stack for the engine to start producing sound has been measured. Three different configurations have been investigated and general trends showing the relationship between the supply heat, the generated sound wave and the minimum temperature required to produce a sound wave have been obtained.