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Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering)  2011, Vol. 12 Issue (3): 232-237    DOI: 10.1631/jzus.A1000191
Mechanical & Civil Engineering     
Lumped parameter model for resonant frequency estimation of a thermoacoustic engine with gas-liquid coupling oscillation
Ke Tang, Tian Lei, Xiao-gang Lin, Tao Jin, Yu Zhang
Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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Abstract  Gas-liquid coupling oscillation is a novel approach to reducing the resonant frequency and to elevating the pressure amplitude of a thermoacoustic engine. If a thermoacoustic engine is used to drive low-frequency pulse tube refrigerators, the frequency matching between the thermoacoustic engine and the refrigerator plays an important role. Based on an acoustic-electric analogy, a lumped parameter model is proposed to estimate the resonant frequency of a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine with gas-liquid coupling oscillation. Furthermore, a simplified lumped parameter model is also developed to reduce the computation complexity. The resonant frequency dependence on the mean pressure, the gas space volume, and the water column length is computed and analyzed. The impact of different working gases on the resonant frequency is also discussed. The effectiveness of the models is validated by comparing the computed results with the experimental data of the gas-liquid coupling oscillation system. An increase in the mean working pressure can lead to a rise in the resonant frequency, and a lower resonant frequency can be achieved by elongating the liquid column. In comparison with nitrogen and argon, carbon dioxide can realize a lower frequency due to a smaller specific heat ratio.

Key wordsThermoacoustic engine      Gas-liquid coupling oscillation      Acoustic-electric analogy      Resonant frequency     
Received: 21 April 2010      Published: 09 March 2011
CLC:  TB51+1  
Cite this article:

Ke Tang, Tian Lei, Xiao-gang Lin, Tao Jin, Yu Zhang. Lumped parameter model for resonant frequency estimation of a thermoacoustic engine with gas-liquid coupling oscillation. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering), 2011, 12(3): 232-237.

URL:

http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/10.1631/jzus.A1000191     OR     http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/Y2011/V12/I3/232

[1] Ke TANG, Zhong-jie HUANG, Tao JIN, Guo-bang CHEN. Impact of load impedance on the performance of a thermoacoustic system employing acoustic pressure amplifier[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering), 2008, 9(1): 79-87.