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NUMERICAL MODELLING OF A THERMOACOUSTIC ENGINE

D.Radulescu1

1 INCDT COMOTI (Romanian Research and Development Institute for Gas-Turbines)

220D Iuliu Maniu Ave., 061126, Bucharest, ROMANIA
e-mail : dan.radulescu@comoti.ro, web page: http://www.comoti.ro
Keywords: thermoacoustic engine, Stirling cycle, acoustic power, numerical modelling
Abstract. In the future, aircraft engines may utilize thermoacoustic heat engines which can convert recovered
engine heat into acoustic power without the need for any moving parts. This acoustic power can then be
transformed into useful mechanical or electrical energy, or be used to meet cooling requirements. Compared to
traditional engines, thermoacoustic engines have a simpler design and exhibit stable functionality. A Stirling
type thermoacoustic engine demonstrated 49% of Carnot efficiency in 2011 through subsequent design
improvements. Recent research has shown that using looped resonators instead of standing wave types can lead
to further efficiency gains. de Block et al proposed a configuration using two thermoacoustic stages and looped
resonators, which was experimentally tested and published. However, there has been no further research on this
type of thermoacoustic engine to explore its potential for higher efficiency or how it can be coupled with
acoustic loads. This paper addresses these issues through a series of comprehensive numerical simulations
based on established parameters and validated by published data. The simulation results indicate that the
engine can achieve approximately 48% of the Carnot efficiency. Therefore, this new engine configuration has
the potential to achieve high efficiency, as demonstrated by this research.