Travelling wave thermoacoustic electricity generator for rural areas using a side-branch alternator arrangement

Kalid Abdoulla, Huifang Kang, Artur J. Jaworski*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper illustrates the design, construction and testing of a looped-tube travelling wave thermoacoustic electricity generator that provides low-cost electrical power for remote and rural areas of developing countries. The system is designed numerically by using a specialized design tool DeltaEC, based on the linear thermoacoustic theory. A commercially available loudspeaker is connected via a 920 mm long side-branch tube to the 5.0 m long one wavelength looped-tube thermoacoustic engine. It is used to convert the acoustic power produced by the engine to useful electrical output. Air at atmospheric pressure is used as working gas to minimize the cost of the construction. The thermal power that drives the engine is supplied by a propane gas burner. It is shown that at an operating frequency of 64.5 Hz, the thermoacoustic generator can produce up to 13 W of electrical power. Results obtained from numerical analysis and experiments are presented and discussed in detail.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013, WCE 2013
Pages1835-1840
Number of pages6
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event2013 World Congress on Engineering, WCE 2013 - London, United Kingdom
Duration: 3 Jul 20135 Jul 2013

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Engineering and Computer Science
Volume3 LNECS
ISSN (Print)2078-0958

Conference

Conference2013 World Congress on Engineering, WCE 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period3/07/135/07/13

Keywords

  • Electricity generator
  • Linear alternator
  • Thermal-acoustic-electrical power conversion
  • Thermoacoustic engine

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