LAUSR

Abstract Traveling wave thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine is a unique device that is used to convert heat energy to acoustic work. In this article, the thermoacoustic engine is modeled, manufactured and tested. The cyclic analysis is used to carry out the numerical analysis based on the Stirling cycle of the engine. This analysis has considered for study the physical property and characteristics of the regenerator matrix. The traveling acoustic wave produced from the prototype is measured using an audio-speaker as a linear alternator for extracting electrical power from acoustic power. The size and geometry of the regenerator mesh is defines the thermal penetration depth, pressure drop due to it, dead volume across the matrix and acoustic power produced. Hence, there is a need to optimize the mesh size for a given mesh material to maximize the power generated from the engine. The engine has tested with five combinations of mesh sizes. The results of the numerical analysis has shown that 50.1 W power is produced and the tested engine has developed 44.9 W electric-power with the thermal efficiency of 8.3% respectively for 304 wire mesh of SS having mesh size of 60 strands/inch. The results obtained from the numerical analysis and the experiments performed are presented in this paper.