Study of stack materials for thermoacoustic systems

• Main Author: Govindan, Tanavira
• Other Authors: Fei Duan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78170
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Thermoacoustic systems have been gaining a lot of attention recently. This is largely due to the need to reduce greenhouse gases and slow down the onset of global warming. It has been acknowledged in the scientific world that thermoacoustic engines are much more environmentally friendly with minimal moving parts, making it a more sustainable option than conventional engines. However, the efficiency is lacking and there is a need to develop better performing thermoacoustic devices at low cost. To achieve this, the author tried using inexpensive materials in the thermoacoustic stack to find out which material performs better. The author measured the performance based on the temperature difference produced at the ends of the stack by the heat pump. In addition to this, the length of the stack had to be examined as well as the quantity of material used. Through the tests and experiments that was done by the author, it was found that steel wool of higher density and longer stack length produced high temperature difference and could be used in a thermoacoustic stack. A new innovative combination of acrylic plates and steel wool was tried which also produced high temperature difference, though at lower voltage. In spite of these great results, the author believes that more can be done to try to improve the performance of a thermoacoustic engine. Some future work that can be done include using different types of mesh of different hole densities, using other combinations of materials and stack lengths for the stack, using heat exchangers and to try a test using a prime mover engine powering the refrigerator instead of a loudspeaker. This would simulate an entire thermoacoustic system with no moving parts.