Analyses of Thermoacoustic Engines

Abstract

Utilization of low-temperature waste heat is one of key technologies for energy utilization because its direct use as heat is not always available due to mismatch between demand and supply of heat. We believe that a low-cost and maintenance-free prime mover is suitable to overcome such situations and thermoacoustic engines are the type of such prime movers. However, in most cases, the waste heat is carried by gas flow and then the heat exchanger between the gas flow and the prime mover must be large. In the present paper, a new type of thermoacoustic engine is proposed and the possibility removing the heat exchanger is examined analytically.