Effect of RC load on performance of thermoacoustic engine

Based on linear thermoacoustics, a symmetric standing-wave thermoacoustic engine connected with an acoustic resistance and acoustic compliance (RC) load was simulated to study the effect of the load impedance on the performance of the thermoacoustic engine. Experiments were performed to verify the simulation. Both the simulation and the experimental results show that there is a non-monotonic variation of the acoustic power delivered to the load with the acoustic resistance of the load and a maximal acoustic power may be obtained when the acoustic resistance equals to its compliance impedance. And a lower compliance impedance of RC load may lead to a higher acoustic power delivered to the load.     

A high frequency cascade thermoacoustic engine

A miniature cascade thermoacoustic engine, which consisted of one standing-wave stage and one traveling-wave stage in series, was built and tested, which length was about 1.2 m, operating at 470 Hz using helium as working gas. The cascade modeling, the simulation and the primary experimental results are described in this paper. Four different configurations of the miniature cascade thermoacoustic engines had been designed and compared. According to the analysis, the diameter ratio of stages was designed to extend the traveling-wave region, which optimized value was about 1.69. The peak-to-peak value of the acoustic pressure was predicted to arrive to 3 bar at the 3 MPa mean pressure of helium when 300 W heating power was the input. The features of the engine were predicted delivering 68 W acoustic power with a thermal efficiency of up to 22.74% (the ratio of acoustic power to heater power). Due to careful designing, the engine self-excited the oscillation smoothly from the first experiment. An onset temperature gradient of about 4.5 K/mm was achieved, and the peak-to-peak acoustic pressure was 48 KPa at the 2 MPa mean pressure when 200 W heating power was the input. The design computation and experimental results showed a rather good agreement between the measured and calculated pressure phasor and temperatures distributions in the cascade thermoaoustic engine.     

Influence of resonance tube length on performance of thermoacoustically driven pulse tube refrigerator

A resonance tube is an important component of a thermoacoustic engine, which has great influence on the performance of the thermoacoustically driven pulse tube refrigerator. A standing wave thermoacoustic engine is simulated with linear thermoacoustics. Computed results show that an appropriate accretion of the resonance tube length may lead to a decrease of the working frequency and an increase of the pressure amplitude, which will improve the match between the thermoacoustic engine and the pulse tube refrigerator. The theoretical prediction is verified by experiments. A refrigeration temperature as low as 88.6 K has been achieved with an optimized length of the resonance tube, helium as working gas, and 2200 W of heating power.     

Numerical investigation on a 300 Hz pulse tube cryocooler driven by a three-stage traveling-wave thermoacoustic heat engine

A 300 Hz pulse tube cryocooler (PTC) driven by a three-stage traveling-wave thermoacoustic heat engine (TSTHE) has been proposed and studied in this paper. In the configuration, three identical thermoacoustic heat engine units are evenly incorporated in a closed traveling-wave loop, in which three pulse tube cryocoolers are connected to the branch of each thermoacoustic heat engine. Compared with the conventional thermoacoustic heat engine which involves a traveling-wave loop and a long resonator, it has advantages of compact size and potentially high thermal efficiency. A TSTHE–PTC system was designed, optimized and studied in detail based on the thermoacoustic theory. Firstly, numerical simulation was conducted to design the system thus the optimum structure parameters of the system were obtained. With the operating condition of 4 MPa mean pressure and high working frequency, a cooling power of 7.75 W at 77 K and an overall relative Carnot efficiency of 11.78% were achieved. In order to better understand the energy conversion characteristics of the system, distributions of key parameters such as acoustic work, phase difference, dynamic pressure, volume flow rate and exergy loss were presented and discussed. Then, the coupling mechanism of the system was investigated. In addition, influence of coupling position on the system performance was further studied.     

Experimental investigation on a thermoacoustic engine having a looped tube and resonator

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of regenerator hydraulic radius, resonator length, and mean pressure on the characteristics of the tested thermoacoustic engine, which has a looped tube and resonator. Two different acoustic oscillations are observed in the tested engine [Yu ZB, Li Q, Chen X, Guo FZ, Xie XJ, Wu JH. Investigation on the oscillation modes in a thermoacoustic stirling prime mover: mode stability and mode transition. Cryogenics 2003;43(12):687-91]. In this paper, they are called two acoustic modes, high frequency mode (with a frequency independent of the resonator length) and low frequency mode (with a frequency depending on the resonator length). Experimental results indicate that the relative penetration depth (the ratio of penetration depth over hydraulic radius) plays an important role in the excitation and pressure amplitude of the two acoustic modes. For each tested regenerator hydraulic radius, there is a measured optimal relative penetration depth, which leads to the lowest onset temperature difference. Note that, in the tested engine, the measured optimal relative viscous penetration depths are in the range 3-5 (for low frequency mode). Furthermore, experimental results also show that the resonator length affects the presence of high frequency mode in this engine.     

Investigation on a thermoacoustically driven pulse tube cooler working at 80 K

The pulse tube cooler (PTC) driven by a thermoacoustic engine can completely eliminate mechanical moving parts, and then achieves a simpler and more reliable device. A Stirling thermoacoustic heat engine has been constructed and tested. The heat engine can generate a maximal pressure ratio of 1.19, which makes it possible to drive a PTC and get good performance. Frequency is one of the key operating parameters, not only for the heat engine but also for the PTC. In order to adapt to the relatively low design frequency of the PTC, the operating frequency of the thermoacoustic heat engine was regulated by varying the length of the resonance tube. Driven by the thermoacoustic engine, a single stage double-inlet PTC obtained the lowest refrigeration temperature of 80.9 K with an operating frequency of 45 Hz, which is regarded as a new record for the reported thermoacoustically driven refrigerators.     

Integrated Resonant Self-Pumped Loop and pulse tube cryocooler for cryogenic cooling distribution

Cooling distribution is a vital technology concerning cryogenic thermal management systems for many future space applications, such as in-space, zero boil-off, long-term propellant storage, cooling infrared sensors at multiple locations or at a distance from the cryocooler, and focal-plane arrays in telescopes. These applications require a cooling distribution technology that is able to efficiently and reliably deliver cooling power (generated by a cryocooler) to remote locations and uniformly distribute it over a large-surface area. On-going efforts by others under this technology development area have not shown any promising results.This paper introduces the concept of using a Resonant Self-Pumped Loop (RSPL) integrated with the proven, highly efficient pulse tube cryocooler. The RSPL and pulse tube cryocooler combination generates cooling power and provides a distributive cooling loop that can be extended long distances, has no moving parts, and is driven by a single linear compressor. The RSPL is fully coupled with the oscillating flow of the pulse tube working fluid and utilizes gas diodes to convert the oscillating flow to one-directional (DC) steady flow that circulates through the cooling loop. The proposed RSPL is extremely simple, lightweight, reliable, and flexible for packaging. There are several requirements for the RSPL to operate efficiently. These requirements will be presented in this paper. Compared to other distributive cooling technologies currently under development, the RSPL technology is unique.     

Evolution equations for nonlinear waves in a tapered elastic tube filled with a viscous fluid

In this work, employing the reductive perturbation method and treating the arteries as a tapered, thin walled, long and circularly conical prestressed elastic tube, the propagation of weakly nonlinear waves is investigated in such a fluid-filled elastic tube. By considering the blood as an incompressible viscous fluid, depending on the viscosity and perturbation parameters we obtained various evolution equations as the extended Korteweg-de Vries (KdV), extended KdV Burgers and extended perturbed KdV equations. Progressive wave solutions to these evolution equations are obtained and it is observed that the wave speeds increase with the distance for negative tapering while they decrease for positive tapering.     

Characterization of a 300 Hz thermoacoustically-driven pulse tube cooler

This article introduces our recent experimental advances on a 300 Hz pulse tube cooler driven by a thermoacoustic standing-wave engine. After some modifications on the engine, the integral system performance is improved, which leads to a better cooling performance of the high frequency pulse tube cooler compared with that in former reports. Cooling powers of the pulse tube cooler with different operating conditions have been measured in detail for the first time. So far, a lowest no-load temperature of 68 K and a maximum cooling power of 1.16 W at 80 K have been obtained with the mean pressure and the heating power being 4.1 MPa and 1 kW, respectively.     

定加热温度下热声发动机声功输出特性研究

对定加热温度下行波热声发动机驱动阻容负载进行了数值模拟,分析讨论了声阻和容抗对声功输出的影响。以氦气为工质,在充气压力为3 MPa、加热温度为923 K的条件下,对不同气库体积的热声系统进行了模拟;此外,还采用负体积气库模拟了阻抗虚部为正值的情况。计算结果表明,容抗值较大时,在负载相位角约为-45°(或45°)时,声功率存在一个极大值;当容抗值较小时,声功率会出现两个极大值和一个极小值,且在负载阻抗相位角约为-45°(或45°)时为极小值;此外,声功输出最大值与效率最大值对应的阻抗并不相同。     

Comparative analysis of energy absorption behavior of tapered and grooved thin-walled tubes with the various geometry of the cross section

ABSTRACT

In this paper, Crush force efficiency (CFE), Specific Energy Absorption (SEA), Energy Absorption per Crush Length (E_cl), Maximum and average crush forces of straight and grooved tapered thin-walled tubes with various cross-section shapes (circle, ellipse, square, rectangle, hexagon, and octagon) have been studied. The effects of taper, the groove (as initiator) and their interaction have been presented in the current study using Finite Element Method as a numerical method. The tubes have the same volume, height, average cross-section area, thickness and material and have been subjected to axial and oblique dynamic loading. The results of simulations show that the section's geometry, taper and groove addition have a significant effect on energy absorption behavior and the hexagon cross section have better energy absorption behavior compared with other considered geometries. On the other hand, it was found that the behavior of these structures could improve against dynamic axial and oblique impact loading with the cost-effective geometry modifications. These results could help to improve and choose appropriate energy absorber structure based on desirable crush force and energy absorbing characteristics.     

Regenerator performance improvement of a single-stage pulse tube cooler reached 11.1 K

In order to improve the cooling performance of pulse tube cooler (PTC) at 20-40 K, hybrid regenerators are often employed. In this paper a three-layer regenerator, which consists of woven wire screen, lead sphere and Er₃Ni is optimized to enhance the cooling performance and explore the lowest attainable refrigeration temperature for a single-stage PTC. The efforts focus on the temperature range of 80-300 K, where woven wire screens are used. Theoretical and experimental studies are carried out to study the metal material and the mesh size effect of woven wire screens on the performance of the single-stage G-M type PTC. A lowest no-load refrigeration temperature of 11.1 K was obtained with an input power of 6 kW. The PTC can supply 17.8 W at 20 K and 39.4 W at 30 K, respectively.     

热声斯特林发动机热动力学特性的CFD研究——第一部分:热声自激振荡演化过程

采用商业计算流体动力学(CFD)软件Fluent6.0对热声斯特林发动机热动力学特性进行了热声自激振荡演化过程的数值模拟研究.主要研究了边界条件、初始条件和数值离散方法对模拟瞬态、可压缩、非线性的热声系统的重要影响,同时给出了两种在回热器内部建立温度梯度的方法,比较了它们对应的不同自激振荡演化过程.模拟结果表明,在高于功产生的临界温度梯度时,波动压力振幅被显著放大.本研究初步验证了该CFD研究的有效性.     

Performance analysis and optimization of high capacity pulse tube refrigerator

High capacity pulse tube refrigerator (HCPTR) is a new generation of cryocoolers tailored to provide more than 250 W of cooling power at cryogenic temperatures. The most important characteristics of HCPTR when compared to other types of pulse tube refrigerators are a powerful pressure wave generator, and an accurate design. In this paper the influence of geometrical and operating parameters on the performance of a double inlet pulse tube refrigerator (DIPTR) is studied. The model is validated with the existing experimental data. As a result of this optimization, a new configuration of HCPTR is proposed. This configuration provides 335 W at 80 K cold end temperature with a frequency of 50 Hz and COP of 0.05.     

Experimental and theoretical study on hydrodynamic characteristics of tapered fluidized beds

A novel fluidized bed ash cooler was developed for circulating fluidized bed boilers based on a proposed modified tapered fluidized bed. A cold model was built to study the hydrodynamic characteristics of the modified tapered fluidized bed, and its critical superficial gas velocity u_mf and critical velocity for full fluidization u_mff were particularly studied. The effects of taper angle α, static bed height H, air inlet section width δ and particle size d_p on the u_mf and u_mff were experimentally investigated. Furthermore, a theoretical model and an empirical correlation have been proposed to predict the u_mf and u_mff, respectively. The predicting capabilities of the model and correlation have been experimentally discussed. And the predicting capability of the model has also been compared with that of an existing representative model. It is found that both the u_mf and u_mff increase with the increase of taper angle α, static bed height H and particle size d_p, but decrease with the increase of air inlet section width δ, respectively. Additionally, the predicted values of u_mf and u_mff compare well with the experimental data, and the model has a better capability than the existing representative model in predicting the u_mf of the modified bed.     

High frequency two-stage pulse tube cryocooler with base temperature below 20 K

High frequency (30-50 Hz) multi-stage pulse tube coolers that are capable of reaching temperatures close to 20 K or even lower are a subject of recent research and development activities. This paper reports on the design and test of a two-stage pulse tube cooler which is driven by a linear compressor with nominal input power of 200 W at an operating frequency of 30-45 Hz. A parallel configuration of the two pulse tubes is used with the warm ends of the pulse tubes located at ambient temperature. For both stages, the regenerator matrix consists of a stack of stainless steel screen. At an operating frequency of 35 Hz and with the first stage at 73 K a lowest stationary temperature of 19.6 K has been achieved at the second stage. The effects of input power, frequency, average pressure, and cold head orientation on the cooling performance are also reported. An even lower no-load temperature can be expected from the use of lead or other regenerator materials of high heat capacity in the second stage.     

Experimental research of Stirling type pulse tube refrigerator with an active phase control

A Stirling type pulse tube refrigerator with an active phase control has been experimentally investigated. A phase shifter, which controls the phase angle between the mass flow and the pressure inside a pulse tube, plays a key roll in the performance of pulse tube refrigerators. In this study, an electrically driven and mechanically damped linear compressor, which is directly connected at the warm end of the pulse tube using a connecting tube, is used as the active phase controller (APC). Therefore, this active phase control pulse tube refrigerator (APCPTR) has no reservoir. Amplified electric signals of a function generator are supplied to both the main linear compressor, which is used as the pressure wave generator (PWG), and the APC. The type of these two linear compressors is a dual-opposed piston. The advantage of this phase sifter is easy to control the electric input power and the phase angle between the PWG and the APC. In order to clarify the characteristics of the APCPTR, the cold end temperature and the gas pressure have been measured.     

Experimental and simulation studies on the performance of standing wave thermoacoustic prime mover for pulse tube refrigerator

The thermoacoustic prime mover (TAPM) has gained considerable attention as a pressure wave generator to drive pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) due to no moving parts, reasonable efficiency, use of environmental friendly working fluids etc. To drive PTCs, lower frequencies (f) with larger pressure amplitudes (ΔP) are essential, which are affected by geometric and operating parameters of TAPM as well as working fluids. For driving PTRs, a twin standing wave TAPM is built and studied by using different working fluids such as helium, argon, nitrogen and their binary mixtures. Simulation results of DeltaEc are compared with experimental data wherever possible. DeltaEc predicts slightly increased resonance frequencies, but gives larger ΔP and lower temperature difference ΔT across stack. High mass number working fluid leads to lower frequency with larger ΔP, but higher ΔT. Studies indicate that the binary gas mixture of right composition with lower ΔT can be arrived at to drive TAPM of given geometry.     

差厚拼焊管内高压成形焊缝移动规律

为揭示差厚拼焊管内高压成形中的焊缝移动规律,采用有限元数值模拟分析了焊缝移动随内压的变化规律,研究了厚度比、长度比、摩擦系数和硬化指数等因素对焊缝移动的影响.研究表明:差厚拼焊管内高压成形存在焊缝移动,并导致薄管靠近焊缝处出现减薄峰值;焊缝移动随厚度比和长度比的增大而增大,随摩擦系数和硬化指数的增大而减小;减小焊缝移动的合理拼焊管结构为厚度比小于2.0,长度比小于3.5.     

Two-dimensional model for tapered pulse tubes: Part 3: unsteady components of second-order mass flux and temperature

Unsteady components of the second-order axial velocity and temperature within a tapered pulse tube were obtained by using a hybrid method of solution. In this method, the unsteady components of the second-order axial velocity and temperature consist of an analytical solution and a numerical solution. The effects of the operating frequency and the taper angle on the unsteady components of the second-order mass flux and temperature were shown. The unsteady second-order mass flux and the time-averaged enthalpy flow by the unsteady second-order mass flux increase as the second-order displacement volume at the cold end increases.