Simple Thermoacoustic Engine
Application ID: 107461
This is a model of a simple thermoacoustic engine that includes a thermal stack to convert thermal energy to acoustic energy. The model is set up using two approaches:
1) Using a linear perturbation (acoustic) approaches solving the fluid motion with the Thermoviscous Acoustics, Transient interface.
2) Using a full nonlinear approach using the Non-Isothermal Flow multiphysics interface.
The model studies different stable, decaying, and amplifying configurations of the engine. The model also shows that some nonlinear effects at high acoustic velocities are not caught in the acoustics model which is based on perturbation theory. The Thermoacoustic Engine and Heat Pump tutorial extends the current model to also include a thermoacoustic heat pump.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.