Abstract
M.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering)
Environmental and social concerns over the current resources of energy have encouraged research into alternative solution that cause less harm to both the environment and inhabitants. This work explores the use of thermo-acoustic system as alternative technology for electricity generation. This technology is proposed as a potential replacement for low-cost electrical power generation because of its simplicity and lack of moving parts
Thermo-acoustics is a quickly emerging and promising technology intended for the conversion of waste or solar heat into cooling agent or electricity, both on domestic and industrial scale. Due to the technology’s added advantages of being scalable, simple and low cost, thermo-acoustics is also a candidate as small scale conversion technology for rural and developing areas. Thermo-acoustic generators provide clean electrical energy to power small appliances. The energy conversion from heat into sound wave is done within thermo-acoustic engine. The latter is coupled to a linear alternator for electricity generation.
The development of four thermo-acoustic generators is proposed in the work. The generators are developed and test the feasibility of different stack materials, namely, cordierite honeycomb stacks, rice, and steel wool. The influence of the geometrical configuration of the device on to the whole functionality of the generator is also investigated and documented.
The study revealed that geometrical parameters are interdependent. The investigation also went on to prove the feasibility of using rice and steel wool as stack materials as the materials managed to generate electrical energy. In addition, the investigation brought insight in the design of a larger scaled prototype. It is important to have sufficient temperature difference across the stack for the generator to reach onset temperatures and it is important to ensure that the model has sufficient pressure in the resonator to encourage onset conditions.