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Finite-element simulation of a two-dimensional standing-wave thermoacoustic engine

Thermoacoustic engines convert heat into acoustic power. While standard models are 1D, the authors perform a 2D finite-element simulation on a standing-wave engine. By solving the linearized Navier-Stokes equations, they determine the natural frequencies and instability.

2D FEM Modeling of a Standing-Wave Motor

Thermoacoustic engines generate acoustic power from heat. This article presents a 2D finite element method (FEM) simulation of a standing-wave thermoacoustic engine. By solving the linearized Navier-Stokes equations in the frequency domain, the complex natural frequencies and corresponding eigenmodes are calculated. The nonlinear eigenvalue problem is solved using a modified Newton-Raphson method. The engine begins to oscillate (onset) as soon as a linear instability occurs and the imaginary part of a natural frequency becomes negative.

Citation for the publication

  • Authors: J.A. de Jong, Y.H. Wijnant, and A. de Boer (University of Twente)

  • Publication: Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics (POMA), vol. 19, issue 1, pp. 030002

  • Conference: 21st International Congress on Acoustics (ICA 2013), Montreal, Canada

  • Date: June 2, 2013

  • DOI: 10.1121/1.4798957

  • Keywords: Thermoacoustics, 2D FEM, linearized Navier-Stokes, eigenvalue problem, Newton-Raphson, onset instability

  • Read the article on AIP / POMA

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