Optimal design of a thermoacoustic system comprising of a standing-wave engine driving a travelling-wave cooler

This paper presents the design and optimisation of a coupled thermoacoustic system comprising of a standing wave thermoacoustic engine and a coaxial travelling wave thermoacoustic cooler in a linear configuration. The overall aim is to propose an economical design of a prototype system which could be used by people living in remote rural areas of developing countries with no access to the electrical grid. The cooler coaxial configuration provides a feedback inertance and compliance to create the required travelling-wave phasing. Compressed air at 10 bar is used as the working fluid. The operating frequency is around 50 Hz. The geometric parameters of both engine and cooler, affecting the overall efficiency of cooling, have been investigated to evaluate the optimal configuration of the system. The most sensitive parameters are the cross sectional areas of the engine and cooler and the hydraulic radii of stack and regenerator.