Thermoacoustic Transducer Radial Converter Plenum Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermoacoustic transducers face challenges in minimizing losses and managing material stresses within the thermal module due to significant temperature differentials, which affect efficiency in energy transformation between thermal and acoustic energy.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a central plenum with radially arranged discrete cylindrical thermal converters, a thermally conductive core, and compliant tubes to manage thermal stresses and fluid flow, along with an insulating gas to reduce parasitic heat transfer and accommodate thermally induced strains, optimizing energy transformation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the temperature differential between hot side and cold side is increased to improve efficiency, then energy transformation efficiency is improved, but material stresses within the thermal module increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal module is divided into multiple discrete cylindrical thermal converters radially arranged about a central plenum. Each converter operates independently, allowing the system to handle high temperature differentials while distributing thermal stresses across multiple smaller units rather than concentrating them in a single large component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the thermal module are designed with different properties - the central plenum provides a common fluid distribution zone, while the radially arranged thermal converters are optimized for heat exchange. This localized optimization allows efficient heat transfer in the converters while the plenum structure manages overall thermal stresses.
2Productivity
If the temperature differential is increased to improve efficiency, then energy transformation efficiency is improved, but losses within the thermal module increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal module segments heat exchange into multiple discrete converters, each optimized for specific thermal conditions. This segmentation reduces parasitic heat losses by minimizing unwanted thermal pathways between hot and cold regions that would occur in a monolithic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The central plenum acts as an intermediary fluid distribution chamber that efficiently delivers working fluid to all thermal converters. This centralized intermediary structure minimizes fluid flow losses and ensures uniform distribution, reducing energy losses in the fluid transport system.
3Productivity
If discrete cylindrical thermal converters are radially arranged about a central plenum, then fluid flow losses are reduced and efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple thermal converters are merged around a common central plenum that serves all converters simultaneously. This merging approach allows the system to achieve the benefits of multiple converters (reduced losses, improved efficiency) while sharing common infrastructure (fluid distribution, structural support), thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The central plenum performs multiple functions: it distributes working fluid to all thermal converters, collects fluid from all converters, and provides structural support for the entire radial arrangement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, offsetting the complexity introduced by the radial converter arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the efficiency of energy transformation by reducing fluid flow losses and thermal stresses, while minimizing parasitic heat transfer, thereby improving the overall performance of the thermoacoustic transducer.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive core disposed within the plenum and thermally coupled to each of the plurality of thermal converters for transferring heat between the core and the thermal converters
Implementation Method 2
a first heat exchanger having a thermally conductive body defining a portion of the fluid flow passages extending between the plenum and the regenerator, the body being thermally coupled to the core and being operable to transfer thermal energy between the working fluid and the body
Implementation Method 3
the housing being operable to hold a charge of insulating gas at a pressure substantially equivalent to a pressure of the working fluid, the insulating gas being operable to reduce parasitic heat transfer between the working fluid and a surrounding environment
Implementation Method 4
The acoustic power loop may include a thermal buffer in fluid communication with the first fluid port, the thermal buffer being shaped to reduce convective heat transfer from the working fluid due to circulating gas flows within the thermal buffer
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for performing energy transformation between thermal energy and acoustic energy is in a thermoacoustic transducer apparatus is disclosed. The acoustic energy is associated with a periodic flow of a working fluid within an acoustic power loop of the thermoacoustic transducer. The apparatus includes a common central plenum having a first fluid port for providing fluid communication with the acoustic power loop, and a plurality of discrete cylindrical thermal converters radially arranged about the plenum, each thermal converter including a regenerator. The apparatus also includes a second fluid port for providing fluid communication between the thermal converter and the acoustic power loop, and fluid flow passages in fluid communication with the plenum and extending through the regenerator to the second fluid port.