Thermoacoustic engines

TLDR

Thermoacoustic engines are acoustic heat engines that convert heat flow between high‑ and low‑temperature reservoirs into acoustic power, achieving efficiencies up to a substantial fraction of Carnot’s limit and enabling conversion to electric power or heat pumping. This review teaches the fundamentals of thermoacoustic engines through analysis, intuition, and example. The review explains the underlying principles and operational mechanisms of thermoacoustic engines, illustrating how acoustic power is generated and harnessed.

Abstract

Thermoacoustic engines, or acoustic heat engines, are energy-conversion devices that achieve simplicity and concomitant reliability by use of acoustic technology. Their efficiency can be a substantial fraction of Carnot’s efficiency. In thermoacoustic prime movers, heat flow from a high-temperature source to a low-temperature sink generates acoustic power (which may be converted to electric power using a transducer). In thermoacoustic heat pumps and refrigerators, acoustic power is used to pump heat from a low-temperature source to a high-temperature sink. This review teaches the fundamentals of thermoacoustic engines, by analysis, intuition, and example.