Algorithmic optimisation of the electrical power output of a low-cost, multicore thermoacoustic engine with varying resonator pressure

Incorporating thermoacoustic engines (TAEs) into clean cooking stoves offers to reduce rural energy poverty while cutting morbidity associated with smoke inhalation. TAEs are used to generate electricity from the waste heat of a cooking fire to provide power for lighting and personal devices. This study investigated the effect of TAE mean pressure using a numerical model of a twin-core, asymmetrically heated TAE. Automation code was developed to allow the numerical model to be optimised using the Nelder-Mead algorithm to maximise electrical power output at each mean pressure. The parameters available for optimisation were the length and position of two side volumes (stubs). A maximum electrical output of 59.63 W was determined at 2.2 bar mean pressure. This is a 90% increase on the original numerical model at atmospheric pressure. Simulation-based optimisation, as performed in this study, is identified as being universally applicable to the design of TAEs.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effect of mean pressure on thermoacoustic engines (TAEs) and finds the maximum electrical output under optimal mean pressure through simulation-based optimization.