Investigation of a two-diaphragm thermoacoustic Stirling engine using passivity method

This paper presents a novel perspective on a thermoacoustic Stirling engine, emphasizing the integration of passivity control and a genetic algorithm (GA) framework. To this end, a brief overview of the mathematical modeling is presented by investigating the movements of pistons and operating frequency. Next, the dynamic error equations are derived, and then, the passivity-based control and GA are employed for estimating the design parameters obtained through the behavior-stabilizing process of the system. Note that the mass of the pistons attached to the second diaphragm, the stiffness of diaphragms 1 and 2, the hot temperature, and the phase difference between diaphragms are the design parameters in this study. Consequently, once the design parameters are assessed, the work and the output power are calculated. Finally, comparing the simulation and the experiment outcomes confirmed that the presented technique is effective in not only predicting the design parameters appropriately but also verifies the engine's stable oscillations. It is important to note that obtaining such parameters before the design and production phase can significantly enhance the cost-effectiveness and time efficiency of the production process.

Automated summary

This paper presents a novel approach to studying a thermoacoustic Stirling engine, combining passive control and a genetic algorithm. The effectiveness of the technique is verified through mathematical modeling and design parameter estimation.