Design and Development of Power Generation System for Thermo-Acoustically Driven Devices

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
² Department of Mechatronics Engineering, College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
³ General Manager, Aerospace Industry, Pakistan

^* Corresponding author: uzair.khaleeq@ceme.nust.edu.pk

Abstract

This paper explores the emerging field of thermo-acoustic devices, specifically focusing on developing robust bidirectional turbines. Amidst growing concerns about climate change, rising energy demands, and the urgent need for alternative solutions, the study highlights the underexplored domain of bidirectional turbines within thermo-acoustic systems, offering a crucial pathway toward cleaner and more sustainable technologies, thereby providing commercialization potential. It identifies a significant gap in dedicated investigations regarding the interaction, efficiency, and challenges associated with bidirectional turbines and adopts a comprehensive methodology integrating analytical modelling, computational fluid dynamics simulations, and practical experimentation. An axial bidirectional turbine is carefully selected, designed, and optimized using advanced tools such as MATLAB R2016a and CAD software, including PTC Creo 5.0 and Solidworks 2023. The validity of the CAD model is verified through ANSYS 16.2 CFX simulations, followed by experimental validation to corroborate and enhance theoretical insights. The conclusions drawn from this study offer valuable recommendations for further research and practical implementations.