Performance analysis of a two-stage travelling-wave thermo-acoustic engine using Artificial Neural Network

¹ Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
² School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil

^* Coresponding author: miniyenkosin@uj.ac.za
^** Coresponding author: 217008079@student.uj.ac.za
^*** Coresponding author: ltartibu@uj.ac.za
^**** Coresponding author: fcbannwart@fem.unicamp.br

Abstract

Thermo-acoustic systems can convert thermal energy into acoustic waves and vice-versa. This conversion is due to the thermo-viscous interaction between the acoustically oscillating gas fluid within a porous medium, referred to as a regenerator, and the pore internal walls. The thermo-acoustic approach is proposed in this study as an alternative sustainable solution for addressing the issue of electricity in remote areas of developing countries. This approach is environmentally friendly as it utilises air as the working medium and therefore does not generate harmful emissions. In this study, a two-stage travelling-wave thermo-acoustic engine has been modelled using DeltaEC. The simulation was performed by considering various input heat for both of the engine stages. The heat input for the first stage was set within the range of 359.48 to 455.75W, while in the second stage was within the range of 1307.99 to 1656.35W. Hundred (100) data were generated. This dataset was used to build an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The ANN model was validated using the data extracted from DeltaEC. A good agreement between DeltaEC simulation results and ANN predictions was observed. This study shows that the ANN approach is capable of analysing intricate nonlinear thermoacoustic issues.