MULTIOBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF A THERMOACOUSTIC REGENERATOR (original) (raw)
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OPTIMAL DESIGN STUDY OF THERMOACOUSTIC REGENERATOR WITH LEXICOGRAPHIC OPTIMIZATION METHOD
Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to illustrate the use of the augmented epsilon-constraint method implemented in general algebraic modelling system (GAMS), aimed at optimizing the geometry of a thermoacoustic regenerator. Thermoacoustic heat engines provide a practical solution to the problem of heat management where heat can be pumped or spot cooling can be produced. However, the most inhibiting characteristic of thermoacoustic cooling is their current lack of efficiencies. Design/methodology/approach – Lexicographic optimization is presented as an alternative optimization technique to the common used weighting methods. This approach establishes a hierarchical order among all the optimization objectives instead of giving them a specific (and most of the time, arbitrary) weight. Findings – A practical example is given, in a hypothetical scenario, showing how the proposed optimization technique may help thermoacoustic regenerator designers to identify Pareto optimal solutions when dealing with geometric parameters. This study highlights the fact that the geometrical parameters are interdependent, which support the use of a multi-objective approach for optimization in thermoacoustic. Originality/value – The research output from this paper can be a valuable resource to support designers in building efficient thermoacoustic device. The research illustrates the use of a lexicographic optimization to provide more meaningful results describing the geometry of thermoacoustic regenerator. It applies the epsilon-constraint method (AUGMENCON) to solve a five-criteria mixed integer non-linear problem implemented in GAMS (GAM software).
Geometric optimization of a thermoacoustic regenerator
International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 2009
This work illustrates the optimization of thermoacoustic systems, while taking into account thermal losses to the surroundings that are typically disregarded. A simple thermoacoustic engine is used as an example for the methodology. Its driving component, the thermoacoustic regenerator (also referred to as the stack), is modeled with a finite element method and its dimensions are varied to find an optimal design with regard to thermal losses. Thermoacoustic phenomena are included by considering acoustic power, and viscous and capacitive losses that are characteristic for the regenerator. The optimization considers four weighted objectives and is conducted with the Nelder-Mead Simplex method. When trying to minimize thermal losses, the presented results show that the regenerator should be designed to be as short as possible. It was found that there is an optimal regenerator diameter for a given length. The results are presented for a variety of materials and weights for each objective.
Multi-objective optimization of the stack of a thermoacoustic engine using GAMS
This work illustrates the use of a multi-objective optimization approach to model and optimize the performance of a simple thermoacoustic engine. System parameters and constraints that capture the underlying thermoacoustic dynamics have been used to define the model. Work output, viscous loss, conductive heat loss, convective heat loss and radiative heat loss have been used to measure the performance of the engine. The optimization task is formulated as a five-criterion mixed-integer non-linear programming problem. Since we optimize multiple objectives simultaneously, each objective component has been given a weighting factor to provide appropriate user-defined emphasis. A practical example is given to illustrate the approach. We have determined a design statement of a stack describing how the design would change if emphasis is given to one objective in particular. We also considered optimization of multiple objectives components simultaneously and identify global optimal solutions describing the stack geometry using the augmented E-constraint method. This approach has been implemented in GAMS (General Algebraic Modelling System).
CFD-assisted regenerator analysis: application to thermoacoustic system
2011
Thermoacoustic devices have been of considerable research interest in the last few decades due to their simplicity and the environmentally friendly operation. This paper investigates the regenerator, forming the core of a thermoacoustic device, where the thermoacoustic effect takes place. A two-dimensional axissymmetrical computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of a thermoacoustic effect in a travelling-wave case has been developed. The boundary conditions were imposed according to the measured oscillating pressure and the temperature gradient developed across the regenerator in a thermoacoustic test rig. The simulation was validated by comparing the resulting pressure with that measured experimentally at a number of locations. A friction factor correlation was derived for the CFD-assisted model and compared with the experimental data available.
Design and optimization of thermoacoustic devices
Energy Conversion and Management, 2008
Thermoacoustics deals with the conversion of heat energy into sound energy and vice versa. It is a new and emerging technology which has a strong potential towards the development of sustainable and renewable energy systems by utilizing waste heat or solar energy. Although simple to fabricate, the designing of thermoacoustic devices is very challenging. In the present study, a comprehensive design and optimization algorithm is developed for designing thermoacoustic devices. The unique feature of the present algorithm is its ability to design thermoacoustically-driven thermoacoustic refrigerators that can serve as sustainable refrigeration systems. In addition, new features based on the energy balance are also included to design individual thermoacoustic engines and acoustically-driven thermoacoustic refrigerators. As a case study, a thermoacoustically-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator has been designed and optimized based on the developed algorithm. The results from the algorithm are in good agreement with that obtained from the computer code DeltaE.
Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 2017
This paper presents three case studies based on a multi-objective optimization approach to optimize the performance of thermo-acoustic devices by obtaining the best possible set of geometrical characteristic parameters. In case study 1, the performance of a thermo-acoustic refrigerator is measured in terms of three objectives namely, acoustic cooling load (, coefficient of performance (COP) and acoustic power loss (). Each objective is assigned a weight to facilitate suitable user-defined significance. The case study 2 aims to optimize a thermoacoustic prime-mover. The influence of stack position and its length, resonator length, plate thickness and plate spacing are considered as design variables. Two objectives namely, pressure amplitude (P) and frequency (f) are considered as objectives for multiobjective optimization of the thermo-acoustic prime-mover. In case study 3, the performance of a thermoacoustic engine is measured in terms of five objectives namely, work output (W), viscous loss (R v), conductive heat loss (Q cond), convective heat loss (Q conv) and radiative heat loss (Q rad).
A MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMISATION APPROACH FOR SMALL-SCALE STANDING WAVE THERMOACOUSTIC COOLERS DESIGN
Thermoacoustic heat engines provide a practical solution to the problem of heat management where heat can be pumped or spot cooling can be induced. This is new among emerging technology with a strong potential towards the development of sustainable and renewable energy systems by utilising solar energy or wasted heat. The most inhibiting characteristic of current thermoacoustic cooling devices is the lack of efficiency. Although simple to fabricate, the designing of thermoacoustic coolers involves significant technical challenges. The stack has been identified as the heart of the device where the heat transfer takes place. Improving its performance will make thermoacoustic technology more attractive. Existing efforts have not taken thermal losses to the surroundings into account in the derivation of the models. Although thermal losses can be neglected for large-scale applications, these losses need to be adequately covered for small-scale applications. This work explores the use of a multi-objective optimisation approach to model and to optimise the performance of a simple thermoacoustic engine. This study aims to optimise its geometrical parameters—namely the stack length, the stack height, the stack position, the number of channels and the plate spacing—involved in designing thermoacoustic engines. System parameters and constraints that capture the underlying thermoacoustic dynamics have been used to define the models. Acoustic work, viscous loss, conductive heat loss, convective heat loss and radiative heat loss have been used to measure the performance of the thermoacoustic engine. The optimisation task is formulated as a five-criterion mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. Since we optimise multiple objectives simultaneously, each objective component has been given a weighting factor to provide appropriate user-defined emphasis. A practical example is provided to illustrate the approach. We have determined a design statement of a stack describing how the design would change if emphasis is placed on one objective in particular. We also considered optimisation of multiple objective components simultaneously and identified global optimal solutions describing the stack geometry using the augmented ε-constraint method. This approach has been implemented in GAMS (General Algebraic Modelling System). In addition, this work develops a novel mathematical programming model to optimise the performance of a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator. This study aims to optimise its geometrical parameters—namely the stack position, the stack length, the blockage ratio and the plate spacing—involved in designing thermoacoustic refrigerators. System parameters and constraints that capture the underlying thermoacoustic dynamics have been used to define the models. The cooling load, the coefficient of performance and the acoustic power loss have been used to measure the performance of the device. The optimisation task is formulated as a three-criterion nonlinear programming problem with discontinuous derivatives (DNLPs). Since we optimise multiple objectives simultaneously, each objective component has been given a weighting factor to provide appropriate user-defined emphasis. A practical example is provided to illustrate the approach. We have determined a design statement of a stack describing how the geometrical parameters described would change if emphasis is placed on one objective in particular. We also considered optimisation of multiple objective components simultaneously and identified global optimal solutions describing the stack geometry using a lexicographic multi-objective optimisation scheme. The unique feature of the present mathematical programming approach is to compute the stack geometrical parameters describing thermoacoustic refrigerators for maximum cooling or maximum coefficient of performance. The present study highlights the importance of thermal losses in the modelling of small-scale thermoacoustic engines using a multi-objective approach. The proposed modelling approach for thermoacoustic engines provides a fast estimate of the geometry and position of the stack for maximum performance of the device. The use of a lexicographic method introduced in this study improves the modelling and the computation of optimal solutions and avoids subjectivity in aggregation of weight to objective functions in the formulation of mathematical models. The unique characteristic of this research is the computing of all efficient non dominated Pareto optimal solutions allowing the decision maker to select the most efficient solution. The present research experimentally examines the influence of the stack geometry and position on the performance of thermoacoustic engines and thermoacoustic refrigerators. Thirty-six different cordierite honeycomb ceramic stacks are studied in this research. The influence of the geometry and the stack position has been investigated. The temperature difference across the stack and radiated sound pressure level at steady state are considered indicators of the performance of the devices. The general trends of the proposed mathematical programming approach results show satisfactory agreement with the experiment. One important aspect revealed by this study is that geometrical parameters are interdependent and can be treated as such when optimising the device to achieve its highest performance. The outcome of this research has direct application in the search for efficient stack configurations of small-scale thermoacoustic devices for electronics cooling.
Design Optimization of a Multi-kW Thermoacoustic Electric Generator Using DeltaEC Model
2021
Waste heat recovery from power plants and industries requires a new type of electricity generators and related technological developments. The current research work is aimed at the design of a multi-kilowatt thermoacoustic electric generator, which can be employed as the bottoming cycle of a gas-turbine power plant or for industrial waste heat recovery. The proposed device converts thermal energy into acoustic power and subsequently uses a piezoelectric alternator to convert acoustic power into electricity. The challenge in designing such a device is that it has to be acoustically balanced and the performance of the device is greatly affected by numerous parameters such as frequency of the traveling acoustic wave, heat exchanger parameters, regenerator dimensions, acoustic feedback loop, etc. The proposed device is a lab-scale demonstration targeted to produce a few kilowatts of electric power from a 20 kWth heat source. To achieve the acoustically balanced configuration of the device, DeltaEC software is used. The DeltaEC model outcomes are used to arrive at the optimized design of the device and its components. The analytical method, the optimized geometrical dimensions of thermoacoustic components and the minimum required conditions of heat source input are presented in this paper.
LEXICOGRAPHIC MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF THERMOACOUSTIC REFRIGERATOR’S STACK
This work develops a novel mathematical programming model to optimize the performance of a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator (TAR). This study aims to optimize the geometric parameters namely the stack position, the stack length, the blockage ratio and the plate spacing involved in designing thermoacoustic refrigerators. System parameters and constraints that capture the underlying thermoacoustic dynamics have been used to define the models. The cooling load, the coefficient of performance and the acoustic power loss have been used to measure the performance of the device. The optimization task is formulated as a three-criterion nonlinear programming problem with discontinuous derivatives (DNLP). Since we optimize multiple objectives simultaneously, each objective component has been given a weighting factor to provide appropriate user-defined emphasis. A practical example is given to illustrate the approach. We have determined a design statement of a stack describing how the geometrical parameters describing would change if emphasis is given to one objective in particular. We also considered optimization of multiple objectives components simultaneously and identify global optimal solutions describing the stack geometry using a lexicographic multi-objective optimization scheme. Additionally, this approach illustrates the difference between a design for maximum cooling and best coefficient of performance of a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator.
Geometric optimization of micro-thermoacoustic cooler for heat management in electronics
As a result of miniaturisation, electronic products are shrinking in size and weight but with greater pressure for cost reduction. Heat fluxes have increased considerably and hence thermal management becomes crucial from the reliability point of view. Thermoacoustic heat engines provide a practical solution to the problem of heat management in microcircuits where they can be used to pump heat or produce spot cooling of specific circuit elements. However, the most inhibiting characteristic of thermoacoustic cooling is its current lack of efficiency. A multiobjective optimization approach is presented to model and optimize a small-scale thermoacoustic regenerator. Optimization of multiple objectives components is considered and global optimal solutions have been identified using the epsilon constraint method.