Work flow measurements in a thermoacoustic engine

Heat flow and work flow are the basic concepts in thermoacoustic phenomena, both of which are introduced by the thermal interaction between the oscillating fluid and solid component. We have developed an experimental technique to determine the work flow in a thermoacoustic device and applied it to a thermoacoustic engine consisting of a looped tube and a resonator. We have found that the reliable determination of the work flow requires the proper evaluation of various correction terms, including the time lag involved in the pressure and the velocity measurements of the oscillating fluid. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.