Abstract:
A computational model for the simulation of unsteady, thermally stratified flow within an idealized thermoacoustic stack is developed. The model is based on a vorticity-based formulation of the low-Mach-number conservation equations. The numerical scheme combines fast Poisson solvers with domain decomposition/boundary Green's-function techniques. The model is applied to analyze the response of the stack to imposed, finite-amplitude acoustic oscillations. Computed results are used to visualize the essential features of the vorticity field and temperature distribution, quantify the heat transfer between the gas and plates, and analyze thermal and mechanical energy losses. [The work of A.S.W. and O.M.K. is supported by the Office of Naval Research. R.K. is partially supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).]