Abstract:

The thermoacoustic prime mover in an annular resonator is analyzed as a linear feedback control system. Using the techniques of control system analysis, a closed-form solution for the acoustic gain of a constriction with linear temperature gradient in an annular resonator is developed. For a large enough gradient in the constriction, the acoustic gain of the system could become infinite, at which time the system goes into unstable positive feedback creating a thermoacoustic prime mover. An analysis of an existing annular resonator system is made and a comparison to more standard thermoacoustic numerical analysis is presented. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research and the American Society for Engineering Education.]