TITAN
The development of a thermoacoustic (TAG) prototype
Overview
TITAN is a feasibility study, its objective is to develop a small-scale ThermoAcoustic Generator (or TAG) prototype. Thermoacoustics (TA) is a relatively new technology which is concerned, for the purposes of TITAN, with a direct conversion of internal heat into sound. The intention is that TITAN will use this energy conversion to produce a novel TAG for useful electricity.
The fundamental of the TAG is of an adapted (thermodynamic) Stirling cycle. In practice this device will be used for capturing as much waste heat as is viable from the exhaust of marine vessels.
Project end date
March 2015
Aims
- The prototype will be able to operate at temperatures from typically 200°C up to 500°C
- Pressures in the range of 40mbar up to about 50bar
- Achieve an efficiency of 5% to 10%
- Increased fuel efficiency
- Reduced emissions as the heat will be turned into a useful input
- Reduced vehicle running costs
Partners
Results
The project achieved the following:
- Pre-analysis, design and fabrication of a laboratory pre-production prototype.
- The TAG reached the internally-pressurised air test stage, however leaks in the braze joints were discovered. Part of the system is now being re-designed to fix this issue.
- A novel linear alternator was designed and produced.
- A new design of secondary ambient HX (which was based on the “shell-and-tube “principle) was devised.
- Manufacturing skills within European Thermodynamics have improved, particularly with knowledge on the use of the Wire-EDM machine for manufacturing certain components.
- The expected final output of the project is a system which will see a 3.3% fuel efficiency improvement in marine applications as well as reduced CO2 emissions and reduced energy consumption.
- Further thermoacoustics projects are expected to be accepted this year, increasing the level of knowledge in the UK on thermoacoustics.
The prototype will now undergo a small re-design to solve the leaking issue that was discovered during testing, followed by the re-testing phase. It is estimated that a working prototype will be available by August 2015.
