Physics

Physics · thermodynamics

Problem

In this problem, we consider a simple model for a thermoacoustic device. The device uses heavily amplified sound to provide work for a pump that can then extract heat. Sound waves form standing waves in a tube of radius 0.25 mm0.25 \mathrm{~mm} that is closed on both sides, and a two-plate stack is inserted in the tube. A temperature gradient forms between the plates of the stack, and the parcel of gas trapped between the plates oscillates sinusoidally between a maximum pressure of 1.03MPa1.03 \mathrm{MPa} and a minimum of 0.97MPa0.97 \mathrm{MPa}. The gas is argon, with density 1.78 kg/m31.78 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3} and adiabatic constant 5/35 / 3. The speed of sound is 323 m/s323 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}. The heat pump itself operates as follows: The parcel of gas starts at minimum pressure. The stack plates adiabatically compress the parcel of gas to its maximum pressure, heating the gas to a temperature higher than that of the hotter stack plate. Then, the gas is allowed to isobarically cool to the temperature of the hotter stack plate. Next, the plates adiabatically expand the gas back to its minimum pressure, cooling it to a temperature lower than that of the colder plate. Finally, the gas is allowed to isobarically heat up to the temperature of the colder stack plate. Find the power at which the thermoacoustic heat pump emits heat. Given constants: - Proton mass, mp=1.67⋅10−27 kgm_{p}=1.67 \cdot 10^{-27} \mathrm{~kg} - Neutron mass, mn=1.67⋅10−27 kgm_{n}=1.67 \cdot 10^{-27} \mathrm{~kg} - Electron mass, me=9.11⋅10−31 kgm_{e}=9.11 \cdot 10^{-31} \mathrm{~kg} - Avogadro's constant, N0=6.02⋅1023 mol−1N_{0}=6.02 \cdot 10^{23} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1} - Universal gas constant, R=8.31 J/(mol⋅K)R=8.31 \mathrm{~J} /(\mathrm{mol} \cdot \mathrm{K}) - Boltzmann's constant, kB=1.38⋅10−23 J/Kk_{B}=1.38 \cdot 10^{-23} \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{K} - Electron charge magnitude, e=1.60⋅10−19Ce=1.60 \cdot 10^{-19} \mathrm{C} - 1 electron volt, 1eV=1.60⋅10−19 J1 \mathrm{eV}=1.60 \cdot 10^{-19} \mathrm{~J} - Speed of light, c=3.00⋅108 m/sc=3.00 \cdot 10^{8} \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s} - Universal Gravitational constant, G=6.67⋅10−11( N⋅m2)/kg2G=6.67 \cdot 10^{-11}\left(\mathrm{~N} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\right) / \mathrm{kg}^{2} - Solar Mass M⊙=1.988⋅1030 kgM_{\odot}=1.988 \cdot 10^{30} \mathrm{~kg} - Acceleration due to gravity, g=9.8 m/s2g=9.8 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^{2} - 1 unified atomic mass unit, 1u=1.66⋅10−27 kg=931MeV/c21 \mathrm{u}=1.66 \cdot 10^{-27} \mathrm{~kg}=931 \mathrm{MeV} / \mathrm{c}^{2} - Planck's constant, h=6.63⋅10−34 J⋅s=4.41⋅10−15eV⋅sh=6.63 \cdot 10^{-34} \mathrm{~J} \cdot \mathrm{s}=4.41 \cdot 10^{-15} \mathrm{eV} \cdot \mathrm{s} - Permittivity of free space, ϵ0=8.85⋅10−12C2/(N⋅m2)\epsilon_{0}=8.85 \cdot 10^{-12} \mathrm{C}^{2} /\left(\mathrm{N} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\right) - Coulomb's law constant, k=14πϵ0=8.99⋅109( N⋅m2)/C2k=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_{0}}=8.99 \cdot 10^{9}\left(\mathrm{~N} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\right) / \mathrm{C}^{2} - Permeability of free space, μ0=4π⋅10−7 T⋅m/A\mu_{0}=4 \pi \cdot 10^{-7} \mathrm{~T} \cdot \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{A} - Magnetic constant, μ04π=1⋅10−7( T⋅m)/A\frac{\mu_{0}}{4 \pi}=1 \cdot 10^{-7}(\mathrm{~T} \cdot \mathrm{m}) / \mathrm{A} - 1 atmospheric pressure, 1 atm=1.01⋅105 N/m2=1.01⋅105 Pa1 \mathrm{~atm}=1.01 \cdot 10^{5} \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}^{2}=1.01 \cdot 10^{5} \mathrm{~Pa} - Wien's displacement constant, b=2.9b=2.9. 10−3 m⋅K10^{-3} \mathrm{~m} \cdot \mathrm{K} - Stefan-Boltzmann constant, σ=5.67⋅10−8 W/m2/K4\sigma=5.67 \cdot 10^{-8} \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} / \mathrm{K}^{4}
Intuitive explanation

This problem combines a thermodynamic cycle (two adiabatic and two isobaric processes) with acoustic oscillations. The key insight is that the gas parcel completes one full heat-pump cycle per acoustic oscillation cycle, so you need to find the heat released per cycle using the first law, then multiply by the oscillation frequency (determined by the standing wave) to get power. Start by finding the temperatures at each state using the adiabatic relations and pressure ratio, calculate the heat released during the isobaric cooling step, and finally determine how many cycles occur per second from the acoustic frequency in the tube.

Intuitive explanation

This problem combines a thermodynamic cycle (two adiabatic and two isobaric processes) with acoustic oscillations. The key insight is that the gas parcel completes one full heat-pump cycle per acoustic oscillation cycle, so you need to find the heat released per cycle using the first law, then multiply by the oscillation frequency (determined by the standing wave) to get power. Start by finding the temperatures at each state using the adiabatic relations and pressure ratio, calculate the heat released during the isobaric cooling step, and finally determine how many cycles occur per second from the acoustic frequency in the tube.

Related theory

Browse the problem library