Thermoacoustic power conversion for space power applications

Thermoacoustic engines are a recent class of devices that convert between heat and sound energy without moving parts. When coupled to a suitable transducer, thermoacoustic prime movers can produce electric power with high reliability and efficiency in lightweight packages that feature low vibration levels. This paper begins with an introduction of thermoacoustics and an overview of design and optimization and then considers analytical results for two transducers that also have no moving parts: piezoelectric transduction for a helium‐based engine, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) transduction in an engine with liquid sodium working fluid.