Electrical Power Generation from Thermoacoustics Coupled with Magnetohydrodynamic Technologies for Space Missions
31st International Congress on Sound and Vibration: Proceedings 2025
Artūrs Brēķis

The "SpaceTRIPS" facility is a novel energy conversion technology that uses thermoacoustic phenomena coupled with liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic techniques. This technology can be used for electricity power generation in long-term deep Space missions, as well as in the energy sector for terrestrial applications. The thermoacoustic engine is supplied with heat, and this thermal power is converted to sound in the form of mechanical vibrations. This sound is further converted to electrical power by using liquid metal oscillations in magnetic field, created by permanent magnets. The prototype of this technology is constructed at the Institute of Physics, University of Latvia. Thermoacoustic excitation is created due to the heat introduced by radioisotopes. The Americium is considered to be a reasonable option for this due to its high half-life period, which could provide heat resulting from nuclear reactions for several decades-long missions. At the same time, thermoacoustic technology also allows the utilization of other heat sources, such as residual waste heat from industrial processes, as well as solar heat from the sun, for terrestrial applications. The main drawback of this technology is the existence of the liquid metal-free surface, which, during vertical vibrations, tends to become unstable, resulting in so-called Faraday surface waves. It is possible to suppress this instability by using electromagnetic stabilization with an external magnetic field. To prove this hypothesis, a modeling mockup was built that consists of two loudspeakers that are positioned opposite to each other and connected in push-pull mode, thus simulating the performance of the thermoacoustic engine. This mockup was used as a test bench to perform experiments by testing various free surface stabilization aspects and techniques. The results will be described in the present work.


Atslēgas vārdi
Magnetohydrodynamics | Liquid metals | Thermoacoustics | Space missions | Sodium | Ferrofluids
Hipersaite
https://iiav.org/content/archives_icsv_last/2025_icsv31/index.html

Brēķis, A. Electrical Power Generation from Thermoacoustics Coupled with Magnetohydrodynamic Technologies for Space Missions. No: 31st International Congress on Sound and Vibration: Proceedings, Korejas republika, Incheon, 6.-11. jūlijs, 2025. Incheon: Society of Acoustics, 2025, 1.-8.lpp. ISBN 978-899402142-3. ISSN 2329-3675.

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