GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY BY BURNING WASTE MATERIAL

ABSTRACT

This work explores the use of thermo-acoustic system by burning waste materials (such as polymers) as an alternative technology for electricity generation. This technology is proposed as a potential alternative for low-cost electrical power generation because of its simplicity and lack of moving parts. A thermoacoustic power converter consists of a thermoacoustic engine driving a linear alternator connected to a matched electric load. Accordingly, linear alternators are essential parts of thermoacoustic power converters. The energy conversion from heat into sound wave is done within thermo-acoustic engine. The latter is coupled to a linear alternator for electricity generation. Thermo-acoustic generators providing clean electrical energy to power small appliances. From the research and test conducted on the thermoacoustic system, at the initial time (t = 0), the acoustic power started initially from zero when no heat was introduced into the system. As heat was introduced into the system, the temperature of the system started rising above 0℃. At time = 10mins, oscillation kicked off gradually as temperature rose to 10℃ which lead to a direct proportional increase in the acoustic power. After 30mins of continuous supply of heat into the system, it got to the point where temperature rose to 60℃, the led bulb lighted up very bright. After 40mins and beyond 60℃, the acoustic power remained the same because the maximum power the led bulb could take was 10W.