Beginner's Guide to Measurement Techniques in Thermoacoustic Systems

Synopsis: The fundamentals of thermoacoustics constitute understanding thermoacoustic phenomena, the proposal of new thermoacoustic devices, and the development of new experimental techniques. This paper describes a practical guide to measurements of important physical quantities in thermoacoustic systems to help beginners understand the basic techniques. The direct method, involving measurements of pressure and velocity oscillations, and the two-sensor method are introduced for the measurement of work flow. A method for the dynamic calibration of a thermocouple is also presented to make measurements of temperature fluctuation possible. Particular emphasis is given accurately determining the phasing between oscillatory quantities.