Estudo experimental de um termo-oscilador para bombeamento de líquidos
Presents an experimental study of a thérmal pump. This púmp cons_ists of a thermal oscillator formed by a U-tube partially filled with liquid which oscillates deslocating a gas alternately from a hot region to a cold region.Two prototypes were constructed to study the principal factors that influence the performance. Transducer and electronic circuits were developed to register the liquid level in the U-tube and the deslocations of the admission and discharge valves.The temperatures and pressure of the gas was obtained using termocouples and a pressure transducer. Thus the evol ution of the thermodynamic cycles was studied. A theoretical model was used to simulate the thermal oscillator, obtaining the pressure and volume of the gas as well as velocities of the liquid level as a function of time by Runge-Kutta method. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical results was made. For the prototype with geometrj~unfavorable to the feedback of energy in the oscillations, the frequency and amplitude were similar. For the prototype with a geometry favorable to this feedback of energy, the results were .different. Comparison such as the work realized in pumping and the influence of variation on quantity of gas on the cycle were satisfactory. The prototype showed it is possible to use a pump system of simple construction and low cost for low lift applications, for example rural irrigation. Due to the relatively recent interest in thermal pumps, there is little experience of its utility in large scale applications. Further experimental and theoretical studies are necessry for otimization of the geometry and parameters of operation.
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