Jeffrey R. Olson
Gregory W. Swift
Condensed Matter and Thermal Phys. Group, Los Alamos Natl. Lab, Los Alamos, NM 87545
Coiling the resonator of a thermoacoustic engine is one way to try to minimize the engine's size. However, flow in bent pipes is known to alter the fluid flow pattern because of centrifugal forces. Theory and measurements will be presented on the energy dissipation caused by oscillating flow in curved pipes. Measurements have been taken using free oscillations of liquids in U-tubes, and using a thermoacoustic engine with straight and bent resonators. [Work supported by the TTI program of the US Department of Energy, and by the Tektronix Corporation.]