acoustical stirling engine

A thermo-acoustic engine is an alternative to a conventional Stirling engine, which uses a power piston and a second piston that shuttles air between the hot and cold parts of the engine. Instead, a thermo-acoustic engine uses a travelling sound wave to do the work of a displacement piston. 1 This sound wave is generated by a heat source, such as a flame, and is used to move air between the hot and cold parts of the engine. This type of engine is more efficient than a conventional Stirling engine, as it does not require a displacer piston.