A traveling-wave thermoacoustic electric generator with a variable electric R-C load

► An equivalent acoustic circuit of a linear alternator is built based on electro-mechano-acoustical analogy. ► Approaches for improving the overall performance are presented by theoretical analysis and experimental results. ► Thermal-to-electric efficiency and electric power are proportional to pressure amplitude and the square of it, respectively. ► A maximum electric power of 345.3 W and a thermal-to-electric efficiency of 12.33% are achieved.