Instantaneous acoustic heating of a viscous fluid flow in a boundary layer is the subject of investigation. The governing equation of acoustic heating is derived by means of a special linear combination of conservation equations in the differential form, which reduces all acoustic terms in the linear part of the final equation but preserves terms belonging to the thermal mode. The procedure of decomposition is valid in a weakly nonlinear flow, it yields the nonlinear terms responsible for the modes interaction. Nonlinear acoustic terms form a source of acoustic heating in the case of the dominative sound. This acoustic source reflects the thermoviscous and dispersive properties of a fluid flow. The method of deriving the governing equations does not need averaging over the sound period, and the final governing dynamic equation of the thermal mode is instantaneous. Some examples of acoustic heating are illustrated and discussed, and conclusions about efficiency of heating caused by different waveforms of sound are made.

Standing waves and acoustic heating in a one-dimensional resonator filled with chemically reacting gas, is the subject of investigation. The chemical reaction of A → B type, which takes place in a gas, may be reversible or not. Governing equations for the sound and entropy mode which is generated in the field of sound are derived by use of a special mathematical method. Under some conditions, sound waves propagating in opposite directions do not interact. The character of nonlinear dynamics of the sound and relative acoustic heating or cooling depends on reversibility of a chemical reaction. Some examples of acoustic heating in a resonator are illustrated and discussed.