Thermoacoustic refrigeration
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Authors
Garrett, Steven L.
Hofler, Thomas J.
Subjects
AEROACOUSTICS
COMPRESSORS
CONDUCTIVE HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT PUMPS
LOUDSPEAKERS
RARE GASES
REFRIGERATING
REFRIGERATORS
AIR CONDITIONING
PERFORMANCE TESTS
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACECRAFT EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION ISOLATORS
COMPRESSORS
CONDUCTIVE HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT PUMPS
LOUDSPEAKERS
RARE GASES
REFRIGERATING
REFRIGERATORS
AIR CONDITIONING
PERFORMANCE TESTS
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACECRAFT EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION ISOLATORS
Advisors
Date of Issue
1991-12
Date
Dec 01, 1991
Publisher
Language
Abstract
A new refrigerator which uses resonant high amplitude sound in inert gases to pump heat is described and demonstrated. The phasing of the thermoacoustic cycle is provided by thermal conduction. This 'natural' phasing allows the entire refrigerator to operate with only one moving part (the loudspeaker diaphragm). The thermoacoustic refrigerator has no sliding seals, requires no lubrication, uses only low-tolerance machine parts, and contains no expensive components. Because the compressor moving mass is typically small and the oscillation frequency is high, the small amount of vibration is very easily isolated. This low vibration and lack of sliding seals makes thermoacoustic refrigeration an excellent candidate for food refrigeration and commercial/residential air conditioning applications. The design, fabrication, and performance of the first practical, autonomous thermoacoustic refrigerator, which will be flown on the Space Shuttle (STS-42), are described, and designs for terrestrial applications are presented.
Type
Conference Paper
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Unspecified Center
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
NASA, Washington, Technology 2001: The Second National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition, Volume 2; p. p 397-406
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.