Improved Efficiency and Power Density for Thermoacoustic Coolers
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Authors
Hofler, Thomas J.
Subjects
Thermoacoustic
Refrigeration
Heat exchange
Heat transport
Refrigeration
Heat exchange
Heat transport
Advisors
Date of Issue
1995-07-27
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
A new design for a thermoacoustic heat driven cooler is proposed and has been analyzed via a numerical model. The engine layout incorporates a half wavelength or can be run in a full wavelength with dual prime movers and dual coolers coupled thermally in parallel. Both simplified models and more physically realistic models have been constructed and adjusted for good performance. Simplified models indicate an overall COP of 0.48, which means that the total cooling power is a factor of 0.48 smaller than the total heat input. More detailed and realistic models indicate an overall COP of 0.43. Geometry numbers have been finalized and much of the drafting for an experimental unit has been completed. We hope that high power densities can be achieved with this engine. We also believe that overall COP's in the range of 0.6 to 0.7 may be possible with further improvements. Additionally, we have numerically studied issues of achieving acoustic onset with this engine and the sensitivity of the onset condition to the model parameters. We have also developed a new heat exchanger fabrication method which will allow us to achieve the smallness of geometry scale that was discussed in the previous report. The practical result is better thermal coupling with less acoustic dissipation. The fabrication method is also considerably simpler than our previous method.
Type
Technical Report
Description
Annual Summary Report: June 1994 - May 1995
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS-PH-95-002
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research
Funder
Format
16 p.
Citation
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.