Measurement of the Space Thermoacoustic Refrigerator performance
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Authors
Adeff, Jay Andrew
Subjects
Space thermoacoustic refrigerator
NASA G-337 (Payload number
heat engine
thermoacoustic stack
helium replaces freon.
NASA G-337 (Payload number
heat engine
thermoacoustic stack
helium replaces freon.
Advisors
Hofler, Thomas J.
Garrett, Steven L.
Date of Issue
1990-09
Date
September 1990
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
This is the fifth thesis of the Space Thermoacoustic Refrigerator (STAR) project which will be launched aboard the Space Shuttle in 1991 to demonstrate the potential of this technology for cooling satellite electronics and sensors. It describes the design, construction, and testing of the resonator portion of the refrigerator along with its integration with the existing driver and control electronics which were the subject of four previous theses. This resonator incorporates a helium diffusion barrier enabling it to hold ten atmospheres of working gas without leaking. An optimum operating frequency has been chosen based on electroacoustic efficiency measurements and the refrigerator has been allowed to run continuously and autonomously for up to one week at a time to simulate the planned space flight. A lowest temperature of -50 C at a temperature ratio of Tc/Th = 0.75 and a maximum coefficient of performance relative to Carnot of 14 percent has been obtained.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xv, 225 p. ; ill.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.