Measurement of the Space Thermoacoustic Refrigerator Performance
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA241320
Entities
People
- Jay A. Adeff
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School