Miniature Thermoacoustic Refrigerator.
Abstract
A miniature thermoacoustic refrigerator was developed for cooling electronic components. The refrigerator is driven at 5,000 Hz by a piezoelectric driver and it consists of an acoustic resonator, a stack, and copper heat exchangers. The working fluid is pressurized helium gas between 10 to 20 atmospheres. Sound was produced with different piezoelectric drivers, a monomorph, a bimorph, and Tonpilz driver to achieve the highest intensity possible. Since the operating frequency is high, the refrigerator is compact, being about 10 cm long. Temperature differences of 12 deg C across the stack were achieved at sound levels of l60dB. The performance of the refrigerator scaled with frequency according to existing models of thermoacoustic heat engines.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 21, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA280326
Entities
People
- Orest G. Symko
Organizations
- University of Utah