High Frequency Thermoacoustic Refrigerator
Abstract
A small thermoacoustic refrigerator was developed for operation at 5 kHz. Its main components are a piezoelectric driver of the bimorph type, a cotton wool stack, a 1/2-wave resonator (operated at its 3rd harmonic), and photolithographically processed copper heat exchangers. Tests with air at 1 atmosphere as the working gas produced a temperature difference Delta T across the stack of 32 deg C in 4 seconds for an acoustic power input level of 160 dB. The refrigerator did not have thermal insulation. Improved performance is expected with pressurized helium gas and helium-xenon mixtures. The performance of this refrigerator and its small size make it attractive for applications in high speed electronics and possibly IR detectors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 16, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA280925
Entities
People
- Orest G. Symko
Organizations
- University of Utah