Double-ended thermoacoustic heat exchanger
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
InventorBryson Jacobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoacoustic refrigeration assembly includes a resonating tube having a first end and a second end; a first mechanical oscillator at the first end; a second mechanical oscillator at the second end; and a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels. The stack sandwich includes a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first mechanical oscillator, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second mechanical oscillator, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger.
Claims20
A thermoacoustic refrigeration assembly comprising:
- a resonating tube having a first end and a second end;
- a first mechanical oscillator at the first end;
- a second mechanical oscillator at the second end;
- a first thermoacoustic stack disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels, the first thermoacoustic stack having a first outboard side heat exchanger disposed on a first outboard side facing away from the first mechanical oscillator and a first inboard side heat exchanger disposed on a first inboard side facing toward the first mechanical oscillator, the first inboard side heat exchanger being disposed between the first outboard side heat exchanger and the first mechanical oscillator;
- and
- a second thermoacoustic stack disposed along the length of the resonating tube and between the first thermoacoustic stack and the second mechanical oscillator, the second thermoacoustic stack having a second outboard side heat exchanger disposed on a second outboard side facing away from the second mechanical oscillator and a second inboard side heat exchanger disposed on a second inboard side facing toward the second mechanical oscillator, the second inboard side heat exchanger being disposed between the second outboard side heat exchanger and the second mechanical oscillator;
- the first mechanical oscillator causing first compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the first thermoacoustic stack and the second thermoacoustic stack due to a first acoustic standing wave and the second mechanical oscillator causing second compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the first thermoacoustic stack and the second thermoacoustic stack due to a second acoustic standing wave;
- relative phase displacement and/or frequency of the first mechanical oscillator and the second mechanical oscillator being adjustable;
- and
- the first and second mechanical oscillators being driven 180° out-of-phase with the respective first compressible gas parcels and second compressible gas parcels moving in a same direction with respect to one another.
A thermoacoustic refrigeration assembly comprising:
- a resonating tube having a first end and a second end;
- a first mechanical oscillator at the first end;
- a second mechanical oscillator at the second end;
- and
- a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels, the stack sandwich including a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first mechanical oscillator, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second mechanical oscillator, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger;
- the first mechanical oscillator causing first compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a first acoustic standing wave and the second mechanical oscillator causing second compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a second acoustic standing wave;
- and
- the first and second mechanical oscillators being driven in-phase with the respective first compressible gas parcels and second compressible gas parcels moving in opposite directions with respect to one another.
A thermoacoustic refrigeration assembly comprising:
- a resonating tube having a first end and a second end;
- a first mechanical oscillator at the first end;
- a second mechanical oscillator at the second end;
- and
- a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels, the stack sandwich including a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first mechanical oscillator, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second mechanical oscillator, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger;
- the first mechanical oscillator causing first compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a first acoustic standing wave and the second mechanical oscillator causing second compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a second acoustic standing wave;
- and
- the first and second mechanical oscillators being driven 180° out-of-phase with the respective first compressible gas parcels and second compressible gas parcels moving in a same direction with respect to one another.
A thermoacoustic method for a resonating tube having a first end and a second end and a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels, the stack sandwich including a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first end, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second end, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- driving first compressible gas parcels from the first end of the resonating tube toward the second end through the stack sandwich;
- driving second compressible gas parcels from the second end of the resonating tube toward the first end through the stack sandwich;
- placing a first mechanical oscillator at the first end of the resonating tube to cause the first compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a first acoustic standing wave;
- placing a second mechanical oscillator at the second end of the resonating tube to cause the second compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a second acoustic standing wave;
- and
- driving the first and second mechanical oscillators in-phase with the respective first compressible gas parcels and second compressible gas parcels moving in opposite directions with respect to one another.
A thermoacoustic method for a resonating tube having a first end and a second end and a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels, the stack sandwich including a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first end, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second end, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- driving first compressible gas parcels from the first end of the resonating tube toward the second end through the stack sandwich;
- driving second compressible gas parcels from the second end of the resonating tube toward the first end through the stack sandwich;
- placing a first mechanical oscillator at the first end of the resonating tube to cause the first compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a first acoustic standing wave;
- placing a second mechanical oscillator at the second end of the resonating tube to cause the second compressible gas parcels to oscillate longitudinally through the stack sandwich due to a second acoustic standing wave;
- and
- driving the first and second mechanical oscillators 180° out-of-phase with the respective first compressible gas parcels and second compressible gas parcels moving in a same direction with respect to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.