Modular thermoacoustic energy converter

A modular thermal apparatus for performing an energy transformation between thermal energy and acoustic energy, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• first and second fluid ducts extending through the housing;
• a regenerator providing a plurality of regenerator fluid passages extending in an axial direction between first and second spaced apart surfaces, the regenerator being enclosed within a regenerator sleeve portion of the housing;
• a first heat exchanger within the housing, the first heat exchanger including:
• a thermally conductive body configured to conduct thermal energy in a direction substantially aligned with the axial direction;
• a first plurality of fluid passages extending through the thermally conductive body and providing fluid communication between the first fluid duct and the plurality of regenerator fluid passages at the first surface of the regenerator, the first plurality of fluid passages oriented transversely with respect to the axial direction at the first fluid duct and changing direction within the thermally conductive body to terminate in fluid communication and axially aligned with the plurality of regenerator fluid passages at the first surface of the regenerator;
• a second heat exchanger within the housing, the second heat exchanger including:
• a thermally conductive body;
• a second plurality of fluid passages extending through the thermally conductive body and providing fluid communication between the second fluid duct and the plurality of regenerator fluid passages at the second surface of the regenerator;
• wherein the first and second heat exchangers are operable to transfer thermal energy between the respective heat exchangers and an external thermal energy source or thermal energy sink;
• wherein the housing is configured to withstand a pressure associated with a pressurized working gas within the first fluid passages, the regenerator fluid passages, and the second fluid passages, the first and second fluid ducts providing for connection of the thermal apparatus as a module within an acoustic power loop to cause a periodic flow of the pressurized working gas through the respective fluid passages of the apparatus, the periodic flow facilitating an exchange of thermal energy between the working gas and the first and second heat exchangers;
• and
• wherein the housing comprises a housing portion enclosing at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the housing portion comprising a thermal input portion for receiving thermal energy by conduction through a curved wall of the thermal input portion, wherein the curved wall is symmetric about a regenerator axis extending through a center of the regenerator in the axial direction.