Device for the suppression of acoustic streaming in thermoacoustic systems

A thermoacoustic system for transfer of energy by an acoustic wave, comprising a process volume, the process volume being filled with a working fluid through which the acoustic wave propagates comprising

• an acoustic network comprising a compliance volume,
• a thermoacoustic core, and
• a fluidic inertia;
• the thermoacoustic core comprising, in a pipe section of the process volume, at least a cold heat exchanger, a hot heat exchanger and a regenerator;
• the cold heat exchanger arranged on a first side of the hot heat exchanger with the regenerator positioned between the hot heat exchanger and the cold heat exchanger;
• a thermal buffer zone positioned adjoining the hot heat exchanger on a second side opposite the first side of the hot heat exchanger;
• wherein the thermoacoustic system comprises a partitioning element;
• the partitioning element is arranged in the thermal buffer zone adjacent to the hot heat exchanger and the partitioning element is configured for closing off a cross-section of the pipe section and blocking mass flow of the working fluid through the thermal buffer zone, while allowing passage of the acoustic wave through the thermal buffer zone, wherein the partitioning element divides the thermal buffer zone into two sub-volumes separated from each other, wherein the partitioning element blocks a streaming vortex or time-averaged mass circulation of the working fluid between the hot heat exchanger and the thermal buffer zone heat exchanger, and wherein the partitioning element is made of a thermally insulating material, wherein the partitioning element provides thermal insulation between the hot heat exchanger and the thermal buffer zone heat exchanger.