Alpha-Stream Convertor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsRodger William Dyson, JR., Geoffrey Adam Bruder
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Abstract
A thermo-acoustic engine and/or cooler is provided and includes an elongated tubular body, multiple regenerators disposed within the body, multiple heat exchangers disposed within the body, where at least one heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to each of the multiple regenerators, multiple transducers axially disposed at each end of the body, and an acoustic wave source generating acoustic waves. At least one of the acoustic waves is amplified by one of the regenerators and at least another acoustic wave is amplified by a second one of regenerators.
Claims20
A thermo-acoustic device comprising:
- an elongated tubular body;
- a plurality of regenerators disposed within the body;
- a plurality of heat exchangers disposed within the body, at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of regenerators;
- a plurality of transducers axially disposed at each end of the body,
- an acoustic wave source generating a plurality of acoustic waves,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of acoustic waves is amplified by at least one of the plurality of regenerators, and
- wherein at least a second one of the plurality of acoustic waves is amplified by at least a second one of the plurality of regenerators.
The thermo-acoustic device of claim 11, wherein the acoustic waves travel through the plurality of regenerators and heat exchangers to remove heat and provide cooling to an external system.
A method of operating a thermo-acoustic engine comprising:
- establishing a first temperature gradient in a first regenerator and a second temperature gradient in a second regenerator;
- creating a first acoustic wave in the first regenerator and a second acoustic wave in the second regenerator;
- superimposing the first acoustic wave and the second acoustic wave to form a higher amplitude acoustic wave;
- converting the higher amplitude acoustic wave to an electrical signal;
- and
- outputting a portion of the electrical signal to drive a first transducer.
A thermo-acoustic engine comprising:
- an elongated tubular body;
- a first regenerator disposed within the body generating a first acoustic wave;
- a second regenerator disposed within the body generating a second acoustic wave;
- a first transducer axially disposed at one end of the body;
- and
- a second transducer axially disposed at an opposite end of the body,
- wherein the first acoustic wave and the second acoustic wave are superimposed to form a higher amplitude acoustic wave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.