Mechanical resonator and method for thermoacoustic systems
AssigneeClever Fellows Innovation Consortium, Inc.
InventorJohn A. Corey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical resonator for a thermoacoustic device having a compressible fluid contained within a housing, the housing having a pair of heat exchangers and a thermodynamic medium therebetween. The resonator includes a member for mimicking dynamic conditions at a position of the housing; and a linear suspension element suspending the member in the housing. The mechanical resonator saves length and eliminates high-velocity flow losses. A transducer may also be mounted with the mechanical resonator to derive power in another form from the system, for example, electricity, or introduce power into the system. In combination, the transducer and mechanical resonator allow for cool-side driving of a thermoacoustic system.
Claims26
A mechanical resonator for a thermoacoustic device having a compressible fluid contained within a housing having a pair of heat exchangers and a thermodynamic medium therebetween, the resonator comprising:
- a member for mimicking dynamic conditions at a position of the housing;
- and
- a linear suspension element suspending the member in the housing.
A thermoacoustic system comprising:
- a housing enclosing a compressible fluid capable of supporting an acoustical wave;
- a first heat exchanger;
- a second heat exchanger;
- a thermodynamic medium interposed between the heat exchangers for sustaining a temperature gradient in the compressible fluid between the heat exchangers;
- and
- a mechanical resonator mounted in the housing adjacent the heat exchangers, the mechanical resonator including:
- a member mounted for reciprocation along a direction of fluid oscillation and to form a substantial barrier to passage of the compressible fluid, and
- a linear suspension element for suspending the member during reciprocation, the suspension element coupled to the housing.
A method for shortening a thermoacoustic device having a housing for containing a compressible fluid and thermodynamically active components therein that operate at a known frequency and a known temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining dynamic conditions at a position within the housing;
- and
- replacing at least a portion of the housing adjacent to the position by suspending a mechanical resonator having a member that matches the dynamic conditions at the position within the housing.
A thermoacoustic system comprising:
- a) a housing enclosing a compressible fluid capable of supporting an acoustical wave;
- b) a standing wave thermoacoustic subsystem including:
- a first heat exchanger,
- a second heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger is cooler than the first heat exchanger, and
- a thermodynamic medium interposed between the heat exchangers for sustaining a temperature gradient in the compressible fluid between the heat exchangers;
- c) a mechanical resonator mounted for reciprocation along a direction of fluid oscillation and to form a substantial barrier to passage of the compressible fluid;
- and
- d) a transducer coupled to the mechanical resonator.
A mechanical resonator for a thermoacoustic device having a compressible fluid contained within a housing, the housing having a pair of heat exchangers and a thermodynamic medium therebetween, the resonator comprising:
- a member adjacent a cooler one of the heat exchangers;
- and
- a thermal insulation on the member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.