Acoustically isolated heat exchanger for thermoacoustic engine

A thermoacoustic engine for producing at least one acoustic wave, the thermoacoustic engine comprising:

• a drive tube;
• an acoustic resonator connected to and opening into the drive tube;
• a heat transfer medium contained within the drive tube and the acoustic resonator;
• a first thermal element including:
• a first channel positioned to cross and open into the drive tube;
• and
• a first working fluid at least partially contained in the first channel, wherein the first working fluid is adapted to interact and undergo thermal exchange with the heat transfer medium by conduction;
• and
• a second thermal element spaced from the first thermal element, the second thermal element being adapted to induce thermal exchange between the second working fluid and the heat transfer medium which together with the thermal exchange between the first thermal element and the heat transfer medium produces an acoustic wave in the heat transfer medium, wherein the first channel is sized to decrease propagation of the at least one acoustic wave in the first channel.

A method of acoustical thermal exchange comprising:

• providing a thermoacoustic engine including:
• a drive tube,
• a heat transfer medium contained within the drive tube,
• a first channel positioned to cross and open into the drive tube, and
• a first working fluid at least partially contained within the first channel;
• introducing an acoustic wave to the drive tube to induce flow within the heat transfer medium, wherein the first channel is sized to prevent propagation of the acoustic wave within the first channel;
• and
• exchanging thermal energy between the heat transfer medium and the first working fluid by conduction.