Acoustic cooling engine
Abstract
An acoustic cooling engine with improved thermal performance and reduced internal losses comprises a compressible fluid contained in a resonant pressure vessel. The fluid has a substantial thermal expansion coefficient and is capable of supporting an acoustic standing wave. A thermodynamic element has first and second ends and is located in the resonant pressure vessel in thermal communication with the fluid. The thermal response of the thermodynamic element to the acoustic standing wave pumps heat from the second end to the first end. The thermodynamic element permits substantial flow of the fluid through the thermodynamic element. An acoustic driver cyclically drives the fluid with an acoustic standing wave. The driver is at a location of maximum acoustic impedance in the resonant pressure vessel and proximate the first end of the thermodynamic element. A hot heat exchanger is adjacent to and in thermal communication with the first end of the thermodynamic element. The hot heat exchanger conducts heat from the first end to portions of the resonant pressure vessel proximate the hot heat exchanger. The hot heat exchanger permits substantial flow of the fluid through the hot heat exchanger. The resonant pressure vessel can include a housing less than one quartermore »
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Santa Fe, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866488
- Patent Number(s):
- 4722201
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02G - HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- acoustic; cooling; engine; improved; thermal; performance; reduced; internal; losses; comprises; compressible; fluid; contained; resonant; pressure; vessel; substantial; expansion; coefficient; capable; supporting; standing; wave; thermodynamic; element; located; communication; response; pumps; heat; permits; flow; driver; cyclically; drives; location; maximum; impedance; proximate; hot; exchanger; adjacent; conducts; portions; housing; quarter; wavelength; length; coupled; reservoir; diameter; portion; communicating; frequency; continuously; controlled; maintain; resonance; compressible fluid; permits substantial; cooling engine; acoustic cooling; improved thermal; thermal communication; acoustic impedance; expansion coefficient; thermal expansion; pressure vessel; heat exchange; heat exchanger; standing wave; resonant pressure; thermodynamic element; quarter wavelength; thermal performance; reduced diameter; continuously controlled; fluid contained; substantial thermal; diameter portion; thermal response; element permits; quarter wave; losses comprises; acoustic driver; /62/60/
Citation Formats
Hofler, Thomas J, Wheatley, John C, Swift, Gregory W, and Migliori, Albert. Acoustic cooling engine. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Hofler, Thomas J, Wheatley, John C, Swift, Gregory W, & Migliori, Albert. Acoustic cooling engine. United States.
Hofler, Thomas J, Wheatley, John C, Swift, Gregory W, and Migliori, Albert. Fri .
"Acoustic cooling engine". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866488.
@article{osti_866488,
title = {Acoustic cooling engine},
author = {Hofler, Thomas J and Wheatley, John C and Swift, Gregory W and Migliori, Albert},
abstractNote = {An acoustic cooling engine with improved thermal performance and reduced internal losses comprises a compressible fluid contained in a resonant pressure vessel. The fluid has a substantial thermal expansion coefficient and is capable of supporting an acoustic standing wave. A thermodynamic element has first and second ends and is located in the resonant pressure vessel in thermal communication with the fluid. The thermal response of the thermodynamic element to the acoustic standing wave pumps heat from the second end to the first end. The thermodynamic element permits substantial flow of the fluid through the thermodynamic element. An acoustic driver cyclically drives the fluid with an acoustic standing wave. The driver is at a location of maximum acoustic impedance in the resonant pressure vessel and proximate the first end of the thermodynamic element. A hot heat exchanger is adjacent to and in thermal communication with the first end of the thermodynamic element. The hot heat exchanger conducts heat from the first end to portions of the resonant pressure vessel proximate the hot heat exchanger. The hot heat exchanger permits substantial flow of the fluid through the hot heat exchanger. The resonant pressure vessel can include a housing less than one quarter wavelength in length coupled to a reservoir. The housing can include a reduced diameter portion communicating with the reservoir. The frequency of the acoustic driver can be continuously controlled so as to maintain resonance.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}