Acoustic Refrigeration

Isaac Lockman

Foundation

Thermoacoustic Refrigeration Alternative

Replaces Compressor with a loud speaker Substitutes conventional refrigerants for inert gases (i.e. helium)

Figure 1: Conventional Refrigeration Cycle

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

Operation

Increase Pressure raise Temperature Diffusion of heat to or from stacks: Thermal Penetration Standing Wave: Pressure in phase with Displacement

Figure 2: Acoustic Refrigeration Cycle

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

Application

Existing

NASA

Preserve blood and urine samples Cool radar electronics onboard warships

U.S. Navy

Potential

Marine Vehicles

Replace Noisy Generators

Satellite Sensors Super-Fast Computers

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

Figure 3: Penn State Thermoacoustic Refrigerator

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

Motivation

One moving part

Yields 30% Carnot Cycle Efficiency Minimal Maintenance

Applicable to existing Systems

No CFCs or HFCs Less Energy Wasted

Regenerative

Figure 4: Car Stereo Cooler

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

References

http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/id.858,y.0,no.,content.true,page.7 http://www.acs.psu.edu/thermoacoustics/refrigeration/benandjerrys.htm http://www.benjerry.com/our_company/sounds_cool/ http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/ancillary_loads/heat_utilization.html? http://www.ehponline.org/docs/1994/102-9/innovations.html http://www.thg.ru/cpu/20001103/print.html http://www.personal.psu.edu/dpg136/Penn_State.gif http://www.mediascape.ac.nz/content/UserFiles/images/cartoons/man-list

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman

Q&A

Acoustic Refrigeration - Isaac Lockman