High frequency thermoacoustic refrigerator
First Claim
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1. A thermoacoustic refrigerator, comprising:
- a resonator having an outer surface and defining an interior chamber having a length approximately equal to an effective diameter, said interior chamber having an asymmetrical configuration;
a high frequency driver coupled to said outer surface of said resonator for generating a standing wave within said chamber;
a stack disposed within said resonator, said stack defining a first side and a second side; and
first and second heat exchangers, said first heat exchanger abutting said first side of said stack and said second heat exchanger abutting said second side of said stack.
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Abstract
A thermoacoustic refrigerator having a relatively small size which utilizes one or more piezoelectric drivers to generate high frequency sound within a resonator at a frequency of between about 4000 Hz and ultrasonic frequencies. The interaction of the high frequency sound with one or more stacks create a temperature gradient across the stack which is conducted through a pair of heat exchangers located on opposite sides of each stack. The resonator has an asymmetrical, round configuration which enhances the cooling power of the thermoacoustic refrigerator.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A thermoacoustic refrigerator, comprising:
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a resonator having an outer surface and defining an interior chamber having a length approximately equal to an effective diameter, said interior chamber having an asymmetrical configuration;
a high frequency driver coupled to said outer surface of said resonator for generating a standing wave within said chamber;
a stack disposed within said resonator, said stack defining a first side and a second side; and
first and second heat exchangers, said first heat exchanger abutting said first side of said stack and said second heat exchanger abutting said second side of said stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermoacoustic refrigerator, comprising:
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a resonator having an outer surface and defining an interior chamber having a length not greater than one wavelength of a standing wave to be generated therein, said interior chamber having a non-cylindrical, rounded configuration;
a high frequency driver coupled to said outer surface of said resonator for generating a standing wave within said chamber;
a stack disposed within said resonator, said stack defining a first side and a second side; and
first and second heat exchangers, said first heat exchanger abutting said first side of said stack and said second heat exchanger abutting said second side of said stack. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A thermoacoustic refrigerator, comprising:
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a resonator having an outer surface and defining an interior chamber having a length not greater than a wavelength of a standing wave to be generated within said resonator;
a high frequency driver coupled to said outer surface of said resonator for generating the standing wave within said chamber;
a stack disposed within said resonator, said stack defining a first side and a second side; and
first and second heat exchangers, said first heat exchanger abutting said first side of said stack and said second heat exchanger abutting said second side of said stack. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification