Compact thermoacoustic array energy converter
First Claim
1. A method of converting energy to electricity with an energy converter, the energy converter includinga resonator having a first end, and a second open end defining a resonator chamber,an acoustic chamber coupled to and in fluid communication with the second open end, andan electro-mechanical transducer coupled to the acoustic chamber, the method comprising:
- generating a sound wave within the resonator chamber;
working a fluid disposed within the resonator chamber and the acoustic chamber in response to the generating the sound wave;
the acoustic chamber reflecting and amplifying a portion of the sound wave back to the first end;
the working fluid vibrating the electro-mechanical transducer; and
generating electricity in response to the vibration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermoacoustic array energy converter consists of heat driven thermoacoustic prime movers in parallel coupled by means of an acoustic cavity to a piezoelectric electrical generator whose output is rectified and fed to an energy storage element. The prime movers convert heat to sound in a resonator. The sound form a phase-locked array is converted to electricity by means of the piezoelectric element. The generated electric energy is converted to DC by means of a rectifier set and it is then stored in a battery or supercapacitor. The generated electric energy can also be converted to power line frequency.
51 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of converting energy to electricity with an energy converter, the energy converter including
a resonator having a first end, and a second open end defining a resonator chamber, an acoustic chamber coupled to and in fluid communication with the second open end, and an electro-mechanical transducer coupled to the acoustic chamber, the method comprising: -
generating a sound wave within the resonator chamber; working a fluid disposed within the resonator chamber and the acoustic chamber in response to the generating the sound wave; the acoustic chamber reflecting and amplifying a portion of the sound wave back to the first end; the working fluid vibrating the electro-mechanical transducer; and generating electricity in response to the vibration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of converting energy to electricity with a thermoacoustic energy converter, the energy converter including
a heat coupling element, a plurality of thermoacoustic resonators coupled to the heat coupling element, each of the resonators having a closed first end and a second open end defining a resonator chamber, an acoustic chamber having a first end coupled to and in fluid communication with each of the second open ends of the plurality of resonators, the acoustic chamber having a volume that is greater than the resonator chamber of one of the plurality of resonators, a piezoelectric transducer coupled to a second end of the acoustic chamber, the method comprising, comprising: -
the heat coupling element subjecting heat energy to the plurality of resonators; each of the resonators generating a respective standing wave with a working fluid in response to the subjecting the heat energy; the working fluid vibrating the piezoelectric transducer; and generating electricity in response to the vibration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification