Patent · US Expired

Acoustically isolated heat exchanger for thermoacoustic engine

US6711905B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
14References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 2003
Grant dateMar 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2309/1403
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A thermoacoustic engine for acoustically driving a thermal exchange includes a hollow drive tube, a heat transfer medium, an acoustic resonator, and a first thermal element. The hollow drive tube partially contains the heat transfer medium and is connected to and opens into the acoustic resonator. The acoustic resonator is adapted to store acoustic energy and deliver at least one acoustic wave to the heat transfer medium. The first thermal element includes a first channel and a first working fluid. The first channel is positioned to cross and open into the hollow drive tube, at least partially contains the first working fluid, and is sized to decrease the propagation of the at least one acoustic wave within the first channel. The first thermal working fluid is adapted to interact with and undergo thermal exchange with the heat transfer medium by conduction.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.