Patent · US Active

Compact thermoacoustic array energy converter

US8143767B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

42References

19Claims

0Family size

Assignee

University of Utah Research Foundation · US

Inventors

Orest G. Symko · Salt Lake City, US
Young-Sam Kwon · Cologne, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 15, 2011
Grant date	Mar 27, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 15, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
CPC primaryF02G2243/54
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

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.

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