Experimental studies of a thermoacoustic stirling prime mover and its application to a cooler

An acoustic field spontaneously induced in a thermoacoustic prime mover consisting of a looped tube and resonator is determined through simultaneously measurements of pressure P and velocity U. A thermal efficiency of the thermoacoustic prime mover of this type has been reported to reach 30%. The measurements of the acoustic field in the present system revealed that a phase lead of U relative to P takes a negative value of about -20degrees in the regenerator where the output power of the prime mover is generated. It was concluded that the possession of a negative phase lead at this position is taken as a clue in a significant increase in the output power. Moreover, the analysis in the thermoacoustic mechanism shows that a precise position for the location of a second regenerator acting as a heat pump exists in the looped tube. Indeed, by locating the second regenerator at the position, a thermoacoustic cooler was constructed. The thermoacoustic cooler could generate a low temperature of -25degreesC without involving any moving parts. (C) 2004 Acoustical Society of America.