CENTER FOR ACOUSTIC COOLING TECHNOLOGY

Utah Center of Excellence

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Physics Research Home | Thermoacoustics | Quasicrystals | Dr. Orest G. Symko

Basic Approach

Heat + Resonator –> Sound = Prime Mover

Sound + Resonator –> Pumps Heat = Refrigerator

Basic Units

Operating Frequencies: Audio to Ultrasonic, 2.5 kHz – 48 kHz.

Device Size scales as 1/frequency.

Components: Resonator, Stack, Heat Exchangers, Working Gas, Driver or Heat Source.

Performance

Refrigerator: Small Scale Applications, Large Scale Applications with Arrays.

Prime Mover: Small Scale Applications, Large Scale Applications with Arrays.

Applications

Mini-Acoustic Coolers

Mini-Acoustic Heat Pumps

Generators of Sound and Ultrasound from Heat

Direct Energy converters, Heat to Electricity

Thermal Management Devices

Thermal Switches

Arrays of Thermoacoustic Devices

Waste Heat Conversion to Electricity

Features

Essentially no moving parts

Simple

Environmentally safe

Efficient

Adaptable to Microcircuits