The World's First Thermoacoustic Appliance, After One Year Running

摘要

In 2006, CFIC Inc. completed a prototype thermoacoustic-Stirling refrigerator for the U.S. Army. Like most thermoacoustic devices, this one is 'green,' i.e., CFC-free and oil-free with inert gas as the working fluid. Unlike other thermoacoustic prototypes known to us, this device is configured and used as an appliance, with the thermoacoustic hardware confined to a relatively small enclosure on top of a large cabinet (17 internal cubic feet) and the operation controlled by a single on/off switch and a thermostat. There are no secondary fluid loops for heat exchange, only heat pipes and fans. In early 2007, this fridge was put on long-term test as a beverage cooler, running continuously. As of this writing (7 May 2008) the fridge has surpassed 11,000 hours of continuous operation with no observed degradation of performance. Here we present some details of construction, test data, performance history, and paths for improving efficiency.