High performance thermoacoustic heat transformer

摘要

The invention relates to a thermoacoustic heat transformer comprising multiple thermoacoustic converters (TAEC) mutually coupled by acoustic 5 resonance or feedback tubes. Such a thermoacoustic heat transformer is aimed to convert solar or waste heat into cold or into higher grade heat. More specific, the invention relates to a thermoacoustic heat transformer comprising multiple thermoacoustic converters (TAEC) mutually coupled by acoustic resonance or feedback tubes. Accordingly, 10 to the invention, each TAEC has rectangular heat exchangers positioned along the centre line of the vessel having it's acoustic in- and output terminal perpendicular to this centre line. Four of these identical vessels, each containing a TEAC, are mutual connected by feedback tubes having a net acoustic length of a quarter wavelength 15 (1/4 k). Acoustic matching in this case avoid the need for acoustic adjustment afterward potentially reducing production cost because this embodiment of a thermoacoustic heat transformer has identical components per vessel. Streaming suppression is obtained by a dedicated shape of the junction between vessel and feedback tube 20 combined with a proper setting of the junction wall temperature. Performance of the rectangular heat exchanger performance is optimized by the introduction of dedicated gas mixture ratios and, as a result of the robustness of the concept, the function of each individual TAEC can be changed over from heat engine into a heat pump and vice versa, 25 adapting to actual operating conditions per application. 1043130