Travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator

Abstract

A travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator is provided. The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator includes a housing with two ends connected by an inertance component, a porous stack, a resonator, and a piezoelectric bimorph. The housing comprises a compressible fluid and includes a first portion and a second portion. The porous stack is positioned between the first portion and the second portion. A hot heat exchanger is configured within the second portion near an end of the porous stack opposite to an end of the porous stack near to a cold exchanger configured within first portion. Further, the piezoelectric bimorph is positioned at an end of the resonator opposite to an end of the resonator connected to the second portion. The piezoelectric bimorph oscillates to resonate with the resonator to generate acoustic energy. The acoustic energy triggers travelling acoustic waves within the housing. The travelling acoustic waves traverse between the first portion and the second portion through the porous stack and the inertance component to enable the compressible fluid to transfer heat from the cold heat exchanger to the hot heat exchanger.

1 . A travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator comprising:
 a housing with two ends comprising a compressible fluid, the two ends of the housing are connected using an inertance component, wherein the housing having a first portion and a second portion;   a porous stack configured between the first portion and the second portion within the housing, the first portion comprising a hot heat exchanger positioned near to an end of the porous stack, the second portion comprising a cold heat exchanger positioned near to an end of the porous stack opposite to the end of the porous stack near to the hot heat exchanger;   a resonator having an end connected to the second portion of the housing; and   a piezoelectric bimorph configured at an end of the resonator opposite to the end of the resonator connected to the second portion, the piezoelectric bimorph oscillates upon receiving energy from an external energy source, the piezoelectric bimorph oscillates to resonate with the resonator to generate acoustic energy within the resonator,   whereby the acoustic energy triggers travelling acoustic waves within the housing thereby enabling the compressible fluid to transfer heat from the cold heat exchanger to the hot heat exchanger upon traversal of the travelling acoustic waves between the first portion and the second portion through the porous stack and the inertance component.   
     
     
         2 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the external energy source is one of an electrical energy and a solar energy. 
     
     
         3 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supplied by the external energy source to the piezoelectric bimorph is varied based on a threshold oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric bimorph for triggering the travelling acoustic waves within the housing, the threshold oscillation frequency is associated with a resonating frequency of the resonator. 
     
     
         4 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein temperature of at least one of the hot heat exchanger and the cold heat exchanger is varied to trigger the travelling acoustic waves within the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion facilitates acoustic compliance for the travelling acoustic waves within the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the inertance component facilitates acoustic inertance for the travelling acoustic waves within the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the inertance component provide a positive feedback to increase frequency of the travelling acoustic waves. 
     
     
         8 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein temperature associated with the compressible fluid is varied to trigger the travelling acoustic waves within the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the porous stack comprises at least one of metal foils, a metal mesh, a sheet of a foamed metal, and sheets of filter paper. 
     
     
         10 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible fluid is one of air and helium. 
     
     
         11 . The travelling wave thermoacoustic piezoelectric refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a configuration of the resonator is one of a straight configuration and an optimally shaped configuration.