Seminar Presentation

on
Thermoacoustic refrigeration
Prepared by : Arjun Sanghvi
Roll no : U15ME226
Guide : Dr H.B. Naik
The Principle of refrigeration
Principle of thermoacoustics

• It is based on the principle that sound waves

are pressure waves and they propagate
causing compression and rarefactions in the
medium.
• In the region of compression the pressure is
high, and in the region of rarefaction the
pressure is low.
• The sound waves are adiabatic in nature. Thus
in the region of compression we get higher
pressure and in the region of rarefaction we
get lower pressure.
Thermoacoustic
refrigeration
cycle
 • 
Thermal penetration depth (𝜹)
The thermal penetration depth is the distance heat travels
through air in one second.

Important The Prandtl number (Pr)

formulas and The Prandtl number is a dimensionless number, defined as

the ratio of momentum diffusivity to thermal diffusivity.

terminologies 𝑃𝑟 = 𝜇Cp /𝑘
Speed of sound in a medium -
The speed of sound (V) in a medium is given by
 kdensity
– thermal conductivity of the gas
 

𝜇 – dynamic viscosity

T – Temperature
M – Molar mass
 Working gas
Stack
Components of a
thermoacoustic
refrigeration Loudspeaker
system
Resonator tube
Heat exchanger
 Sr no Property Value
1 Specific heat ratio High
2 Prandtl number Low
3 Thermal conductivity high
Working Gas 4 Viscosity Low
5 Sound speed High

Desirable properties of the working gas

In addition to all these, the working gas should be inert from the point of view of safety of
life, environment friendly, readily available and cheap.
Gas selected: Helium or a mixture of helium-argon
Reason: Helium has the highest thermal conductivity and sound speed among inert
gases.
 Sr no Property Value
1 Thermal conductivity Low
2 Specific heat capacity Higher than the
working gas
3 Spacing between the stack About 2.5 times
the thermal
Stack penetration depth

Desirable properties of the stack material

Material selected: Mylar

Reason: low thermal conductivity and ready availability at a cheap price.
 Parallel plate stack Spiral plate stack

Different types of stacks

Loudspeaker
 Sr no Property Value
1 Length of the tube L=c/2f
2 Acoustic losses low
Resonator tube
3 Thermal conductivity low

Desirable properties of the resonator tube

Material selected: Glass or PVC tube

Reason: low acoustic losses
Heat Exchanger
 Variation of temperature difference
with frequency for different stack
spacings
Performance
characteristics Variation of COP with heating load
of for difference acoustic powers.
thermoacoustic
refrigerator
Variation of Temperature
difference with heating load for
different stack spacings
 Variation of temperature
difference with frequency
for different stack spacings
Variation of COP with
heating load for
difference acoustic
powers.

𝐶𝑂𝑃=𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
  𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 / 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Variation of Temperature
difference with heating
load for different stack
spacings
 A/C and Refrigeration Technologies Compared
Technology Recently Introduced Recently Introduced
Current Technology
Under Development Technology Technology

Advantages of
Relative
Vapor
Performance Thermoacoustics Hydrocarbons Carbon Dioxide
Compression
Measures
thermoacoustic Ozone Depletion
None CFCs, HCFCs None None
refrigeration
Potential

Greenhouse Effects None Very High Low Low

system over Energy Efficiency -
other
High Moderate Moderate High Moderate
power grid
Energy Efficiency -
conventional solar power
100% Not Practical Not Practical Not Practical

technologies
Operating Mode Proportional On/Off On/Off On/Off
Initial Equipment
Low High High Very High
Costs

Maintenance Costs Low Moderate Moderate Moderately High

Operating Life
Very Long Moderate Moderate Moderate
Cycle
 Applications

Thermoacoustic Refrigerator used for

5W Space Thermoacoustic Refrigerator
storing ice cream
 Low efficiency as compared to VCRS

Low cooling capacity

Disadvantages
of
Thermoacoustic
Lack of interest and funding from the industries
Refrigeration due to ther concentration for developing
System alternative gases for CFCs
Not enough expertise among people
 Thermo acoustic refrigeration is an innovative alternative for cooling that is
both clean and inexpensive.

This latest breakthrough, coupled with other developments in the design of

high power, single frequency loud speakers and reciprocating electric
generators suggests that thermo acoustics may soon emerge as an
Conclusion environmentally attractive way to power hybrid electric vehicles, capture
solar energy, refrigerate food, air condition buildings, liquefy industrial gases
and serve in other capacities that are yet to be imagined.

In future let us hope these thermo acoustic devices which promise to

improve everyone’s standard of living while helping to protect the planet
might soon take over other costly, less durable and polluting engines and
pumps.
THANK YOU