Patent ID: 8205459
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
1. A thermo-electro-acoustic refrigerator, comprising: a generally hollow body having first and second open ends, said body containing a working gas; a regenerator disposed within said body; a first heat exchanger disposed within said body and proximate said regenerator at a first longitudinal end thereof; a second heat exchanger disposed within said body and proximate said regenerator at a second longitudinal end thereof; an acoustic source coupled to said first end of said body such that acoustic energy from said acoustic source is directed into said body; a driver communicatively connected to said acoustic source for providing a first driving signal to said acoustic source; an acoustic energy converter coupled to said second end of said body opposite said first end relative to said regenerator such that at least a portion of the acoustic energy within said body is converted by said converter into electrical energy; and said converter electrically coupled to said acoustic source such that at least a portion of electrical energy produced by said converter is provided to and drives said acoustic source as a second driving signal; whereby said acoustic energy operates on the gas in the region of the regenerator to produce a thermal gradient which adds heat to said first heat exchanger and extracts heat from said second heat exchanger.