Patent ID: 6711905
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: F02G,F24V,F25B,F28D

Abstract:
A thermoacoustic engine for acoustically driving a thermal exchange, the thermoacoustic engine comprising:a hollow drive tube; a heat transfer medium partially contained in the hollow drive tube; an acoustic resonator connected to and opening into the hollow drive tube, the acoustic resonator being adapted to store acoustic energy and deliver at least one acoustic wave to the heat transfer medium, the at least one acoustic wave imparting motion to the heat transfer medium; and a first thermal element including: a first channel positioned to cross and open into the hollow drive tube, the first channel being sized to decrease propagation of the at least one acoustic wave within the first channel; and a first working fluid at least partially contained within the first channel, wherein the first working fluid is adapted to interact and undergo thermal exchange with the heat transfer medium by conduction.