OPTIMIZATION OF THE DESIGN OF A PIEZOELECTRICALLY DRIVEN THERMOACOUSTIC REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

Thermoacoustic refrigeration is an emerging field of technology. This technology uses sound waves to pump heat across a temperature gradient and the sound waves are produced using a piezoelectric material. The design of a piezoelectrically thermoacoustic refrigerator are explained in detail. The effects of resonant frequency, resonator tube diameter, stack length, ambient temperature and working fluid have been studied. Graphs of the parameters’ variation against the temperature gradient is plotted and maximum value is identified. Finally an optimum design is identified using the above results. Commercially thermoacoustic refrigerators are not in use, they are used only for research purposes. This paper aims at trying to obtain refrigeration effect without using any harmful refrigerants and without any moving parts through this piezoelectrically driven thermoacoustic refrigerator. Piezoelectric material usage reduces the overall cost since the alternative i.e. the electromagnetic speakers are comparatively expensive.