Thermoacoustic power effect on the refrigeration performance of thermal separators

• Published in: Cryogenics (Guildford) Vol. 43; no. 9; pp. 493 - 500
• Main Authors: Liang, S.B., Li, X.L., Ma, H.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cryogenic flow; Cryogenics; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Oscillating gas; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Thermal separators; Thermoacoustics; Oscillating gas; Cryogenic flow; Thermoacoustics; Thermal separators; Thermal separator; Cryogeic flow; Cryogenics; Thermoacoustic effect; Performance; Refrigeration
• ISSN: 0011-2275; 1879-2235
• DOI: 10.1016/S0011-2275(03)00126-7

An experimental investigation on the refrigeration processes occurring in a receiving tube of a thermal separator was conducted in order to determine the primary factors affecting the refrigeration performance of this new type of refrigerator. In the current investigation, the gas in the system is divided into the oscillating gas and driving gas. While the compression/expansion of the oscillating gas caused by the driving gas determines the refrigeration process occurring in the receiving tube of the thermal separator, the temperature gradient on the receiving tube significantly affects the acoustic power generation and refrigeration performance. Experimental results demonstrate that when the tube–wall temperature difference near the open end of the receiving tube increases, the refrigeration coefficient increases. Using the information presented in the paper, a new cryogenic refrigeration system was developed, and the experimental data shows that the temperature of the cryogenic air flow in the system could reach −130 °C within 50 min. It suggests that the thermal separator investigated in the paper can be employed in the field of cryogenic engineering.