Review of flow-through design in thermoacoustic refrigeration

Abstract

The design and functionality of thermoacoustic refrigerators has been the focus of considerable attention from the research community since the 1980's. This environmentally friendly technology has the potential to become another option for refrigeration, as improvements in the design and technology are realised. Heat-exchangers are used to increase the efficiency of thermoacoustic systems, however they are typically complex to manufacture, expensive, and limitations of heat-exchangers exist in terms of efficiency and durability. Reducing or eliminating the use of heat-exchangers through the use of flow-through designs dramatically reduces the cost and complexity of thermoacoustic systems, potentially with minimal efficiency loss. In this review paper of flow-through thermoacoustic refrigeration, the developments of flow-through design and its potential benefits will be discussed.