Experimental Investigation of a Pulse Tube Refrigerator Driven by a Thermoacoustic Prime Mover

Abstract

A breadboard pulse tube refrigerator driven by a standing-wave thermoacoustic prime mover has been set up to study the relationship among stack, regenerator, and working fluids. The stack of the thermoacoustic prime mover is packed with dense-mesh wire screens because of their low cost and ease of construction. The effect of packing factor in the stack on onset temperature, refrigeration temperature, and input power has been explored. An optimum packing factor of 1.15 pieces per millimeter has been found; this is an empirical value that provides a compromise between enhancing the thermoacoustic effect, and decreasing the heat conduction and fluid-friction losses along the stack. The pulse tube cooler driven by the thermoacoustic prime mover is able to obtain refrigeration temperatures as low as 138 K and 196 K with helium and nitrogen, respectively.