Design of simple refrigerating device for multiparametric analysis of the thermoacoustic cooling phenomenon

Although the widespread introduction of numerical tools and the CFD models have improved the design methodology of thermoacoustic coolers and eased optimization of such units, high computational costs vitally limit their application in parametric analyses of thermoacoustic devices. Thus, experimental investigation remains essential field of research, considering design of such units. In the paper, the design and construction of an experimental setup, dedicated to perform an extensive multiparametric analyses on compact thermoacoustic devices with varying characteristic parameters, is discussed in detail. A complete design path, beginning with general consideration, with further detailed dimensioning and selection of market-available parts, ending with installation of control and data acquisition equipment, is described. Initial testing of the device, performed both computationally at the design stage and experimentally after the final setup assembling, is discussed as well. The results of the tests demonstrated ability to observe the variability in the operational parameters of the cooler following change in number of environmental and constructional parameters. The data acquired indicated vital importance of the stack porosity and frequency of the acoustic wave on performance of the thermoacoustic device, which corresponds to the data presented in the literature.