Heat-driven thermoacoustic cryocooler operating at liquid hydrogen temperature with a unique coupler Available to Purchase

A heat-driven thermoacoustic cryocooler is constructed. A unique coupler composed of a tube, reservoir, and elastic diaphragm is introduced to couple a traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine (TE) and two-stage pulse tube refrigerator (PTR). The amplitude of the pressure wave generated in the engine is first amplified in the coupler and the wave then passes into the refrigerator to pump heat. The TE uses nitrogen as its working gas and the PTR still uses helium as its working gas. With this coupler, the efficiency of the system is doubled. The engine and coupler match at a much lower operating frequency, which is of great benefit for the PTR to obtain a lower cooling temperature. The coupling place between the coupler and engine is also optimized. The onset problem is effectively solved. With these improvements, the heat-driven thermoacoustic cryocooler reaches a lowest temperature of $18.1K$⁠, which is the demonstration of heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigeration technology used for cooling at liquid hydrogen temperatures.