Patent attributes
A thermoacoustic transducer includes a mechanical converter providing power conversion between acoustic and mechanical power and includes a diaphragm defining a compression and an expansion chamber. A thermal converter including a flow passage having a regenerator portion is thermally coupled for conversion between acoustic and thermal power. The mechanical converter is in fluid communication with the flow passage through transmission ducts completing an acoustic power loop having a volume containing a working gas. A transmission duct cross-sectional area is less than a regenerator flow area, which is less than a diaphragm surface area. The diaphragm undergoes resilient displacement causing pressure oscillations within the volume. The power loop is configured to cause one location along the loop to have anti-phase pressure oscillations to pressure oscillations in the mechanical converter.
