Designing a Thermoacoustic Cooler for Energy Applications: Experimental Insights

Thermoacoustic devices, such as refrigerators and heat pumps, present unique measurement challenges due to the simultaneous presence of rapidly fluctuating acoustic parameters and more stable thermal variables. Accurate and informative measurements during operation are crucial for developing effective control algorithms and optimizing performance under specific conditions. However, issues like inappropriate sampling frequencies and excessive data storage can lead to unintended averaging, compromising measurement quality. This study introduces a comprehensive experimental procedure aimed at enhancing the reliability of measurements in thermoacoustic systems. The approach encompasses meticulous experimental design, identification of measurement uncertainties and influencing factors during standard operation, and a statistical uncertainty analysis. Experimental findings reveal a significant reduction in temperature measurement uncertainty with increased thermoacoustic channel length and highlight the substantial impact of device structural features on performance. These insights are instrumental for refining measurement protocols and advancing the development of efficient thermoacoustic technologies.