Design and calibration of an electrodynamic driver for the Space Thermoacoustic Refrigerator (STAR)

The objective of the STAR project is to test and space qualify a continuous cycle cryogenic refrigeration system for the cooling of sensors and electronics based upon the thermoacoustic heat pumping effect. This thesis describes the design, assembly, and calibration of the electrodynamic driver and its associated performance monitoring and control instrumentation. The electroacoustic efficiency of the driver is measured under different operating conditions utilizing a prototype refrigerator resonator. These results are then compared to modelled efficiencies derived from a computer simulation program that uses the independently-measured individual component parameters to predict the driver performance. Good agreement between measured and predicted efficiencies is observed. Highest electroacoustic efficiencies are shown to occur when the resonance frequencies of the driver and resonator are most closely matched. A maximum electroacoustic efficiency of 50% is achieved under these conditions. More important however, is that the efficiency decreases by only 10% over a 30% bandwidth about resonance.

Department dc:contributor.department

Engineering Acoustics

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Authors dc:creator

• Harris, David Anthony.
• Volkert, Richard Eugene

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hofler, Thomas J.
• Garrett, Steven L.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner
• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/26965

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/26965