The Performance Optimization of a Thermoacoustic Refrigeration Micro-Cycle

Performance analysis and optimization of the thermoacoustic refrigeration micro-cycle which is important to the energy conversion between thermal and acoustic through the thermoacoustic effect has been performed using finite time thermodynamics. The analytical expressions about the ecological function, as well as the relation between the ecological and the COP are derived. The relations between the cooling load and the COP, exergy output rate and the COP, the exergy loss rate and the COP, as well as the ecological criterion and the COP relation of the micro-cycle are investigated by numerical examples. The results obtained herein can provide some theoretical guidance for the design of a real thermoacoustic cooler.