초록 ▼

A traveling-wave device is provided with the conventional moving pistons eliminated. Acoustic energy circulates in a direction through a fluid within a torus. A side branch may be connected to the torus for transferring acoustic energy into or out of the torus. A regenerator is located in the torus

A traveling-wave device is provided with the conventional moving pistons eliminated. Acoustic energy circulates in a direction through a fluid within a torus. A side branch may be connected to the torus for transferring acoustic energy into or out of the torus. A regenerator is located in the torus with a first heat exchanger located on a first side of the regenerator downstream of the regenerator relative to the direction of the circulating acoustic energy; and a second heat exchanger located on an upstream side of the regenerator. The improvement is a mass flux suppressor located in the torus to minimize time-averaged mass flux of the fluid. In one embodiment, the device further includes a thermal buffer column in the torus to thermally isolate the heat exchanger that is at the operating temperature of the device.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A pistonless traveling-wave device havinga. a torus for circulating acoustic energy in a direction through a fluid;b. a regenerator located in the torus;c. a first heat exchanger located on a downstream side of the regenerator relative to the direction of the circulating

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A pistonless traveling-wave device havinga. a torus for circulating acoustic energy in a direction through a fluid;b. a regenerator located in the torus;c. a first heat exchanger located on a downstream side of the regenerator relative to the direction of the circulating acoustic energy; andd. a second heat exchanger located on an upstream side of the regenerator; rein the improvement comprises:e. a mass-flux suppressor located in the torus to minimize time averaged mass flux of the fluid.