Design and optimisation of a thermoacoustic cooler box for portable refrigeration system

Abdul Kadir, Mohamad Ilyas (2025) Design and optimisation of a thermoacoustic cooler box for portable refrigeration system. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Thermoacoustic technology emerged as an efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solution. In recent years, the innovation of the thermoacoustic cooler box evolved into a groundbreaking refrigeration solution through detailed design and optimization techniques. Current cooling technologies struggled to provide high efficiency in cooling and effective thermal management, necessitating the development of superior cooling systems. This research aimed to analyze and innovate a portable thermoacoustic cooler box that outperformed existing technology. The focus was on configuring the most effective cooling performance enhancement with proper thermal management. This design approach involved studying and analyzing two different concept designs using copper and aluminum as the heat exchanger materials, positioning them near the loudspeaker (also known as the driver) and at the end of the resonator tube. After thorough evaluation, Concept Design 1 was selected, incorporating copper heat exchangers due to copper's high thermal conductivity, which enhanced cooling efficiency. The primary components of this final design included the loudspeaker as the acoustic driver, a PVC quarter-wave resonator, and Mylar, forming the stack. The aluminum cooling plates offered important properties such as excellent heat transfer, lightweight construction, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, CAD software was used to test the concept design through thermal test. The result analyzed the generation and propagation of sound waves within the resonator and the heat transfer between the stack and the heat exchangers. The expected deliverables of this study were improved cooling performance and effective thermal management, validated by the methodological approach. Utilizing copper's thermal benefits made the thermoacoustic cooler box a feasible and practical mobile refrigeration solution, comparable to modern technological alternatives. The outcomes of this study significantly contributed to the development of thermoacoustic cooling technology, offering an excellent alternative for various cooling applications.

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