Gas chromatography system, electrodynamic driving unit, and other equipment for thermoacoustic cooling research

热声冷却是一种相对较新的冷却技术，它利用对环境无害的气体混合物作为工作流体。大振幅声波是在封闭容器中使用电动致动器产生的。气体颗粒通过多孔基板（称为“堆”）的周期性渗透，通过类似于虔诚的布雷顿冷却循环的过程产生热泵。高效的移动磁体驱动器被要求为一种新的双驱动器热声冷却器提供动力，该冷却器将在一个配套的研究项目中开发。需要高电压和高电流功率放大器来操作驱动器。为了监测驱动的电力和由此产生的压力，需要功率分析仪和动态压力传感器。还要求将带有加热器及其电源控制器的再循环冷水机连接到热交换器，并用于在二次回路中提供温度控制的水流。需要气相色谱系统来评估所用气体混合物的均匀性及其对系统性能的影响。研究项目的最终目标是更好地理解和进一步发展这种新的冷却技术，使其高效和坚固。作为研究计划的一部分，将开发一个模块化原型，用于验证理论模型的预测，演示技术，并作为各种组件的测试平台。该设备将用于表征流效应，流效应尚未被很好地理解，并且被认为是阻碍热声设备效率的因素之一。将开发新的方法来测量振荡气体与换热器之间的热能流动和换热。这些发现将有助于确定性能瓶颈，并提高效率，这是该技术取得成功所必需的。

Thermoacoustic cooling is a relatively new cooling technology that utilizes environmentally-benign gas mixtures as the working fluids.  Large amplitude sound waves are produced in enclosed vessels using electro-dynamic actuators.  The periodic percolation of the gas particles through a porous substrate known as the "stack" create heat pumping through a process similar to a revere Brayton cooling cycle. Highly efficient moving magnet drivers are requested to power a new dual-driver thermoacoustic cooler that will be developed in a companion research program.  High voltage and current power amplifiers are requested to operate the drivers.  To monitor the electrical power to the drivers and the resulting pressure from them, power analyzers and dynamic pressure sensors are requested.  A recirculating chiller with heaters and their power controllers are also requested to be connected to heat exchangers and used to provide a temperature controlled water flow in the secondary loop.  A gas chromatography system is requested to assess the homogeneity of the gas mixture used and its effects on system performance. The ultimate goal of the research program for the requested equipments is to better understand and further develop this new cooling technology to make it to be efficient and robust.  As part of the research plan, a modular prototype will be developed, and used to verify predictions from theoretical models, to demonstrate the technology, and as a test bed for various components.  The equipments will be used to characterize streaming effects, which are not well understood, and are considered one of the factors that hamper the efficiency of thermoacoustic devices.  Novel methods to measure the thermal energy flow and heat transfer between the oscillating gas and the heat exchanger will be developed.  The findings will help identify performance bottle necks, and lead to improved efficiency, which is required for this technology to be successful.