Cool Jet- Thermoacoustic Engine with No Moving Parts

With more than $5 billion in annual sales, thermal management technologies only continue to grow alongside the burgeoning electronics industry. As increasing energy densities in electronics cause more and more heat to be emitted, the number and size of fans required to dissipate that heat has also increased. The Cool Jet device has the potential to replace more expensive and less dependable cooling fans. Cool Jet removes excess heat passively-without external energy- by harnessing the power of heat itself. Cool Jet also naturally makes a loud thrumming sound, which may be used as a warning sign in response to heat.
   
Applications
 Features and Benefits
  • Electronics cooling
  • Engine cooling
  • Audio alarm
  • Due to no moving parts, Cool Jet has a long and reliable lifetime, as well as a simple and cheap design
  • Because no external energy is required, enjoy lower costs and higher dependability than conventional fans
 
Technology
A simple thermoacoustic engine consists of a hot and cold heat exchanger, a stack, and a resonator. The stack acts, essentially, as a third heat exchanger, as it supports the gradient from the hot to the cold exchangers. Heat is converted into acoustic power in the stack as the air expands, creating a flow of air in which the hot air is exchanged for cooler air. The Cool Jet consists of two different thermoacoustic engine configurations, one based on a Helmholtz resonator and the other on a standing wave resonator.
 
Development Stage
A functioning prototype of the Cool Jet following the standing wave configuration has been successfully developed and tested. Cones placed in the open end of the resonator have the potential to improve air circulation in the Cool Jet, and designs are currently being tested to determine the optimal configuration.
 
US Patent No. 7,263,837
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
Glenn Whichard
Senior Commercialization Associate
Physical Sciences
Glenn.Whichard@usu.edu
(435) 797-9604
Reference: W05024
www.tco.usu.edu