Quantum degeneracy effect on performance of a thermoacoustic refrigeration micro-cycle

Abstract

A new model consisting of two isobaric branches connected by two straight-line branches is established to investigate the thermodynamic performance of a thermoacoustic refrigeration micro-cycle. The influence of quantum degeneracy on the dimensionless cooling load R* of the cycle is analysed based on the correction equation of state of an ideal Bose gas. The relationship between the dimensionless cooling load R* and the coefficient of performance (COP) ε is obtained under the condition of weak gas degeneracy. The results show that the lowest temperature of the working fluid in the thermoacoustic refrigeration micro-cycle has to be higher than the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature so that the cycle can be carried out. Under the condition of weak gas degeneracy, the dimensionless cooling load R* is a monotonically increasing function of the COP ε, the initial pressure p0 and the parameter y. Under the condition of weak gas degeneracy, the COP ε is the same as that of the classical ideal gas, whereas the dimensionless cooling load R* is larger than that of the classical ideal gas. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.