Cooling Down Using Sound Waves

Research at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) could lead to the replacement of mechanical compressors in refrigerators and air conditioners. The new technology could lead to a threefold increase in the efficiency of these devices. The principle is quite simple – thermoacoustic compressors work in the same way as traditional mechanical compressors. They compress or expand gases with high-intensity sound waves. Compressing gases generates heat, while letting the gases expand cools things off.

Read the full article at Wired.com

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About Chris Mason

Chris graduated from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1983. His interest in software began with a Sinclair ZX80 and hours spent typing in programs from magazines. Chris now leads the development of Prosig’s DATS software package, writes for the Noise and Vibration Measurement Blog and works on social media projects. He is a technical director of Prosig Ltd.