Thermoacoustic Cooler Means Green-Friendly Icecream

MuddyRiverDoc writes "National Public Radio aired a story describing ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry's sponsored development of a thermoacoustic refrigeration technology, which uses helium gas subjected to ultra-loud 173 db sound to chill an ice cream cooler. The NPR interview and pictures of the Penn State researchers who did the development is available. There is also a brief description of the technique at the Penn State Live site and at the BBC, and an over-cute Ben & Jerry's broadband presentation, Sounds Cool!, that does however provide a useful diagram. Thermoacoustic refrigeration has been a focus of research for more than a decade at Purdue and elsewhere, and has reportedly flown on the Space Shuttle, but this prototype is reportedly the first that demonstrates the size, efficiency, and quiet operation that promises successful commercial introduction. Cool Sound Industries, Inc. is reportedly exclusively licensed for this thermoacoustic technology."

Comments

Re:Microwave Fridge

[MadBiologist]

Too bad you didn't patent the idea then.... you could be just like SCO.

thermal energy back into microwaves in 6 steps

[oliverthered]

Where do you think the energy for making the microwaves comes from in the first place?

1: invade Iraq.
2: Steal the Oil
3: Burn it to produce CO2 other greenhouse gases and high-pressure steam (that's the heat bit).
4: run it througn some turbines attached to alternators.
5: send the electricity down wires, loosing some of it as you go.
6: out of the transformer, down the local loop and into your microwave.