HumCooler: Introduction
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Forward: Understanding the HumCooler
What is it?
The HumCooler is a kind of thermoacoustic
engine. It's driven by heat, any heat source will do, like solar
power or a propane burner. It works with sound waves (no moving
parts) to cool down whatever you want. It can work like a
refrigerator or an air conditioner.
Who cares? Why is it important?
Like the geodesic dome, the HumCooler promises revolutionary benefits
for rural living in areas of economic hardship. Millions of people in
Asia, Africa and the Third World need refrigeration for storage of
food and medicine. The HumCooler offers the promise of simple, rugged
refrigerators that never wear out, and can be built with limited
skills, from low tech parts, in any machine shop or garage, without
need for precision tolerances or environmentally dangerous chemicals.
How does it work?
Most heat engines (including refrigerators as well as the engine in
your car) are based on the Carnot cycle, in
which a working fluid runs through a cycle of pressure and temperature
changes. What makes the HumCooler different is that there's no
pistons or valves to move the fluid around. Instead, it uses sound
waves to compress and move the working fluid, a resonator to confine and amplify the sound waves,
and a special device called a stack to create
a heat engine that can do useful work.
How can I get one?
Right now there are no vendors, you have to build your own. Basic
plans are available HERE, the plans are free, and they always will be.
A textbook including detailed
analysis and design software is available to purchase online. In the
near future, we hope to offer HumCooler kits or complete systems for
sale. Watch this space!
This page maintained by
Wil Howitt
Last updated 4 June 2003