Ben & Jerry's Thermoacustic Freezer: Eco-Friendly Refrigeration

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Ben & Jerry's has partnered with Penn State researchers to develop a thermoacoustic freezer that uses sound waves for freezing, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional refrigeration methods that release harmful gases like HCFCs and HFCs. While the thermoacoustic technology shows potential for better efficiency than current heat pumps, its practical application and market readiness remain uncertain. The design features fewer moving parts, contributing to its eco-friendly appeal. There is interest in scaling this technology for consumer use, particularly among environmentally conscious buyers. The discussion also touches on aerogels as a potential insulation solution, though their high cost may be a barrier.
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A freezer was recently invented for Ben and Jerry's by researchers at Penn State called the thermoacustic freezer. It freezes with sound waves. Ben and Jerrys likes this because it is more enviromentally friendly than regular refrigeration, since regular refrigeration gives of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) which are bad for the ozone layer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12THERM.html?ex=1103691600&en=f85f8ccd8985a322&ei=5070

http://http://www.benjerry.com/our_company/press_center/press/thermoacoustics.html

This is pretty cool. :wink:
 
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Engineering news on Phys.org
Also very efficient, with few moving parts. What weather for the news release!
 
Its actually not as efficient as typical heat pumps. The whole point was to move away from potentially damaging refridgerant gases to a green alternative.

http://www.acs.psu.edu/thermoacoustics/refrigeration/benandjerrys.htm

Here's the multimedia presentation on their site (geared to kids)
http://www.benjerry.com/assets/flash/our_company/sounds_cool/soundsCool.cfm

Cliff
 
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What is the potential theoretical efficiency of such a chiller compared to that of typical heat pumps?
 
Loren Booda said:
What is the potential theoretical efficiency of such a chiller compared to that of typical heat pumps?

According to the researchers its better than the current level of a typical heat pump manufactured today. But how much more remains to be developed on the current heat pumps is another matter, and how far they need to develop this thermoacoustic technology to bring it to market remains to be seen.

More power to them once they can get this scaled to a standard kitchen fridge or 2ton/3ton house unit with a high enough SEER to sell it to consumers. I would think there would have to be a market of enviromentally conscious consumers ready to purchase it.

Cliff
 
The answer is insulating with aerogels... Aerogels can solve the ozone issues and is a much better substitute.. only thing is it is costly.
 

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