Performance estimates of a helium-based thermoacoustic-Stirling chiller

This paper outlines the design, performance predictions and value proposition for a novel thermoacoustic- Stirling chiller called Trillium. Trillium, with an overall coefficient-of-performance of 1.4 at a load temperature of -30°C will be competitive in the total cost of ownership with the established vaporcompression technology for commercial refrigeration applications such as grocery store cooling. These customers are typically not as first cost sensitive as retail consumers and are subject to increasing regulatory pressure on the use of refrigerants with high global warming potential, which creates an opportunity for alternatives such as thermoacoustic-Stirling with a low total environmental warming impact.