Thermoacoustic heat pump is sound development
8th January 2023
FRANCE: A new French startup company, Equium, is reported to have developed a thermoacoustic heat pump with a COP of up to 4.
The heat pump, which is said to be able to generate domestic hot water at temperatures of up to 80ºC, works by creating an acoustic wave in a closed pressure vessel filled with helium. In low pressure areas of the wave, the gas expands and absorbs heat; in high pressure areas, the gas is compressed and expels the heat. Controlling the sound wave controls where heat is absorbed and released. The heat pump core is filled with water, which absorbs or releases that heat.
The Equium acoustic heat pump is said to have a lifespan of more than 30 years. It does not require maintenance and allows power modulation, unlike traditional high-temperature heat pumps.
