{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets are written by Xem Studio from the cited sources and are free to use (CC BY 4.0, attribute 'Xem Studio'). Linked files belong to their publishers under the license shown; Xem Studio does not host them. 'license_verified: false' means the license shown is from memory or the publisher's page as last read and should be confirmed at the link before commercial use.",
 "slug": "thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger",
 "name": "Thermoacoustic heat exchangers, hot and cold, parallel plate, for 1.5, 2 and 3 in tri-clamp spools",
 "kind": "hardware",
 "category": "Stirling engines",
 "group": "Thermoacoustic & fluidyne",
 "year": null,
 "question": "What heat exchanger goes on each face of a thermoacoustic stack in a tri-clamp spool?",
 "tags": [
  "thermoacoustic",
  "heat exchanger",
  "parallel plate",
  "stack",
  "tri-clamp",
  "hot heat exchanger",
  "cold heat exchanger",
  "stirling",
  "long earth society"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "thermoacoustic heat exchanger",
  "thermoacoustic engine heat exchanger dimensions",
  "parallel plate heat exchanger stack",
  "hot and cold heat exchanger thermoacoustic",
  "thermoacoustic heat exchanger stl",
  "tri clamp thermoacoustic heat exchanger"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": true,
 "free_files": 6,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Parallel-plate heat exchangers on both stack faces (Swift), plate gap and thickness equal to the spiral stack's channel; disc drawn at the 16 ga tri-clamp spool bore (1.5 in = 34.8 mm, 2 in = 47.5, 3 in = 72.9)",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "A thermoacoustic stack only holds the temperature gradient; the heat exchangers on its two faces move heat into and out of the gas. The hot exchanger sits against the stack's hot face (the closed-end side of a λ/4 resonator), the cold one against the cold face, both inside the same spool bore.",
   "Each exchanger is a disc Ø34.8 / Ø47.5 / Ø72.9 (the 1.5 / 2 / 3 in spool bore, exact) × 10 mm long: a 1.0 mm outer ring holding parallel plates 0.4 mm thick at 1.4 mm pitch, one plate on the axis, 1.0 mm gas gaps between them. That is the spiral stack's 1.0 mm gap and 0.4 mm wall (stack-spiral-*-g1.0), so the gas channel keeps its width from stack to exchanger.",
   "The hot and cold files of a size are the same geometry; there are two so each stack face has its own. What they are made of, and how heat reaches the ring and plates, is the maker's choice: the file is the geometry.",
   "Exact dimensions: the disc OD is the spool bore with no allowance, listed under Mating features with its fit. Plate thickness, gap and ring width are design dimensions and stay as drawn.",
   "LES: I drew these for the stacks on this shelf: same spools, same 1.0 mm channel."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "spool",
    "bore_mm (= exchanger OD)",
    "length_mm",
    "ring_mm",
    "plate_mm",
    "gap_mm",
    "pitch_mm",
    "plates",
    "open_area_pct"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "1.5",
     34.8,
     10,
     1,
     0.4,
     1,
     1.4,
     23,
     63.5
    ],
    [
     "2",
     47.5,
     10,
     1,
     0.4,
     1,
     1.4,
     33,
     65.5
    ],
    [
     "3",
     72.9,
     10,
     1,
     0.4,
     1,
     1.4,
     51,
     67.5
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Thermoacoustic heat exchangers, hot and cold, parallel plate, for 1.5, 2 and 3 in tri-clamp spools — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/  (CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Parallel-plate heat exchangers on both stack faces (Swift), plate gap and thickness equal to the spiral stack's channel; disc drawn at the 16 ga tri-clamp spool bore (1.5 in = 34.8 mm, 2 in = 47.5, 3 in = 72.9)\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- A thermoacoustic stack only holds the temperature gradient; the heat exchangers on its two faces move heat into and out of the gas. The hot exchanger sits against the stack's hot face (the closed-end side of a λ/4 resonator), the cold one against the cold face, both inside the same spool bore.\n- Each exchanger is a disc Ø34.8 / Ø47.5 / Ø72.9 (the 1.5 / 2 / 3 in spool bore, exact) × 10 mm long: a 1.0 mm outer ring holding parallel plates 0.4 mm thick at 1.4 mm pitch, one plate on the axis, 1.0 mm gas gaps between them. That is the spiral stack's 1.0 mm gap and 0.4 mm wall (stack-spiral-*-g1.0), so the gas channel keeps its width from stack to exchanger.\n- The hot and cold files of a size are the same geometry; there are two so each stack face has its own. What they are made of, and how heat reaches the ring and plates, is the maker's choice: the file is the geometry.\n- Exact dimensions: the disc OD is the spool bore with no allowance, listed under Mating features with its fit. Plate thickness, gap and ring width are design dimensions and stay as drawn.\n- LES: I drew these for the stacks on this shelf: same spools, same 1.0 mm channel.\n\nspool  bore_mm (= exchanger OD)  length_mm  ring_mm  plate_mm  gap_mm  pitch_mm  plates  open_area_pct\n1.5  34.8  10.0  1.0  0.4  1.0  1.4  23  63.5\n2  47.5  10.0  1.0  0.4  1.0  1.4  33  65.5\n3  72.9  10.0  1.0  0.4  1.0  1.4  51  67.5\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Wikipedia: Thermoacoustic heat engine — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoacoustic_heat_engine\n- G. W. Swift (LANL): Thermoacoustics: A Unifying Perspective for Some Engines and Refrigerators (textbook; DeltaEC software free) — web, software — LANL [verify license at link] — https://www.lanl.gov/org/ddste/aldps/materials-physics-applications/condensed-matter-magnet-science/thermoacoustics/\n- Long Earth Society: Engine builds — web, video — LES site — https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/\n\nFree files (CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 6 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Wikipedia",
   "title": "Thermoacoustic heat engine",
   "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoacoustic_heat_engine",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "G. W. Swift (LANL)",
   "title": "Thermoacoustics: A Unifying Perspective for Some Engines and Refrigerators (textbook; DeltaEC software free)",
   "url": "https://www.lanl.gov/org/ddste/aldps/materials-physics-applications/condensed-matter-magnet-science/thermoacoustics/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "software"
   ],
   "license": "LANL",
   "license_verified": false,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Long Earth Society",
   "title": "Engine builds",
   "url": "https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/",
   "formats": [
    "web",
    "video"
   ],
   "license": "LES site",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "thermoacoustic-stack",
  "tri-clamp-spool",
  "tri-clamp-end-cap",
  "regenerator-mesh-disc",
  "stirling-configurations-guide"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [
  {
   "feature": "exchanger OD",
   "exact": "spool bore (34.8 / 47.5 / 72.9)",
   "mates": "tri-clamp spool bore",
   "fit": "socket",
   "files": "heat-exchanger-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "plates / gas gaps",
   "exact": "0.4 plates, 1.0 gaps, 1.4 pitch",
   "mates": "stack channel (stack-spiral-*-g1.0)",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "heat-exchanger-"
  },
  {
   "feature": "outer ring",
   "exact": "1.0 wall",
   "mates": "holds the plates",
   "fit": "designed",
   "files": "heat-exchanger-"
  }
 ],
 "fit_classes": {
  "press": "stays put: pin, tube, bearing or magnet held by interference. Typical FDM: hole +0.0 to +0.1 mm on diameter.",
  "slide": "assembles by hand and is held by a grub, pinch or clamp: shaft in a hub, rod in a socket, spigot in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.2 mm.",
  "run": "turns or slides in use: pin in a link, rod through a guide. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "socket": "large sliding fit: syringe barrel, sleeve, bobbin in a bore. Typical FDM: +0.3 mm.",
  "clamp": "split part that closes on the mating part with screws: make it at size.",
  "designed": "a gap that is part of the design (piston fit option, displacer gap, air gap): do not change."
 },
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "What does a heat exchanger do in a thermoacoustic engine?",
   "a": "It moves heat into the gas at the stack's hot face and out of it at the cold face; the stack between them only holds the temperature gradient."
  },
  {
   "q": "What plate spacing should a thermoacoustic heat exchanger have?",
   "a": "The same channel as the stack: here 1.0 mm gaps between 0.4 mm plates (1.4 mm pitch), matching the spiral stack's 1.0 mm gap and 0.4 mm sheet."
  },
  {
   "q": "What size heat exchanger fits a 2 inch tri-clamp spool?",
   "a": "Ø47.5 × 10 mm, the 2 in spool bore exactly, with a 1.0 mm outer ring and 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch. The 1.5 in is Ø34.8 and the 3 in Ø72.9, same plates and length."
  },
  {
   "q": "Are the hot and cold heat exchangers different?",
   "a": "Not in shape: both files of a size are the same geometry, one for each face of the stack."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "heat-exchanger-hot-1.5in",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio)",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-hot-1.5in.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-hot-1.5in.stl",
   "note": "hot heat exchanger for the 1.5 in spool: Ø34.8 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the hot face of the stack"
  },
  {
   "file": "heat-exchanger-cold-1.5in",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-cold-1.5in.stl",
   "note": "cold heat exchanger for the 1.5 in spool: Ø34.8 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the cold face of the stack"
  },
  {
   "file": "heat-exchanger-hot-2in",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-hot-2in.stl",
   "note": "hot heat exchanger for the 2 in spool: Ø47.5 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the hot face of the stack"
  },
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-cold-2in.stl",
   "note": "cold heat exchanger for the 2 in spool: Ø47.5 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the cold face of the stack"
  },
  {
   "file": "heat-exchanger-hot-3in",
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-hot-3in.stl",
   "note": "hot heat exchanger for the 3 in spool: Ø72.9 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the hot face of the stack"
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   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/heat-exchanger-cold-3in.stl",
   "note": "cold heat exchanger for the 3 in spool: Ø72.9 × 10 disc (the spool bore, exact), 1 mm outer ring, 0.4 mm plates at 1.4 mm pitch with 1 mm gas gaps (the spiral stack's channel); goes on the cold face of the stack"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/thermoacoustic-heat-exchanger/index.md"
}