Sound waves to cool your building

SoundEnergy from Twente is developing a sustainable system that can cool and heat buildings using sound waves. Their Thermo Acoustic Energy Converter (THEAC) can save 30 to 50 per cent energy for large complexes, offices and factories. Without electricity, CO2 neutral and without (toxic) coolants. Oost NL (using the Innovation Fund Twente) and Cottonwood invested in SoundEnergy to further develop the system and market it worldwide.

 

SoundEnergy’s THEAC-25 system works as follows: vacuum tube collectors are placed on the roof of a building. These collectors heat water leading to the THEAC-25 system. The THEAC-25 system then uses soundwaves to cool the hot water, which can then be used the cool buildings. In winter the panels produce warm water, which can us used to heat buildings, reducing natural gas. The THEAC-25 system has successfully been tested in a testing environment. In 2015 SoundEnergy won the Young Technology Award.

 

• Pieter Rhemrev, manager of the ‘Capital’ business unit at Oost NL, is impressed by SoundEnergy’s system. “Cooling and heating large buildings require a lot of energy. SoundEnergy has developed an intelligent system that saves energy and natural gas in both summer and winter. We see great worldwide growth opportunities for SoundEnergy", says Rhemrev.
• Ray Quintana, General Partner of Cottonwood Technology Fund: “We are impressed by the advanced technological capabilities that the system offers to compete in many application areas. The THEAC-25 offers a unique combination of energy saving, low costs, zero carbon footprint and a contribution to the circular economy.”