Modelling of a stirling cryocooler regenerator under steady and steady _ periodic flow conditions using a correlation based method

Cryogenic Engineering Conference 2017

材料科学;物理学

Kumar, V. V. Kishor^1,2 ; Kuzhiveli, B.T.^1

Centre for Advanced Studies in Cryogenics (CASC), National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala

673601, India^1

Government College of Engineering Kannur, Kerala

670563, India^2

关键词: Governing equations;    Hydrodynamic interaction;    Hydrodynamic properties;    Inertial coefficients;    Pressure amplitudes;    Regenerator materials;    Stirling cryocoolers;    Thermal transport parameters;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/278/1/012046/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1757-899X/278/1/012046

学科分类：材料科学（综合）

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

The performance of a Stirling cryocooler depends on the thermal and hydrodynamic properties of the regenerator in the system. CFD modelling is the best technique to design and predict the performance of a Stirling cooler. The accuracy of the simulation results depend on the hydrodynamic and thermal transport parameters used as the closure relations for the volume averaged governing equations. A methodology has been developed to quantify the viscous and inertial resistance terms required for modelling the regenerator as a porous medium in Fluent. Using these terms, the steady and steady - periodic flow of helium through regenerator was modelled and simulated. Comparison of the predicted and experimental pressure drop reveals the good predictive power of the correlation based method. For oscillatory flow, the simulation could predict the exit pressure amplitude and the phase difference accurately. Therefore the method was extended to obtain the Darcy permeability and Forchheimer's inertial coefficient of other wire mesh matrices applicable to Stirling coolers. Simulation of regenerator using these parameters will help to better understand the thermal and hydrodynamic interactions between working fluid and the regenerator material, and pave the way to contrive high performance, ultra-compact free displacers used in miniature Stirling cryocoolers in the future.