Measurement of cryogenic regenerator characteristics under oscillating flow and pulsating pressure

This paper describes an experimental apparatus developed to investigate detailed thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of a regenerator at cryogenic temperature under oscillating flow and pulsating pressure conditions. Cold-end of the regenerator is maintained at approximately 85 K for G-M cryocooler type and 100 K for Stirling cryocooler type operations by means of two cryogenic heat exchangers. At both ends of the regenerator, fine hot wire probes are installed to measure the fast oscillating gas temperature and mass flow rate. The gas temperature sensors installed very close to the ends of the regenerator matrix assure precise gas temperature measurement in the regenerator. In this study, thermal and hydrodynamic behaviors of the well-defined wire-screen regenerator are fully characterized. First, pressure drop characteristics are discussed for different frequencies under room temperature. Second, ineffectiveness of the regenerator is obtained for different cold-end temperatures. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.