Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319

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Cryogenics
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cryogenics

Heat transfer characteristics of oscillating flow regenerators in cryogenic

temperature range below 20 K
Yanyan Chen a,b, Ercang Luo a,*, Wei Dai a
a
The Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS, Beijing 100190, China
b
Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Linearized thermoacoustic model considering temperature oscillation in the solid wall is applied to ana-
Received 7 November 2008 lyze the heat transfer characteristics of compressible oscillating flow in parallel-plate and circular-tube
Accepted 3 March 2009 regenerators. In particular, the study focus results of heat transfer analysis are applicable in lower cryo-
genic temperature ranges (<20 K). Complete expression for Nusselt number is derived and it is shown to
be the function of six nondimensional parameters when the shape of the regenerator is fixed. These
Keywords: parameters are discussed, respectively. Simplified expressions of the Nusselt numbers for both parallel
E. Regenerator
plates and circular tubes structured regenerators are derived. Heat transfer characteristics can be evalu-
C. Lower cryogenic temperature
C. Oscillating flow
ated via these simple expressions. Possible approaches of enhancing heat transfer in a thermoacoustic
C. Heat transfer regenerator are discussed.
A. Parallel plate Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A. Circular tube

1. Introduction
A regenerator is one of the most important components for
thermoacoustic devices where thermoacoustic effect happens. Sev-
eral papers [1–6] including our previous paper [1] concerning the-
oretical analysis on the heat transfer characteristics in parallel-
plate and circular-tube regenerator were based on the assumption
of zero temperature oscillation in the solid of the regenerator that
is valid only if the heat capacity of the solid is much larger than
that of the fluid. This is not the real case for extremely low temper-
atures (e.g., <20 K) at which the solid heat capacity sharply goes
down. Lu and Cheng [7] derived an expression of Nusselt number
considering the solid temperature oscillation but without detailed
study on the parameters influencing heat transfer characteristics.
In addition, when applying their simplified result of Nusselt num-
ber to the regenerator at room temperature, the results conflict
with the previous researches mentioned above. So in this paper,
we continue the study of heat transfer characteristics of regenera-
tors in which the temperature oscillation of the solid should be
considered.
In this paper, heat transfer characteristics for two simple struc-
ture models, the parallel plate and circular tube, are analyzed. First
of all, a brief introduction on the theoretical model is given in Sec-
tion 2. Then in Section 3, simplified expressions for Nusselt number
are presented by means of both physical and mathematical analy-
sis. Parameters influencing heat transfer in regenerators with low
* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +86 010 82543750.
E-mail address: Ecluo@mail.ipc.ac.cn (E. Luo).
kinetic Reynolds number and low mean temperature are discussed
in detail. Finally, possible approaches to enhance heat transfer in
regenerators are discussed.
2. Transversal distribution of temperature
Several assumptions should be made before applying linearized
thermoacoustic model to a regenerator. Firstly, the fluid oscillates
in a rigid and stationary channel in the axial direction with a zero
time-averaged velocity. Secondly, the perturbations in the param-
eters of the fluid are small and the control equations can be linear-
ized. Thirdly, no net heat flux between the working fluid and the
solid matrix during one cycle in the regenerator happens, so the
time-averaged temperatures for both fluid and matrix are the same
and depend only on the axial direction. Finally, the regenerator is
thermally adiabatic with the surroundings in the transversal direc-
tion. With these assumptions, the transversal distribution of the
velocity and temperature can be resolved. The governing equations
for the working fluid are the same with the case wherein infinite
heat capacity assumption can be made for the solid. But the bound-
ary condition for the temperature oscillation is no more zero at the
solid wall. Temperature oscillation in the wall has to be solved. For
simplicity, the shape of the solid wall is considered to be the exten-
sion of the flow ducts, which means that the solid wall is two
plates with finite thickness for parallel plates formed duct or a sin-
gle coaxial ring for circular-tube duct. The schematic of the flow
duct with its surrounding solid walls is shown in Fig. 1. With com-
plex notation, the temperature can be written as:

0011-2275/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cryogenics.2009.03.005
314 Y. Chen et al. / Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319

Nomenclature
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
A area Zb Z b ¼ rZ r tco =rhca pffiffiffi
Bsi Biot number of the solid wall Zw Zb/e for parallel plates; Z b = e for circular tube
B characteristic width of the ducts
c0 adiabatic sound speed Greek symbols
Cp isobaric heat capacity per unit mass b coefficient of thermal expansion
dh hydraulic diameter c the ratio of specific heat
~ dT 0 C p0
D D   dxp12=dx
~1 dx T 0 b0
p dl viscous penetration depth of the fluid
F shape-dependent function dj thermal penetration depth of the fluid
fl viscous function ds thermal penetration depth of the solid
fk thermal function e porosity
G shape-dependent function es Eq. (5)
H heat transfer coefficient pffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ew Eq. (6)
i imaginary number, 1 l dynamic viscosity
K thermal conductivity m kinematic viscosity
k0 propagation constant k0 ¼ x=c0 q density
pffiffiffiffiffi
N transverse coordinate r r ¼ Pr
N N = n/b / phase
e
Nu Nusselt number x angular frequency
P pressure
Pr Prandtl number Superscripts
Q heat flux density ^ oscillating part
R radial coordinate  complex amplitude
rhca q0Cp0/qs0 Cs0 - cross averaged
rtco k0/ks0 0
derivative of a function
R inner radius of pipe
2
Rex kinetic Reynolds number, Rex ¼ qxdh =l Subscripts
T time 0 time averaged
T temperature 1 1st harmonic component
u velocity component along x a axial mean temperature gradient
x longitudinal coordinate c compressibility of the fluid
X X = x/b pffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi s solid
Z parallel Z ¼ 2=8ð1 þ iÞ Rex circular tube:
pffiffiffi plates:pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi w outer wall
Z ¼ 2=4ði  1Þ Rex

 1=2
Tðx; n; tÞ ¼ T 0 ðxÞ þ Tb 1 ðx; n; tÞ þ     T 0 ðxÞ þ Re½ Te 1 ðx; nÞeixt  ð1Þ q0 C p0 K 0 F 0 ðrZÞ ½G0 ðZ w ÞFðZ b Þ  F 0 ðZ w ÞGðZ b Þ
es ¼ ð5Þ
qs0 C s0 K s0 FðrZÞ ½F 0 ðZ w ÞG0 ðZ b Þ  G0 ðZ w ÞF 0 ðZ b Þ
Then the boundary conditions for the working fluid and the so-
lid wall are: F 0 ðZ w Þ
ew ¼ ð6Þ
G0 ðZ w Þ
axial symmetrical condition : n ¼ 0; @ Te 1 =@n ¼ 0
inner wall boundary : n ¼ b; Te ¼ Te s ; j0 @ Te 1 =@n ¼ js0 @ Te s1 =@n
3. Heat transfer analysis
outer wall boundary : n ¼ bw ; @ Te s1 =@n ¼ 0 ð2Þ
As the temperature equation is linearized, the mean tempera-
where the subscript ‘‘s” stands for the solid wall.
ture to define the heat transfer coefficient is the cross sectional
According to Ref. [8], the complex amplitude of the oscillating
averaged temperature rather than the bulk averaged:
temperature for the fluid and the solid can be written as:
 
T 0 b0 FðrZ  n=bÞ
Te 1 ¼ ~1 1 
p
q0 C p0 ð1 þ es ÞFðrZÞ
1 ~1 dT 0
dp
þ
ðixÞ2 q0 dx dx
 
r2 FðZ  n=bÞ 1 1 þ es fl =fk FðrZ  n=bÞ
 1þ 
1  r2 FðZÞ 1  r2 1 þ es FðrZÞ
ð3Þ
" #
es T 0 b0 1 ~1 dT 0
dp 1
Te s1 ¼ ~1 þ
p ð1  f =f
l k Þ
1 þ es q0 C p0 ðixÞ2 q0 dx dx 1  r2
FðZ b  n=bÞ  GðZ b  n=bÞew
 ð4Þ
FðZ b Þ  GðZ b Þew
As the outer wall of the channel is thermally adiabatic, substi-
tuting Bsi ¼ hw ðbK ws0bÞ ¼ 0 leads to the following expressions: Fig. 1. Schematic of the flow duct.
 Y. Chen et al. / Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319 315

Z
1 3.1. Expressions for Nusselt number
Te 1 ¼ Te 1 dA ð7Þ
A A
For parallel plates, geometry-related functions for Eqs. (3) and
And the Nusselt number can be defined as: rZÞ
(4) are specified as: F = cosh, G = sinh, fl ¼ tanhðZÞ
Z
, fk ¼ tanhð
rZ ,
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 . r hca r tco tanhðrZÞ
es ¼ tanhðZw Z Þ , ew = tanh (Zw).
e ¼ dh ð@ T~ 1 =@nÞ
Nu Te 1  Te s1 ð8Þ b

n¼b
The items needed to calculate the Nusselt number defined in Eq.
Substituting the temperature expressions in Eqs. (3) and (4) (8) are listed as follows:
into Eq. (8), then the complex Nusselt number can be presented dh ¼ 4b;
as a function of six dimensionless parameters: Pr, Rex, rhca, rtco,
  
e and D. Where Pr is the Prandtl number; Rex is the kinetic Rey- d Te 1  T 0 b0 rZ tanhðrZÞ 1 ~1 dT 0
dp
2
nolds number defined as Rex ¼ xdh =m; rhca and rtco are the prop-  ¼ ~1 
p þ
dn  q0 C p0 b ð1 þ es Þ 2
ðixÞ q0 dx dx
erty ratios of the fluid to solid which are defined as q0Cp0/qs0Cs0 n¼b  
and k0/ks0, respectively; e is the porosity of the channel which r Z tanhðZÞ
2
1 1 þ es fl =fk rZ tanhðrZÞ
  ;
equals b/bw for parallel-plate duct and ðb=bw Þ2 for circular tube; 1  r2 b 1  r2 1 þ e s b
C dT 0 dp ~1
D is defined as D ¼  b p0 2 ~1 dx. The full expression for Nusselt
0 x T 0 dx p
number is formally complicated and it will be discussed in the Z
subsections. 1 be
Te 1 ¼ T 1 dn
To further explain the parameter D, different perspectives on it b 0
 
can be discussed. Eqs. (3) and (4) show that the temperature oscil- T 0 b0 tanhðrZÞ 1 ~1 dT 0
dp
¼ ~1 1 
p þ
lation is composed of two parts: one induced by the compressibil- q0 C p0 rZð1 þ es Þ ðixÞ2 q0 dx dx
ity of fluid with a coefficient of T 0 b0 p e c1 , T
~1 and we denoted it as T e sc1  
q0 C p0 r2 tanhðZÞ 1 1 þ es fl =fk tanhðrZÞ
for the working fluid and the solid, respectively. The other part  1þ  ;
1  r2 Z 1  r2 1 þ es rZ
~ 1 dT 0
with a coefficient of ðixÞ12 q ddx
p e a1 for the fluid
is denoted as T
0
dx
e
and T sa1 for the solid which is induced by a mean temperature gra-
Z bw
dient imposed on the channel in the axial direction. The ratio of 1
Te s1 ¼ Te s1 dn
these two coefficients which is the nondimensional parameter D bw  b b
then can be interpreted as the ratio of heat transfer effect induced " #
es T 0 b0
~1 þ
1 ~1 dT 0
dp 1
by the mean temperature gradient in the axial direction to the ¼ p ð1  f =f
l k Þ
compressibility of the fluid. If the fluid is incompressible, the coef-
1 þ es q0 C p0 ðixÞ2 q0 dx dx 1  r2
 
ficient of the thermal expansion b0 = 0, then D ? 1, the tempera- 1 coshðZ b Þew  sinhðZ b Þ
ture oscillation is only due to the mean temperature gradient. If
 :
Z b ð1=e  1Þ coshðZ b Þ  sinhðZ b Þew
there is no mean temperature gradient along the channel, it means
dT 0
¼ 0, then D = 0, temperature oscillation is only due to the com- Then:
dx  !
pressibility of the fluid. When the two effects (compressibility and
e @ Te 1  . I þ DI0
mean temperature gradient) work together, D will be finite and re- Nu ¼ 4b   Te 1  Te s1 ¼ ð12Þ
@n  J þ DJ0
n¼b
lated with the axial distribution of the pressure oscillation. Then
the transversal heat transfer characteristics will be related with where
the axial flow condition by the parameter D. Writing the pressure Ið1 þ es Þ ¼ 4rZ  tanhðrZÞ;
amplitude in the form p ~1 jei/ , D can be written as:
~ 1 ¼ jp tanhðrZÞ r hca tanhðrZÞ
Jð1 þ es Þ ¼ 1  þ es  ;

~1 j
 rZ ð1=e  1ÞrZ
C p0 dT 0 1 djp d/
D¼ þi ð9Þ I0 ð1 þ es Þð1  r2 Þ ¼ 4½r2 Z tanhðZÞ þ rZ tanhðrZÞ;
b0 x T 0 dx jp1 j dx
2 ~ dx
r2 tanhðZÞ tanhðrZÞ
Eq. (9) means that D is a complex value because there is pressure J 0 ð1 þ es Þð1  r2 Þ ¼ 1  r2 þ 

Z

rZ
drop as well as phase shift in pressure along a regenerator. In trav- r2 tanhðZÞ tanhðZÞ
2
0 djp1 j ~ þ es 1  r þ 
eling-wave thermoacoustic prime movers, dT dx dx
< 0, Re(D) > 0; in Z Z
~j
dT 0 djp
traveling-wave refrigerators, dx dx > 0, Re(D) < 0. From another  
r hca tanhðZÞ tanhðrZÞ
point of view, the pressure gradient can be substituted by the line- þ 
ð1=e  1Þ Z rZ
arized one dimensional momentum equation:
~1 Table 1
dp
~ 1 ð1  fl Þ1
¼ iq0 xu ð10Þ Limit expressions for Nu e a.
e c and Nu
dx
Rex ? 0 Rex ? 1
Using the relation T 0 b20 c20 ¼ ðc  1ÞC P0 , D has the form: pffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
12
D=0 1þa
2=2ð1þiÞ PrRex
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
T 0 b0 1 dT 0 q0 c0 pffiffi
1þ r tco rhca
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffi
D¼i ð11Þ 2=2ð1þiÞ PrRex =ð1þ PrÞ
ð1  fl Þðc  1Þ T 0 dðk0 xÞ p ~1
~ 1 =u D?1 10
1þ5a=6þb=6
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
1þ r r tco hca

Eq. (11) shows that the parameter D is in fact determined by the lo-
dT 0
cal nondimensional temperature gradient T10 dðk 0 xÞ
and the imped- Table 2
~1 =u
p ~1
ance q c0 . e
Limit expressions for Nu.
0

Based on Eqs. (3) and (4), The Nusselt number for parallel plates Rex ? 0 Rex ? 1
will be discussed in detail in the following subsections. Due to the eT c1 eT sc1 1 40ið1þaÞ 1
D Rex ð1þ5a=6þb=6Þ D
similarity in the characteristics of heat transfer for different duct eT a1 eT sa1
geometries, the Nusselt number for circular tubes will be laid out pffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffi
e
Nu 12
 1þb 2DRex e
Nua ½1 þ Pr þ PrD=ð1 þ DÞ
1þa 1þa DRex ð1þ5a=6þb=6Þ40ið1þaÞ
in the Appendix A without further discussion. Rex !1
316 Y. Chen et al. / Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319

Table 3
Results for circular tube.

Rex ? 0 Rex ? 1
 i

 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
es b 1  32 1  ab PrRex rtco r hca
pffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
D=0 e c¼ 8
Nu e c ¼ 2=2ð1þiÞ
Nu
PrRe
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi x
1þa 1þ rtco rhca
pffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffi
D?1 e a ¼ 36 1
Nu e a ¼ 2=2ð1þiÞ pPrRe
Nu x =ð1þ PrÞ
ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
1þ aþ b
4 4
1þ r r tco hca

eT c1 eT sc1 24ið1þaÞ

DRex ð1þ3a=4þb=4Þ
1/D
eT a1 eT sa1
h pffiffiffiffiffi i
e
Nu e ¼ 8  1þb 
Nu 2DRex e ¼ Nu
Nu e a ¼ 1 þ PrðD=ð1 þ DÞÞ
1þa 1þa DRex ð1þ3a=4þb=4Þ24ið1þaÞ
Rex !1

3.2. Simplification of the complex Nusselt number and pressure if the solid material and working fluid are properly
selected. With helium gas as the working fluid, stainless steel as
Eq. (12) is too complex to provide explicit information. To sim- the solid material, the influences on heat transfer from parameters
plify Eq. (12), we first consider separating the two effects inducing D  Rex, T0, P0 and e, are discussed below.
the temperature oscillation. For D = 0, The complex Nusselt
number is denoted as Nu e c ¼ I=J. For D ? 1, The Nusselt
e c , then Nu 3.3.1. The product of D and kinetic Reynolds number Rex (e = 60%;
number is denoted as Nu e a ¼ I0 =J 0 . Limit operations show that
e a ; Nu T0 = 20 K; p0 = 2 MPa)
e c and Nu
Nu e a can be simplified under cases of Rex ? 0 and The amplitude of D  Rex is fixed in Fig. 3. In traveling-wave en-
Rex ? 1. The results are listed in Table 1 in which gines, the phase of D always distributes around p in refrigerators
a = rtco(1/e  1), b = rhca/(1/e  1). Apparently, when temperature
oscillation in the solid can not be neglected, heat transfer condi-
tions for both D = 0 and D ? 1 are weakened due to increasing rhca
and rtco at low temperatures.
The total heat flux between the fluid and the solid can be writ-
ten as: Qe ¼Q ec þ Qe a . Then the total Nusselt number can be related
e e
with Nuc and Nua by:

e Te 1  Te s1 Þ ¼ Nu
Nuð e c ð Te c1  Te sc1 Þ þ Nu
e a1 ð Te a1  Te sa1 Þ ð13Þ
Transformation gives:
!1
e e
e ¼ Nu
Nu e c þ ð Nu e c Þ 1 þ T c1  T sc1
e a  Nu ð14Þ
Te a1  Te sa1
e
Table 2 shows the limit cases for Nu:
Practical regenerators in thermoacoustic engines have Rex
around the order ranging from 101 to 102. To checkup the appli-
e under Rex ? 0 in Table 2, we
cability of the expression for Nu
e
draw Nu in Fig. 2 based on the simplified expression and the origi-
nal expression in Eq. (12). Calculations are based on the following
conditions: the working fluid is helium gas; the solid wall is stain-
less steel; e = 60%; p0 = 2 MPa. The property data of helium and
stainless steel are coming from the Refs. [9,10], respectively. Here,
D = 3000  1800i is chosen as an example for typical pulse tube
refrigerators.
Fig. 2 shows that the simplified expression for Nu e fits well in
Rex !0
most of the region where practical regenerators fall into, though
accretion in Rex brings growing deviation for imaginary part of
e when Rex > 10.
Nu

3.3. Analysis on Nusselt number

In this subsection, discussions based on the simplified expres-

sion of Nusselt number in Table 2 will be presented on how the
parameters (Pr, Rex, rhca, rtco, e and D) act on heat transfer. Nu e
Rex !0
in Table 2 shows that the Prandtl number has trifling influence
on heat transfer for small Rex case. Fig. 2 shows that there’s a tran-
e from Nu
sition area for Nu e a when Rex grows. This is similar
e c to Nu
e in Table 2 also shows that the product of
to the function of D. Nu
Rex !0
Rex and D may be an independent parameter contribute to heat
transfer rather than the individual Rex and D in regenerators.
The six parameters can be decreased to four dimensionless
group, and they are D  Rex, rhca, rtco and e. Among the remaining
four parameters, rhca and rtco are affected by the mean temperature e versus Rex using Eq. (12) and Table 2.
Fig. 2. Nu
 Y. Chen et al. / Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319 317

e versus angle (D) using Eq. (12).

Fig. 3. Nu
e versus absolute (D  Rex ) using Eq. (12).
Fig. 4. Nu

and around 0 in prime movers. Fig. 3 shows that the phase of D

e for large |D|  Rex.
only slightly affects Nu
e due to the absolute value of D  Rex is shown in
Variation in Nu
Fig. 4. The phase of D is fixed at 7p/6. Fig. 4 also shows that the
influence of Rex on heat transfer is in fact depends on the value
of D  Rex. As D for regenerative engines is always far larger than
zero, and Rex cannot be extremely low for the sake of keeping
low flow friction, the value of |D|  Rex lie in the range over 100.
Then the temperature gradient effect will be the main mechanism
affecting the heat transfer in regenerators. Figs. 3 and 4 also indi-
cate that in practical regenerators, D  Rex cannot bring significant
e
changes in Nu.

3.3.2. Mean temperature and mean pressure

For temperature below 50 K, the temperature and pressure have
immediate influences on rhca and rtco. Fig. 5 shows that rtco grows
with a decreasing temperature and an increasing pressure; rhca is
not a monotonic function of temperature or pressure. Though it
is abnormal around temperature at 5 K, rhca generally increases
with decreasing temperature. Increasing rhca and rtco mean a falling
off in heat transfer. This is obvious in Table 1 and in Fig. 6 (where Fig. 5. rhca and rtco versus temperature under different pressure.
318 Y. Chen et al. / Cryogenics 49 (2009) 313–319

shape of channels, whereas for the temperature gradient effect the

oscillating temperature is determined not only by the channel
shape but also by the velocity profile.

4. Conclusions

The solid material of a regenerator is selected such that it has suf-

ficient heat capacity, low flow friction and high heat transfer coeffi-
cient. But at low temperatures, good thermal property material is
rare. When the heat capacity of the solid is not sufficient, its thermal
property will have a direct influence on heat transfer and we found
that it will make the heat transfer condition much more sensitive on
the porosity. Though the complex Nusselt number is the function of
six nondimensional parameters, D  Rex, rhca, rtco and e are the main
factors affecting heat transfer at low temperatures. Their influences
on heat transfer can be concluded as follows:
e versus temperature.
Fig. 6. Nu
(a) The production of D and Rex determines the status of the
two mechanisms: fluid compressibility and mean tempera-
e than
ture gradient. The compressibility effect has a larger Nu
e
temperature gradient effect. For the total Nu, there is a tran-
e c to Nu
sition area from Nu e a when D  Rex grows. As D  Rex
in thermoacoustic engines is around the order of 102–103
which is apart from the transition area and closer to the
temperature gradient domination region. So enhancing heat
transfer by adjusting D  Rex gains no apparent efficacy.
(b) Generally, rhca is far larger than rtco for regenerators with
working fluid at low temperatures and has a direct negative
effect on heat transfer, then decreasing rhca can be a main
effort to enhance heat transfer.
(c) Within the rational porosity region, properly decreasing e
which means increase the solid material will also apparently
improve heat transfer condition.

Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the Natural Sciences Foun-

dation of China (Grant No. 50625650) and Chinese Academy of Sci-
ences (Grant No. KJCX2-YW-W02).
e versus porosity at different temperatures.
Fig. 7. Nu
Appendix A
D  Rex=350ei7p/6, P0 = 2 MPa). As rhca is far larger than rtco, increas-
ing rhca is the main fact breaking up the heat transfer condition. Be- Limit operation results for regenerators composed by circular
low a certain critical temperature, temperature and pressure both tubes are listed in Table 3. Shape dependant parameters are given
have obvious influence on rhca, but temperature is the main factor. below:
Then, a decrease in temperature which means higher rhca will re- J 1 ðZ w Þ
sult in reducing heat transfer in regenerators. F ¼ J0 ; G ¼ N0 ; ew ¼ ;
N1 ðZ w Þ
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi J ðrZÞ ½N 1 ðZ w ÞJ 0 ðZ b Þ þ J 1 ðZ w ÞN0 ðZ b Þ
3.3.3. Porosity es ¼ rtco rhca 1 ;
e c and Nu
Nu e a for small Rex in Table 1 show that an increase in J0 ðrZÞ ½J 1 ðZ w ÞN1 ðZ b Þ  N 1 ðZ w ÞJ 1 ðZ b Þ
2
pffiffiffi rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
porosity has positive effect on Nu e a there is a balance.
e c but for Nu b 2 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi rZ r
Fig. 7 reveals that there is an optimal porosity for Nue a and it is e ¼ 2 ; Z ¼ ði  1Þ Rex ; Z w ¼ pffiffiffi tco ;
bw 4 e rhca
more obvious at lower temperatures. For T = 4 K, the optimal rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
r tco r tco fl rJ 1 ðZÞJ 0 ðrZÞ
porosity is about 10%. Practically, such a low porosity can not pro- Z b ¼ rZ ; 1¼ ; ¼ ;
vide enough heat exchange areas and the resistance will be too
r hca r hca fk J 0 ðZÞJ 1 ðrZÞ
Z bw
high. Porosity for real regenerators falls in the region where Nue a 2 r tco ðe2  4e þ 2 ln e þ 3Þ
e c increases with growing porosity. Now that Te s ¼ 2 2
Te s ydy; a ¼  ;
decreases while Nu bw  b b ðe  1Þ2
Nu e this indicates that we can gradually de-
e a is close to the total Nu, r hca
crease the porosity properly as temperature goes down along the b¼
1=e  1
regenerator in cryogenic refrigerators. Fig. 7 shows more than
70% increase in Nue a can be achieved when the porosity decreases
from 70% to 55% for T = 4 K. References
The different dependence of Nu e a on porosity is due to
e c and Nu
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