Analysis of basic pulse-tube refrigerator with regenerator

Abstract

A previously presented thermodynamic analysis of the basic pulse-tube refrigerator is extended to the case with a regenerator. In this case there is a heat exchanger at the warm end of the regenerator, in addition to the cold and warm heat exchangers at the ends of the pulse tube. The analysis is based on a four-step cycle: adiabatic compression of the gas in the pulse tube; isobaric heat transfer from the gas to the wall of the pulse tube; adiabatic expansion of the gas in the pulse tube; and isobaric heat transfer from the wall of the pulse tube to the gas. The pressure is taken to be uniform during the entire cycle. Gas elements inside the regenerator are assumed to be at the local temperature of the regenerator. The performance of the regenerator and its adjacent heat exchangers is investigated using control volume analysis to determine enthalpy flows, and by control mass analysis to determine heat flows associated with individual gas elements. The mechanism by which heat is transported from the cold end to the warm end of the regenerator is discussed. The addition of the regenerator is found to yield significant improvements in the heat removed per cycle, the coefficient of performance and the refrigeration efficiency. Detailed results for these quantities are presented as a function of the temperature ratio of the heat exchangers.