Flow channeling effect on a regenerator's thermal performance

Abstract

The aim of this study is to obtain a general formula from the measured heat transfer results in three regenerator matrices for evaluating the thermal performance of a regenerator matrix with various degrees of flow channeling. In this formula, a velocity ratio, φ and an area ratio, ψ are determined from a nonuniform velocity profile at the regenerator exit. The nonuniform velocity distribution results from the flow channeling occurring at the contact surface between the regenerator matrix and the holding tube. A transient single-blow method was employed to measure the heat transfer rate in three inhomogeneous stacked-screen regenerator matrices. For a regenerator matrix with flow channeling, the thermal performance can be evaluated from the general formula and the measured radial velocity profile at the regenerator exit. The results show that the flow channeling effect may reduce the thermal performance of a regenerator matrix.