Parameter effect analysis for a Stirling cryocooler

Abstract

In this paper, an isothermal model is used for modeling the Stirling cryocooler. Various losses including regenerator imperfection thermal loss, piston finite speed loss, gas spring hysteresis loss, displacer shuttle heat loss, clearance heat pump loss, heat conduction loss, and flow viscosity loss are taken into consideration at the same time step, as they could interact with each other. Energy and exergy balance analysis of the cryocooler shows that the mechanical friction loss is the biggest mechanical loss; conduction loss is the biggest heat loss. Effects of parameters consisting of cold end temperature, hot end temperature, average pressure, rotation speed, displacer clearance size, phase shift between piston and displacer, and ratio between diameter and stroke of piston on the cryocooler's performance are investigated. It shows that, there is optimum displacer clearance size, optimum phase shift between piston and displacer, and optimum ratio between diameter and stroke of piston for the studied cryocooler. The isothermal model was verified by the PPC-102 Stirling cryocooler.