Publications

Second-law analysis and optimization of regenerators using regen 3.2

Lopez, A.; Dodson, C.; Razani, A.

In most Stirling and pulse tube refrigerators the regenerative heat exchanger is the major contributor to the irreversibility of the refrigerators. Exergy analysis is a convenient method to quantify the losses in regenerators. NIST Code REGEN 3.2 provides a powerful tool to quantify exergy flow in the regenerators to evaluate the exergy destruction (irreversibility) and losses due to heat transfer and fluid friction. The effect of important parameters, with emphasis on the phase shift between the pressure and the mass flow rate at the cold side of regenerator, on the exergetic efficiency and the important components of exergy destruction in the regenerator is presented. The efficiency of the regenerator based on exergy analysis is compared to other methods of evaluating regenerator performance. The ability of the code to quantify the exergy flow and destruction at low temperatures where the ideal gas assumption is not applicable is discussed. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.