Numerical analysis of pressure drop characteristic in mesh regenerator under oscillating flow

A porous media model for crycooler regenerator is established in the present paper. Expressions of permeability and Forchheimer coefficient which reveal the flow characteristic in mesh porous media have been deduced, which have considered the effect of the figure and size of regenerator, oscillating flow, operating frequency, cryogenic temperature and so on. Based on the expressions, numerical simulations of pressure drop characteristic in the regenerator were investigated under different operating frequency. Simulation results indicate that the pressure drop amplitudes across regenerator are linearly varied with the operating frequencies; the huge temperature difference across regenerator which could induce properties of the working gas varying and affect the flow characteristic should be considered, otherwise the maximal deviation between simulation results and experimental data will be up to more than 20%.