Numerical simulation of entire pulse tube refrigerators

A one-dimensional and two-dimensional combined computational model (1-D and 2-DCC model) was set up to simulate the performances of the basic type, orifice type and double inlet type pulse tube refrigerators (PTRs). The Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model and the thermally non-equilibrium model were adopted to depict the flow and heat transfer in the regenerator which was modeled by taking the mesh as a porous medium. Parameter communicating algorithms were defined to calculate velocity and temperature at the junctions between the 1-D and 2-D computational regions. Then the simulation codes for the whole PTRs were developed. The working process and complex flow phenomena such as velocity and temperature annular effects and DC flow in PTRs were revealed. The results show that a close loop in the PTR can be formed by using a double-inlet valve which leads to the occurrence of DC flow. For the case studied, the DC flow rate accounts for 4.66% of the total mass flow rate under the present parameters and working conditions.