Numerical analysis of an OPTR: Optimization for space applications Academic Article

abstract

• A numerical study is reported here for the investigation of the flow and heat transfer processes in a co-axial type single stage orifice type pulse tube refrigerator (OPTR). The OPTR is driven by a cyclically moving piston at one end of the system with helium as the working fluid. The regenerator and the various heat exchangers are modeled as porous media and a thermal non-equilibrium model is applied in these regions. The simulations reveal interesting steady-periodic flow patterns that develop in the pulse tube due to the fluctuations caused by the piston and the presence of the inertance tube. When the secondary flow patterns are well-developed, they help isolate the cold and hot ends of the pulse tube and create a thermal buffer zone at the center of the pulse tube, enhancing the performance of the OPTR. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

authors

• Antao, Dion

published proceedings

• CRYOGENICS

author list (cited authors)

• Farouk, B., & Antao, D. S.

citation count

• 1

complete list of authors

• Farouk, Bakhtier||Antao, Dion Savio

publication date

• January 2012

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Cryogenics  Journal

keywords

• Acoustic Streaming
• Co-axial Fr
• Pulse Tube
• Space Cryocooler
• Thermal Non-equilibrium

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.cryogenics.2012.01.005

start page

• 196

end page

• 204

volume

• 52

issue

• 4-6

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2012.01.005