Numerical Simulation of GM Refrigerator Operating at about 4K

Abstract

This paper describes the numerical simulation of a GM refrigerator operating at about 4 K. The simulation model is composed of a regenerator, an expansion space, and a cooling stage. The volumetric change of the expansion space and the actual thermophysical properties of the working fluid, helium are considered. The basic equations are mode up of one-dimensional fluid equations and an energy equation of the regenerator material and the cooling stage. The fluid equations are expressed in the general coordinate system of which a coordinate axis moves with time to take account of the volumetric change of the expansion space. These basic equations are differentiated by using the TVD MacCormack method. In order to verify the simulation model, the theoretical validity of the calculation results was checked and calculation results were compared with results of experiments. As a result it was confirmed that the simulation model is appropriate.