Abstract
A prototype Stirling refrigerator employing helium as a working fluid has been investigated to determine whether a freon-free machine is a viable alternative for the current household refrigerator. A displacer-type Stirling cycle machine of 100 W capacity was designed and tested by varying the frequency. COP was, however, below the designed COP, primarily because a significant amount of work was lost in the power transmission mechanism between the motor and the piston. The mechanical loss was reduced by replacing the copper mesh matrix in the regenerator with a nylon mesh. The Stirling cycle refrigerator with a hybrid regenerator which is contained a copper mesh and a nylon mesh was tested by varying the frequency.
