Abstract
In Stirling engines and cryocoolers, the regenerator is the indispensable heat exchanger. The regenerator is installed between the heater and the cooler in engines, and between the expansion space and the compression space in cryocoolers. So, the flow passage at the regenerator ends is reduced in size. The effect of the small passage on the velocity distribution of working gas in the matrix causes increased flow loss and decreased thermal performance. In this paper, the effect of tapered flow passage between regenerator ends and matrix on flow area in matrix are examined using unidirectional steady flow apparatus and CFD.
