A Study on a Performance Test of Matrices for Stirling Engines : 2nd Report, Performance Comparison of Various Matrices

Abstract

The adaptability of various materials for the matrix of a Stirling engine regenerator was evaluated inclusively, considering not only their heat transfer properties which were measured and reported in the 1st report, but also their flow resistances and void volumes. Also, the assumption which was applied in the 1st report to obtain the rate of heat regeneration from the measured temperature of air was examined by numerical analysis using the finite difference method and it was found that the assumption is adequate when the rotary valve speed is more than or equal to 240 rpm. To examine the accuracy of the experiment, the heat transfer coefficients which were obtained from the air temperature were compared to those calculated by generally known empirical formulae.