Magazine Article

Microscale Regenerative Heat Exchanger

TBMG-61

08/01/2006

Abstract
Content

The device illustrated in Figure 1 is designed primarily for use as a regenerative heat exchanger in a miniature Stirling engine or Stirling-cycle heat pump. A regenerative heat exchanger (sometimes called, simply, a “regenerator” in the Stirling-engine art) is basically a thermal capacitor: Its role in the Stirling cycle is to alternately accept heat from, then deliver heat to, an oscillating flow of a working fluid between compression and expansion volumes, without introducing an excessive pressure drop. These volumes are at different temperatures, and conduction of heat between these volumes is undesirable because it reduces the energy-conversion efficiency of the Stirling cycle. Hence, among the desired characteristics of a regenerative heat exchanger are low pressure drop and low thermal conductivity along the flow axis.

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Citation
"Microscale Regenerative Heat Exchanger," Mobility Engineering, August 1, 2006.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Aug 1, 2006
Product Code
TBMG-61
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English