Abstract
The performance of stilting engine, in particular, its energy conversion efficiencies are critically influenced by the regenerator characteristics. The regenerator characteristics are influenced by effectiveness, void fraction. heat transfer loss and fluid friction loss in the regenerator matrix. These factors were influenced by the surface geometry and material properties of the regenerator matrix. The regenerator design goals arc good heat transfer and low pressure drop of working Bas across the regenerator. Various data for designing a wire screen matrix have been given by Kays and London(1984). The mesh number of their experiment. however, was confined below the No. 60. which seems rather small for the Stirling engine applications. In this paper. in order to provide a basic data for the design of regenerator matrix, characteristics of heat transfer and flow friction loss were investigated by a packed mettled of matrix in oscillating flow as the same condition of operation in a Stirling engine. Seven kinds of sing1e wire screen meshes were used as the regenerator matrices. The results are summarized as follows; 1. While the working fluid flew slowly in the regenerator. the temperature difference was great at the both hot-blow(the working fluid flows from healer to cooler) and cold-blow(the working fluid flows from cooler to healer). On the other hand. while the working fluid flew fast. the temperature difference was not distinguished. 2. The No.150 wire screen used as the regenerator matrix showed excellent performance than tile others. 3. Phase angle variation and filling rate affected heat transfer or regenerator matrices. 4. Temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the regenerator is very hish in degree of 120 phase angle.