Numerical analysis of a single stage Gifford-McMahon type pulse tube refrigerator

In this paper, a step by step design methodology has been proposed to design a single stage GM-Type pulse tube refrigerator. A numerical model has been developed that solves continuity, momentum and energy equations for fluid, and also energy equation for solid matrix, by using finite volume method. This numerical model predicts the mass flow rate, pressure history, temperature variations etc. in each discrete control volume. By using the information so obtained from the numerical model, a heat exchanger (shell and tube type) was designed by using e-NTU approach and then fabricated. Structural analysis was also performed to ensure the safety of various components of GM-type PTR, and to calculate the various forces for the design of flanges of regenerator and pulse tube. Numerical analysis shows that, the present setup can produce a refrigeration capacity up to 25.8 W @ 70 K and 12 W @ 40 K.