Periodic Thermal Storage: The Regenerator

Abstract

The regenerator alternately stores and supplies heat to two gases which enter at different but constant temperatures and flow counter-currently and sequentially through the same flow passages for periods ta and tb. The periodic steady-state temperatures of the two gases and the regenerator solid are found as functions of time and position. The analysis is based on the use of polynomials of the position coordinate to represent the matrix temperature distributions at the beginning of each flow period. The subsequent gas and matrix temperatures are expressed in terms of functions which are readily evaluated by use of a computer. The initial, time average, and final temperatures of the gas leaving the regenerator are tabulated. Results for a single regenerator are applied to the rotating regenerator and to switched regenerators.