Thermal performances of counter-flow regenerators: A non-iterative method of prediction

A previous application of the two [`]closed' theories derived by earlier workers for computing solutions of the counter-flow regenerator three-dimensional thermal model is reviewed. The further developments embodied in the present studies have extended and improved on the limited progress made in the previous trial application. Following detailed investigations of the factors which influence the numerical accuracy of the computed solutions, valid results have been obtained consistently from both theories, for a wide range of dimensionless parameted values relevant to practical regenerators. An extrapolative method for predicting the regenerator effectiveness has given reasonable results for cases of practical interest. However, a more accurate numerical quadrature technique is required in order to obtain the maximum benefit from the closed-method approach.