Modeling 2-D jets impinging on Stirling regenerators

The extent to which flow leaving Stirling coolers or heaters in the form of high-velocity jets penetrate the regenerator matrix is visually modeled using a computer program. Two-dimensional laminar jets are shown impinging on regenerator samples of variable permeability ranging from no matrix at all to matrices dense enough to stop the jet dead on. The results lend credibility to a simple tension for flow uniformity as a function of penetration depth.