The orifice pulse tube refrigerator is a cryogenic refrigerator capable of achieving useful refrigeration at liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K). The high mass flow rates in this refrigerator reduces performance due to ineffective heat exchange in the refrigerator. An apparatus has been constructed to study the ineffectiveness of a regenerative heat exchanger in a working pulse tube refrigerator. The apparatus will allow evaluation of different refrigerator materials and configurations. A model will be developed which will include the pressure and mass flow oscillations of this system. Measurements taken with the test apparatus will allow for model verification and identification of important operation parameters.
