Numerical investigation of transient behaviour of the recuperative heat exchanger in a MR J–T cryocooler using different heat transfer correlations

•Transient model is developed for numerical simulation of a MR J–T cryocooler.•Effect of different condensation heat transfer correlations is studied.•Simulations are carried out with different mixtures of nitrogen-hydrocarbons.•Numerical predictions are compared with experimental data. In J–T cryocoolers operating with mixed refrigerants (nitrogen-hydrocarbons), the recuperative heat exchange takes place under two-phase conditions. Simultaneous boiling of the low pressure stream and condensation of the high pressure stream results in higher heat transfer coefficients. The mixture composition, operating conditions and the heat exchanger design are crucial for obtaining the required cryogenic temperature. In this work, a one-dimensional transient algorithm is developed for the simulation of the two-phase heat transfer in the recuperative heat exchanger of a mixed refrigerant J–T cryocooler. Modified correlation is used for flow boiling of the high pressure fluid while different condensation correlations are employed with and without the correction for the low pressure fluid. Simulations are carried out for different mixture compositions and numerical predictions are compared with the experimental data. The overall heat transfer is predicted reasonably well and the qualitative trends of the temperature profiles are also captured by the developed numerical model.