Digital simulation of counterflow regenerator two-dimensional model by two relatively new techniques

Two relatively new finite-difference explicit methods, Alternating Direction Approximation and the Dufort and Frankel scheme, have been compared for digital simulation of counterflow thermal regenerators. The methods are applied to evaluate the thermal performance of regenerators. The temperature histories in the solid are considered as functions of two space dimensions. The solutions are programmed to include the effect of gas radiation and variable specific heats of gases. Of the two methods compared, the Alternating Direction Approximation is found to be simpler, easy to apply, and self-starting.