In this paper, a numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in a rotary regenerator is presented. The numerical method is based on the simultaneous solution of the transient momentum and energy equations using a finite volume scheme. To validate the model, the numerical results are compared with those of the analytical results for a simple geometry. The effects of important processing parameters on the rotary regenerator effectiveness were also investigated. The parameters considered were the rotational speed, and the rotor length and diameter. In the design of a regenerator, the mass flow rate of both hot and cold streams and the resulting heat effectiveness are main parameters. The developed model, therefore, is suitable for the design and optimization of rotary regenerators for industrial applications.

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