As the key component of the pulse tuber cryocooler

the regenerator plays a vital role on the thermal performance. In order to analyze the effect of the filled metal meshes on the thermal performance of regenerator

the real single-stage pulse tube cryocooler was designed and manufactured

according to the results of calculation and simulation by REGEN3.3. Four typical multi-metal-mesh filled regenerators were built with stainless screens #300SS

#400SS and #500SS. The comparison experiments were carried out. The thermal property of the refrigerator was collected and the conclusion was obtained. The thermal performance of the pulse tube refrigerator with small metal mesh screen filled regenerator is superior to that of the one with lager metal mesh screen filled regenerator. And filling the lager mesh screen at the hot end of the regenerator and the small mesh screen at the cold end can improve the gas compression ratio and the thermal performance. The method proposed in this paper is really helpful for the optimization of the regenerator.