An insulation retaining assembly for a high temperature rotary pre-heater having a cold-end rotor and a hot-end rotor includes a plurality of elongate retainer elements. Each of the retainer elements has a root end adapted to be held in fixed relationship to the cold-end rotor and a distal end proximate to the hot-end rotor. Portions of each of the plurality of retainer elements are adapted for circumferential movement.

A rotor for a high temperature rotary pre-heater includes a hub that has an exterior surface thereon. The rotor includes an annular rim positioned around and coaxially with the hub. The annular rim has an interior surface. A plurality of partitions extend between the hub and the annular rim. Each of the partitions is located in a predetermined circumferential position by one or more alignment features. The exterior surface, the interior surface and/or the partitions have one or more of the alignment features thereon.

A first-stage regenerator material and a second-stage regenerator material are regenerator materials each having a laminated structure for use in a GM refrigerator. Each layer of the regenerator material is provided with a plurality of holes to allow gas to pass therethrough along a laminating direction. At least one layer includes a base material and a coating covering the base material. Volumetric specific heat of the coating is larger than volumetric specific heat of the base material in a temperature range from 20 K to 40 K.

A heat storage reactor, comprising: a plurality of heat storage layers including first flow paths through which a first fluid can flow, each of the first flow paths being filled with heat storage materials; and a plurality of heat exchange layers including second flow paths through which a second fluid can flow. In the heat storage reactor, the plurality of heat storage layers and the plurality of heat exchange layers are alternately stacked. Further, open ends for the second flow paths are formed on a surface different from a surface on which open ends of the first flow paths are formed. Furthermore, at least a part of the second flow paths is formed in parallel to the first flow paths.

A heat storage reactor, comprising: a plurality of heat storage layers including first flow paths through which a first fluid can flow, each of the first flow paths being filled with heat storage materials; and a plurality of heat exchange layers including second flow paths through which a second fluid can flow. In the heat storage reactor, the plurality of heat storage layers and the plurality of heat exchange layers are alternately stacked. Further, open ends for the second flow paths are formed on a surface different from a surface on which open ends of the first flow paths are formed. Furthermore, at least a part of the second flow paths is formed in parallel to the first flow paths.

A rotor for a high temperature rotary pre-heater includes a hub that has an exterior surface thereon. The rotor includes an annular rim positioned around and coaxially with the hub. The annular rim has an interior surface. A plurality of partitions extend between the hub and the annular rim. Each of the partitions is located in a predetermined circumferential position by one or more alignment features. The exterior surface, the interior surface and/or the partitions have one or more of the alignment features thereon.

An insulation retaining assembly for a high temperature rotary pre-heater having a cold-end rotor and a hot-end rotor includes a plurality of elongate retainer elements. Each of the retainer elements has a root end adapted to be held in fixed relationship to the cold-end rotor and a distal end proximate to the hot-end rotor. Portions of each of the plurality of retainer elements are adapted for circumferential movement.