Study on performance of scroll compressor for micro-refrigeration systems by CFD method

Abstract

The micro-refrigeration system can be utilized in various fields, including personal cooling, medical applications, and other specialized fields. Compressors represent a crucial component of vapor compression refrigeration systems. A simulation model of the micro scroll compressor has been developed. The operating characteristics and leakage of scroll compressors with different capacities (10, 50, 100 cm³/rev) are compared. The effects of rotational speeds, condensing temperature, volume ratios, and clearance on the characteristics of micro scroll compressors have been analyzed. For the scroll compressor that has a suction capacity of 10 cm³/rev, the volumetric and isentropic efficiencies tend to initially rise and subsequently decrease as the rotational speed is raised. The volumetric efficiency reaches a maximum value of 86.26% at 5000 rpm, while the isentropic efficiency reaches a maximum value of 72.93% at 6000 rpm. As the volume ratio increases from 0.79 to 1.0 of the theoretical volume ratios, the volumetric efficiency remains stable, while The isentropic efficiency demonstrates a pattern of initially rising and then falling, reaching a peak of 71.63% at a volume ratio of 0.91 compared to the theoretical volume ratios.