Title: 3D numerical calculations of tangent leakages in scroll compressor during unsteady process

Authors: Józef Rak; Sławomir Pietrowicz; Zbigniew Gnutek

Addresses: Department of Thermodynamics, Theory of Machines and Thermal Systems, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Thermodynamics, Theory of Machines and Thermal Systems, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Thermodynamics, Theory of Machines and Thermal Systems, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland

Abstract: A continuous increase in computing power brought progress in a scroll compressor modelling. The early simplified models now can be supplemented with a significantly more detailed CFD models. These models require a high resolution meshes due to the characteristics of the positive displacement machines. The working chambers geometries are evolving in time due to the vanes movement. For that reason, a moving boundary conditions have to be applied to the numerical model. This entails it is necessary to use a mesh deformation and to modify the solved equations so they are correct in the changing reference system. In order to remain a high mesh quality, a procedure for remeshing also has to be introduced. In return, the solution gives a better insight into the process compared to the simplified models. In the paper, a numerical spatial scroll compressor model with a mesh generation procedure is presented. The calculations were performed for different values of the radial clearances between scroll wraps. The clearance causes a leakage between higher and lower pressure chambers and affects their mass and energy balance. A comparison between the numerical and an analytical solution was used as a benchmark for the results.

Keywords: scroll compressor; mesh generation; CFD; moving boundary; radial clearance.

DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2017.088795

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, 2017 Vol.17 No.6, pp.344 - 351

Received: 03 Nov 2016
Accepted: 13 Mar 2017
Published online: 19 Dec 2017 *

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