Performance analysis of reciprocating compressors through computational fluid dynamics

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part E, Journal of process mechanical engineering Vol. 222; no. 4; pp. 183 - 192
• Main Authors: Pereira, E L L, Deschamps, C J, Ribas, F A
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2008; Mechanical Engineering Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Acoustics; Air compressors; Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Mechanical engineering; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Noise: its effects and control; Numerical analysis; Physics; Pump and compressors (turbocompressors, fans, etc.); Refrigerating engineering; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Refrigeration installations; Thermodynamics; compressor simulation; valve dynamics; reciprocating compressor; Suction; Reciprocating compressor; Pipe flow; Computational fluid dynamics; Muffler; Finite volume method; Passive system; Experimental study; Refrigeration compressor; Noise control; Modeling; Silencer; Time dependence; Thermodynamics; Valve
• ISSN: 0954-4089; 2041-3009
• DOI: 10.1243/09544089JPME194

Abstract An experimentally validated numerical analysis of reciprocating refrigeration compressors is presented. The finite-volume methodology is adopted to solve the flow field and a one-degree-of-freedom model is used to describe the valve dynamics. The variation of the computation domain, associated with the valve and piston displacements, is taken into account and the time-dependent flow field and the valve dynamics are coupled and solved simultaneously. The three-dimensional formulation considered in the analysis allowed the simulation of actual suction and discharge muffler geometries. Numerical results were validated with reference to experimental data for valve displacement and pressure in the suction and compression chambers obtained in a calorimeter facility. A study was carried out to identify the contributions of mufflers and valves to the compressor thermodynamic losses.