International Journal of Engineering and Technology Volume 2 No.

12, December, 2012

Decade Developments of Rotary Compressor

Pravin K. Katare, Vilayat M. Kriplani
Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.H.Raisoni College of engineering,
Digdoh Hill, Nagpur 440016, INDIA

ABSTRACT
Compressor is the single largest consumer of primary energy (usually electricity) in an industrial refrigeration system and
often become a focal point for energy efficiency improvement strategies. This is achieved either through the improvement of
existing compressor designs, or by the introduction of new designs that is expected to overcome the drawbacks of existing
compressors. This paper presents the summery of development and innovations made in rotary compressors used in
refrigeration industry by the researchers in respect to performance, compactness, vibration, method of injection and losses.

Keywords: Refrigeration; Rotary compressor; Development; Review

1. INTRODUCTION are based on a geometrical description which develops a

relationship between the volumes and the leakage areas as
In refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, recent a function of the orbiting angle. The computation of the
trends in compressor usage have elucidated the geometry allows pressure, temperature and mass flows to
preferment of rotary type compressors over the veteran be computed in each chamber of the compressor.
reciprocating piston cylinder type, mainly due to more
noise and vibration disturbances exhibited by the latter. The other type of rotary compressor such as screw
Rotary machines such as the rolling piston and scroll refrigeration compressor is widely used in various
compressors do indeed not only feature a quieter and refrigeration systems which have gradually replaced the
smoother operation, but are also simpler and more reciprocating refrigeration systems employed in small
compact in their overall construction. Furthermore, rotary cooling capacity systems and part of centrifugal
compressors are also shown to have achieved good refrigeration systems adopted in large cooling capacity
reliability and efficiency. Due to these advantageous systems. Many mathematical models have described the
features, the uses of rotary compressors have been working process of screw compressors with focus on
increasing over the years. As with the operation of all different processes or characteristics, such as oil injection,
mechanical systems and machinery, one of the crucial flow and heat transfer characteristics, internal leakage, p-
factors affecting the performance of a refrigeration V indicator diagram, and super feed process.
compressor is mechanical efficiency. Mechanical losses
not only deteriorate the overall efficiency of the 2. INNOVATIONS IN SCROLL
compressor, but also at times give rise to reliability COMPRESSOR
problems due to wear and tear caused by the friction. In
rotary compressors, as parts in sliding contact usually Scroll type compressors have become increasingly
possess high relative velocities, frictional losses are popular in refrigeration and air conditioning systems
predominant which have limited their performance because of their high efficiency, low noise, fewer
despite their advantages mentioned earlier. components, low vibration, light weight and small size
compared to other types of compressors. Chen et al.
The scroll compressor is one of the rotary compressors (2002a) [1] discussed the development of a
used for compressing air or refrigerant, which was comprehensive simulation model of a horizontal scroll
originally invented in 1905 by French engineer named compressor, which combines a detailed compression
Leon Creux. The device consists of two nested identical process model [2] and an overall compressor model. In
scrolls constituted in the classical design by involutes of the overall model, compressor components are analyzed
circle. The main advantages of the scroll compressor are in terms of nine different elements. Steady state energy
the small number of moving parts, a high efficiency and a balance equations are established by applying the lumped
low level of noise and vibrations. However, one of the capacitance method. In combination with detailed
main problems when developing scroll compressors is the compression process model, these equations were
design of the scroll profile, which plays a key role in their implemented into computer code and solved recursively.
performance. Most of the models of the scroll compressor In this way, the temperature and pressure of the

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1965
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

refrigerant in different compressor chambers, the compressor (STC). Except of using general design
temperature distributions in the scroll wraps, and the optimization, model includes multi-variable, direct search,
temperatures of the other compressor elements can be inequality constraints, both interactive session and
obtained. discrete variable design optimization skills have also been
employed in this study. Comparisons between calculated
Lebrum and Winandy (2002) [3] published results of and measured results show that the maximum deviation of
experimental analysis and modeling of scroll compressors cooling capacity and coefficient of performance based on
using gas and liquid injection. The experimentation is electrical power input are below 2.53% and 1.69%,
based on hermetic scroll compressors using different respectively.
methods of injection such as without injection, vapor
injection and liquid injection. The analysis reveals the Wang et al. (2008) [7] concentrated on the numerical
influence of these methods on the compressor behavior. A research on the scroll compressor with refrigeration
simplified model of the scroll compressor is then injection. The model can be used to predict the macro
proposed that takes into account not only the different performance and inner compression process of the
internal processes but also the refrigerant injection. injected scroll compressor. A series of experiments are
conducted to validate the accuracy of the model. The
Winandy et al. (2002) [4] carried out the experimental results show that the model can precisely predict not only
investigation of a hermetic scroll compressor equipped the general performance of the compressor but also the
with internal sensors. The analysis reveals the main inner compression with or without refrigerant injection.
process affecting the refrigerant mass flow rate as well as
the compressor power and the discharge temperature Blunier et al. (2009) [8] simulated the new analytical and
.Based on the experimental results, a simplified model of dynamic model of scroll compressor. By using a novel
the scroll compressor is proposed. It assumes that the reference frame, it proposes an original way of describing
refrigerant mass flow rate is affected by a suction the geometry of the scroll wraps (represented as circle
temperature increase due to heat gained from a uniform involutes) in which the symmetries are exploited in order
wall temperature. This imaginary wall is supposed to gain to establish a thermodynamic model of the scroll
heat from the electromechanical losses and from the compressor. This approach allows the chamber volumes
discharged gas and to give heat to the ambient. The to be analytically described without any special
compression process is considered to be isentropic up to assumption and takes into account the discharge as a non-
the adapted pressure and then isochoric until the discharge symmetrical process.
pressure. The model is able to compute variables of
primary importance, like mass flow rate, the electric Cuevas and Lebrum (2009)[9] tested the variable speed
power and discharge temperature as well as secondary scroll compressor .Variable speed compressors offer
variables such as suction heating-up, discharge cooling continuous control, low noise level, reduced vibration,
down, and ambient losses. low-start current, rapid temperature control, by operating
the compressor at higher speeds initially, and observed
The design and manufacturing of scroll compressors is better COPs than the conventional on/off control.
not easy as their key parts have complex shapes with However, there are some drawbacks concerning the
involute curves. A high degree of accuracy in assembling inverter efficiency, the effect of the inverter on the
is required which encounters difficulties in the induction motor and the effect of variable speed on the
manufacturing cycle. Jiang et al. (2003) [5] presented compressor isentropic and volumetric efficiencies. This
the integration of constructive solid geometry (CSG) study gave some experimental results as to inverter and
modeling and Computer Aided Manufacturing in the compressor performances: it was observed that the
design in general, scroll compressors in particular. The inverter efficiency varies between 95% and 98% for
approach is based on concurrent engineering. The compressor electrical power varying between 1.5 and 6.5
involute scroll curve is created from equations. Designers kW. Compressor efficiencies are not enormously
can transfer the model to a manufacturing engineer for influenced by compressor supply frequency, but depend
process planning. The manufacturing engineer can also mainly on compressor pressure ratio, except the tests
advise the designer if some revisions are needed. Experts developed at 35 Hz and one test at 40 Hz, for which the
can check the models and processes of design and difference is attributed to the compressor internal leakages
manufacturing. Thus, solid modeling and machine tool due to a lack of lubrication at low speeds.
path simulation can bridge the gap between design and
manufacturing which is essential for concurrent Cuevas et al. (2010) [10] examined the characterization
engineering. With this approach, a correct and precise of scroll compressor under extended operating condition.
solid model can be achieved, which leads to an optimal Refrigeration and air-conditioning compressors are
design in terms of quality, delivery time and cost. designed to work under well-defined conditions. In some
applications it is interesting to observe their performances
Tseng and Chang (2006) [6] proposed a systematic beyond these conditions, for example in the case of a high
design method for developing a family of scroll-type temperature two-stage heat pump or of a cooling system

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1966
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

working at high temperature. In this study a compressor is Yoon et al. (2011) [14] investigated oil discharge ratio
characterized experimentally with refrigerant R134a and at inverter driven high shell pressure scroll compressor
through 118 tests at condensing pressures varying from using R410. In this study, the oil discharge characteristics
8.6 up to 40.4 bar and evaporating pressures varying from of a high shell pressure scroll compressor, which uses
1.6 up to 17.8 bar. Under these conditions the compressor R410A as the refrigerant and Poly Vinyl Ether as the oil,
motor was pushed at its maximal current in several tests. were measured according to the conditions for oil
This compressor performance is mainly characterized by management. The measurement of oil discharge ratio
its isentropic and volumetric efficiencies. (ODR) in the system is very important to secure the
operational reliability. It was made in real time through
Duprez et al. (2010) [11] notified an improvement of the the refractive index sensor. ODR was greatly influenced
scroll compressors model. This improved model allows by the mass flow rate and the dynamic viscosity of the
the calculation of refrigerant mass flow rate, power refrigerant. As the rotation frequency of the compressor
consumption and heat flow rate that would be released at became higher, ODR increased rapidly.
the condenser of a heat pump equipped with the
compressor, from the knowledge of operating conditions 3. ENHANCEMENT IN SCREW
and parameters. Both basic and improved models have COMPRESSOR
been tested on scroll compressors using different
refrigerants. This study is limited to compressors with a Twin screw compressors are rotary positive displacement
maximum electrical power of 14 kW and for evaporation machines of simple design capable of high speed
temperatures ranging from -40 to 15C and condensation operation over a wide range of operating pressures and
temperatures from 10 to 75C. Using a global parameter flow rates with high efficiencies. Moreover, they are both
determination (based on several refrigerants data), this reliable and compact. So screw compressors have recently
model can predict the behavior of a compressor with found a broad application in the industry taking into
another fluid for which no manufacturer data are account their advantages, such as in industrial
available. refrigeration and central air-conditioning applications.
Yangguang et al. (2010) [12] compared the involute of Suh and Lee (2001) [15] discussed the manufacturing
circle with variable radii in a scroll compressor. A concepts of composite screw rotors for air compressors by
geometric model of scroll profiles, constructed from an RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) process. Screw rotors, the
involute of circle with variable radii, has been developed key parts of screw compressors, are widely used in
by using the theorem of planar orbiting mechanisms. compressing air and refrigerant due to their high
Parametric studies have also been investigated in this productivity, compact size, low noise and easy
study. When compared to the conventional scroll profile maintenance. In general, a screw compressor unit is
with the same suction volume, volume ratio and housing composed of female and male rotors of complex
size, this new model demonstrates better reliability and geometric shape. The manufacturing cost and time of the
efficiency because of a lower wrap height. Alternatively, screw rotors are high because the complicated helical
a scroll type compressor with a more compact housing shapes of the screw rotors are manufactured usually by
size can be achieved by using this new profile but keeping dedicated machine tools. To reduce the production cost
its wrap height the same as the conventional one. and weight of screw rotors, the screw rotors for air
Furthermore, arc and line modifications have been built to compressors were manufactured with chopped carbon
provide wider design varieties. These are used to avoid fiber epoxy composite materials by the RTM (resin
interference at the center of the scroll pair and to boost the transfer molding) process using separable four piece
volume ratio of this new scroll profile. molds for easy demolding of helical shape screw rotors.
Dutta et al. (2011) [13] analyzed the performance of Yang (2002) [16] developed the mathematical model of
scroll compressor under liquid refrigerant injection. In the rotor profile of the single screw compressor. This
this study, fundamental and practical influence of liquid paper presents a method for determining the basic profile
refrigerant injection on the performance of a refrigerant of a single-screw compressor including a gate rotor and a
scroll compressor has been investigated experimentally screw rotor. The inverse envelope concept for
and theoretically. In the theoretical analysis, a determining the cutting-edge curve of the gate rotor is
compression model of vapor / liquid mixture is developed presented. Based on this concept, the required cutter for
by taking account of heat transfer from the cylinder wall machining the screw rotor can be obtained by an envelope
to suction, compression and injection refrigerant. An of the one-parameter family of obtained screw rotors. The
experiment has been performed under the condition of obtained screw rotor is an envelope of the family of gate
keeping the oil temperature constant in order to rotor surfaces. Let the obtained envelope of the one-
investigate the fundamental influence of the liquid parameter family of gate rotor surfaces become the
refrigerant injection on the compressor performance, and generating surface. The inverse envelope can be used to
the results were compared with the theoretical ones. obtain the envelope of the family of generating surfaces.
Then, the profile of the gate rotor with the cutting-edge

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1967
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

curve can be easily obtained. The proposed method shows

that the gate rotor and the screw rotor are engaged along Numerical investigation of heat transfer on screw
the contact line at every instant. This is essential to reduce compressor rotors carried out by Stosic et al. (2005)[20].
the effect of leakage on compressor performance. Since dry screw compressor rotors and housing are
subjected to high temperatures which cause their
Reindl et al. (2003) [17] has discussed about the selection deformation, they either may not operate at high pressure
of screw compressors for energy efficient operation. ratio, or they must be cooled. However, the gas
Although numbers of alternative compressor technologies temperature is high only in the high pressure region of the
are available including reciprocating and rotary vane, screw compressor, therefore, the domain where the heat is
many refrigeration end-users are inclined toward transferred to the rotors is limited to only a small portion
installation of screw compressors. The unique of the rotors and housing. Also, since the rotor revolve at
characteristics of screw compressors and criteria for high speeds while residing only briefly within areas of
selection to yield energy efficient operation when different gas temperatures during one cycle, the rotor
integrated into a built-up industrial refrigeration system temperature becomes virtually uniform across any cross
with a brief overview of screw compressor technologies, sectional area perpendicular to the rotor axis and its value
methods of capacity control, and volume ratio concepts is somewhere between the highest and lowest gas
has been investigated. Energy efficiency aspects of screw temperature at that cross section area. At the same time,
compressor technologies are discussed for both fixed and due to the relatively high thermal conductivity of the
variable volume ratio configurations. Guidelines for screw compressor components, which are made of metal, heat
compressor selection are also outlined. transfer by conduction is considered substantial and the
rotor body temperature attained is a result of a balance
Stosic et al. (2003) [18] optimized the screw compressor between the heat received from the gas and its dissipation
on the basis of rotor profile. Increasing demands for more in regions of lower gas temperature. Consequently, it
efficient screw compressors require that compressor appears that rotor cooling is required only in the
designs are tailored upon their duty, capacity and compressor high temperature region to keep rotor
manufacturing capability. A suitable procedure for temperatures at a reasonable level. Therefore, an effective
optimization of the screw compressor shape, size, means of cooling the rotors could be to inject a small
dimension and operating parameters is described here, quantity of flashing liquid, preferably water into the
which results in the most appropriate design for a given casing, at the high pressure port end in any
compressor application and fluid. It is based on a rack circumferential position.
generation algorithm for rotor profile combined with a
numerical model of the compressor fluid flow and Seshaiah et al.(2007) [21] developed the mathematical
thermodynamic processes. Some optimization issues of model of the working cycle of oil injected rotary twin
the rotor profile and compressor parts are discussed, using screw compressor .Mathematical analysis of oil injected
5 to 6 screw compressor rotors to present the results. It is twin-screw compressor is carried out on the basis of the
shown that the optimum rotor profile, compressor speed, laws of perfect gas and standard thermodynamic relations.
oil flow rate and temperature may significantly differ Heat transfer coefficient required for computer simulation
when compressing different gases or vapors or if working is experimentally obtained and used in performance
at the oil-free or oil-flooded mode of operation. prediction, when the working medium being air or
Compressors thus designed achieve higher delivery rates helium. A mathematical model has been developed for
and better efficiencies than those using a traditional calculating the compressor performance and for validating
approach, which is illustrated in an example of the 3 to 5 the results with experimental data. The flow coefficients
screw rotors designed for a family of dry air compressors. required for numerical simulation to calculate leakage
flow rates are obtained from efficiency verses clearance
The theoretical and experimental study on indicator curves. Effect of some of the compressor operating and
diagram of twin screw compressor published by Wu et al. design parameters on power and volumetric efficiencies
(2004) [19] A new mathematical model for calculating the have been analyzed and presented.
indicator diagram of twin screw refrigeration compressor
is presented. The geometric parameters related to the Wu et al. (2007) [22] carried out research on the working
rotation angle of male rotor are used in the model such as process of screw refrigeration compressor under super
groove volume, suction and discharge port area, slide feed condition. To increase the refrigeration capacity and
valve bypass port area, leakage area etc. The effects of improve the coefficient of performance (COP), an
internal leakage through five paths, oil injection, gasoil economizer is used in the refrigeration system with screw
heat transfer, refrigerant property and partial loading etc. refrigeration compressor. In this system, the mid-pressure
are taken into account simultaneously and separately in refrigerant gas from the economizer is injected in the
the theoretical study. To verify the model and pV screw compressor. The p-V diagrams (pressure volume
indicator diagram, experimental recording of pV diagrams) of screw refrigeration compressor under
indicator diagram of twin screw refrigeration compressor different super feed pressures with economizer are
is carried out. recorded successfully by making use of a micro-type

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1968
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

pressure sensor that embedded into the groove at the root gases carried out by Seshaiah et al. (2010)[26]. Oil
of the female rotor on the discharge side. injected twin-screw compressors are widely used for
medium pressure applications in many industries. Air
Profiling of screw compressor rotors by use of direct compressors can be used for compression of helium and
digital simulation investigated by Stosic et al. (2008)[23]. other gases, leading to significant cost saving. The
A standard feature of AutoCAD software enables a rotor efficiency, delivery rate and the heat of compression of
to be cut from a given blank and then generate a the compressors (medium and small size) are analyzed.
meshing rotor profile from a given primary profile To generate experimental data, two similar compressors
template for practically all existing screw compressor with different capacities are used to test the performance
rotor profiles. Three examples are presented, namely, a of air compressors when applied to compress nitrogen,
roots blower to demonstrate two-dimensional meshing, a argon and helium gases apart from air. This paper also
twin screw compressor to demonstrate two and one half describes the gas delivery rate and heat of compression
dimensional generation and a single screw compressor (temperature) on volumetric and power efficiency.
rotor and hobbing tool to show full three-dimensional
profile generation. Rotor profile points can be generated Chen et al. (2011)[27] reported about the theoretical and
by this procedure from which the compressor experimental investigation on the performance of screw
displacement, the sealing line points and the blow-hole refrigeration compressor under part-load conditions Slide
area can be estimated. valve is normally employed in screw refrigeration
compressor to meet the cooling capacity demanded by the
Wu and Fong (2008) [24] has presented improved rotor load variation. A mathematical model describing the
profiling based on arbitrary sealing line for twin-screw working process of screw refrigeration compressor with a
compressors. A design method for the rotor profile of slide valve assembly under part-load conditions is
twin-screw compressor from an arbitrary sealing line is established based on the calculation of the effective by-
presented. The sealing line is divided into several pass area and radial discharge area. Experimental
functional segments that control the high-pressure side investigation on a screw refrigeration compressor under
and the low-pressure side performances independently. part-load conditions with several evaporation and
Each functional segment is fitted by cubic spline and the condensation temperatures is also carried out. Simulation
shape of the segment can be adjusted by moving the results are in good agreement with the experimental ones.
control points of the cubic spline. Based on the shape of
the sealing line, the performance of the compressor can Hsieh et al. (2011)[28] had shown the temperature
directly be calculated and the corresponding rotor profiles distributions in the rotors of oil-injected screw
are derived considering the non-undercutting condition. A compressors. A mathematical model and a calculation
numerical example which considers the geometric procedure are proposed to effectively calculate the
constraints of rotor profiles is presented to demonstrate temperature distributions in the male and female rotors of
the flexibility and stability in parametric study of the rotor the oil-injected screw compressors. The solution of the
design. transient heat conduction problem of the rotors, which is
subjected to a periodic convective boundary condition and
Wu and Fong (2009) [25] has optimized design of an five steady boundary conditions, is obtained by solving
explicitly defined rack for the generation of rotors for the set of Helmholtz equations derived from the partial
twin-screw compressors. In conventional rotor profile differential equations for transient heat conduction
generation for the twin-screw compressor, the designed without internal heat. This analysis show that the three
parameters are often decided by trial-and-error method empirical constants that were used to calculate the heat
and cannot distinctly predict the changed difference when convection between the screw and the compressed air, the
adjusting one of parameters. Refer to previous rack- heat transfer between the rotor and the bearing at the inlet
generated rotor profiles, explicit equations of the rack shaft of the rotor and the heat transfer between the rotor
with two specific normal-equidistant trochoids are and the bearing at the outlet shaft of the rotor, have a
replacing the implicit form. The feasible parameters are stronger impact on the outputs of the mathematical model
designed on the rack in order to more instinctively and than the other three empirical constants. The reduced
flexibly adjust each compound curve. The parametric mathematical model, using only the three empirical
study and non-undercut limits are presented for the rotor constants with the strongest impact, can be used in the
profile optimization with SUMT (sequential studies of the temperature distribution in the rotor. The
unconstrained minimization technique) method. A calculated temperature distributions in the screws can be
numerical example is presented to show the validation of used to estimate the approximate thermal deformation of
the proposed optimization model and a practical the screws and thereby improve the screw profiles and the
experiment is conducted to test the excellent compressor design of the oil-injected screw compressor.
performance.

The experimental study on oil injected twin-screw air

compressor when compressing different light and heavy

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1969
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

4. REVOLVING VANE AND ROLLING

PISTON TYPE COMPRESSOR Teh and Ooi (2009c) [33] compared the leakage loss of
the revolving vane compressor and rolling piston type
DEVELOPMENTS compressor. The efficiency of the RV compressor, alike
other refrigeration compressors, is primarily affected by
Kim (2005)[29] examined the lubrication oil pumping by mechanical and leakage losses. The leakage loss in the
utilizing vane motion in a horizontal rotary compressor RV compressor which mainly occurs at the radial
.For a horizontal rotary compressor which utilizes clearance between the rotor and the cylinder is analyzed
reciprocating motion of the vane for oil supply into theoretically. In comparison with the rolling piston type,
lubrication elements, an analytical study has been carried the leakage loss at the radial clearance in the RV
out on the oil pumping mechanism. Energy equation has compressor is typically found to be 40% lesser than that
been applied to the oil flow inside the oil-conveying pipe of the former. Furthermore, the leakage loss can be
with oil feeding hole in the middle. Oil distributions into significantly reduced by selecting a shorter configuration
individual lubrication elements such as various bearing of the compressor, which is anticipated to yield good
elements have also been analyzed by applying electric volumetric efficiencies of more than 95%.
circuit network theory to the oil flow network. Fairly
good agreement between calculations and experiments for For a first time in refrigeration compressors, a rotating
the oil pumping rate has been obtained in a wide range of discharge valve is employed in the RV compressor mainly
compressor speed. due to the rotation of the entire cylinder (Teh et.al.2009d)
[34]. Under the application of the EulerBernoulli beam
The performance of a rolling piston compressor is theory, a mathematical model of the rotating valve is
optimized by Ooi (2005) [30] under preset operational formulated and the transient response of the valve under
conditions and design constraints by employing a multi- centrifugal loads in addition to pressure forces is
variable, direct search, constrained optimization analyzed. Results have shown that under careful design
technique. A mathematical model for the compressor was considerations, the performance as well as the reliability
first formulated. The model accounts for geometrical of the rotating discharge valve can be enhanced as
configuration, thermodynamic effects, valve dynamics, compared to a non-rotating valve that is used in all
flow and mechanical considerations. The accuracy of the refrigeration compressors currently.
model was verified by comparing its prediction with
measured results. The model was then linked with an Yang et al. (2009)[35] investigated experimentally the
optimization algorithm to search for a combination of internal working process especially the internal leakage of
some six design dimensions and seven sets of design a rotary vane expander prototype, which was developed to
constraints, for an optimum compressor performance with replace the throttling valve to improve the Coefficient of
minimum mechanical losses. Performance (COP) of the transcritical CO2 refrigeration
cycle. The pressure diagram as a function of the rotation
A new rotary type compressor, named Revolving Vane angle (p diagram) was recorded by two pressure
(RV) compressor, in which frictional losses are sensors arranged within the expansion chamber, based on
effectively reduced through the radical use of a rotating which the features of the working process were analyzed
cylinder, has been developed by Teh and Ooi and effects of the some improvement measures on the
(2009a)[31]. The friction at various contact regions are internal leakage were discussed. Compared with the ideal
formulated and analyzed, after which a parametric study p diagram, the recorded diagrams presented more rapid
is conducted to reveal configurations of the compressor decrease in the pressure during expansion process, which
that achieves high mechanical efficiencies. A new gas was attributed to serious leakage within the expander.
compression mechanism named the Revolving Vane
(RV) compressor (Teh and Ooi 2009b) [32] has been Park (2010) [36] concentrated on transient analysis of a
invented and theoretically shown to achieve improved variable speed rotary compressor. A transient simulation
mechanical, volumetric and compression efficiencies over model of a rolling piston type rotary compressor is
existing compressor designs. The experimental developed to predict the dynamic characteristics of a
investigation of the RV compressor, primarily in variable speed compressor. The model is based on the
validating the operational principle of the new mechanism principles of conservation, real gas equations, kinematics
by adopting it as an air compressor has been provided. In of the crankshaft and roller, mass flow loss due to
these tests, the basic functionality of the new design has leakage, and heat transfer. For the computer simulation of
been proven by operating at shaft speeds of 6001200 the compressor, the experimental data were obtained from
rpm and attaining pressure ratios of more than 8:1. In motor performance tests at various operating frequencies.
addition, measured values of the average torque,
mechanical power, volumetric flow rate and transient Subiantoro and Ooi (2010) [37] has done the design
pressure variations in the suction and compression analysis of the novel revolving vane expander in
chambers are shown to be in good agreement with transcritical carbon dioxide refrigeration system. Four
theoretical predictions. possible design variants of the Revolving Vane expander

ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1970
 International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET) Volume 2 No. 12, December, 2012

have been examined in relation to their application when In well-established designs such as the reciprocating
using CO2 as the working fluid in a refrigeration cycle. piston-cylinder compressor, rotary vane compressor,
The detailed examination of design components and screw compressor, rolling piston compressor and scroll
illustrations are presented and discussed. The study shows compressor, much progress has been done in the past few
that the Revolving Vane expander design configuration decades. It is now need to innovate a new compressor
with the vane attached to the rotor and in which the rotor design, which reduces the friction, leakages and discharge
is also used as the driving component is the most superior losses. Efforts are made in this direction by the authors.
design. It is found to have the highest mechanical New rotor geometry has been developed, which leads to
efficiency and the most desirable variation of the power significant improvements in efficiencies of compressor
produced. and it enhances the coefficient of performance of
refrigeration cycle. The information regarding this
Okur and Akmandor (2011) [38] investigated hinged development will be discussed in near future.
and spring loaded rolling piston compressors pertaining to
a rotary engine. Hinged rolling piston compressor REFERENCES
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