Performance Evaluation of Thrust Slide-Bearing of Scroll Compressors under R-22 Environment

R-22 냉매 분위기하에서 스크롤 압축기 스러스트 베어링의 윤활특성 평가

This paper presents the friction and anti-wear characteristics of nano-oil with a mixture of a refrigerant oil and carbon nano-particles in the thrust slide-bearing of scroll compressors. Frictional loss in the thrust slide-bearing occupies a large part of total mechanical loss in scroll compressors. The characteristics of friction and anti-wear using nano-oil are evaluated using the thrust bearing tester for measuring friction surface temperature and the coefficient of friction at the thrust slide-bearing as a function of normal loads up to 4,000 N and orbiting speed up to 3,200 rpm. It is found that the coefficient of friction increases with decreasing orbiting speed and normal force. The friction coefficient of carbon nano-oil is 0.015, while that of pure oil is 0.023 under the conditions of refrigerant gas R-22 at the pressure of 5 bars. It is believed that carbon nano-particles can be coated on the friction surfaces and the interaction of nano-particles between surfaces can be improved the lubrication in the friction surfaces. Carbon nano-oil enhances the characteristics of the anti-wear and friction at the thrust slide-bearing of scroll compressors.