Abstract
Performance analysis has been carried out on a high side scroll compressor that had a fixed scroll equipped with a circular oil groove on its thrust surface. Oil was supplied to the oil groove through an intermittent opening from a high pressure oil reservoir formed inside the orbiting scroll hub. Oil in the groove was then delivered to both suction and back pressure chambers by pressure differentials and viscous pumping action of the orbiting scroll base plate. Mathematical modeling of this oil groove system was incorporated into a main compressor performance simulation program for an optimum oil groove design. The study findings were as follows. Pressure in the oil groove can be controlled by changing its configuration and the oil passage area. With an enlarged oil passage, the pressure in the oil groove heightens due to an increased flow rate, but the pressure elevation in the back pressure chamber is small, resulting in reduced friction loss at the thrust surface between the two scrolls. On the other hand, by increasing the oil passage area, the oil content in the refrigerant flow increases. Considering all these factors, the energy efficiency ratio could be improved by about 3.6% under the ARI condition by an optimal oil groove design.
