Being part of a model which simulates the whole consecutive overall compression process in a scroll compressor by solving equations of mass, momentum and energy balance for fluid refrigerant (Rovira et al. ,2006), an updated version is presented. In this new model, an energy balance over the scroll wraps is implemented; where temperatures and heat fluxes are obtain ed dividing the wall into 36 parts (slices) each turn. The scroll wrap is divided into different solid slices; energy balance is carried out, taking into account: i) conduction along the scroll wrap; ii) convection heat transfer between each slice and each fluid chamber, with special attention on solid slice - fluid chamber contact at each time step. The numerical model shows the one dimensional and transient temperature, pressure and mass flow rate, at each fluid chamber along the scroll compressor, among detailed solid wrap temperature distribution. The whole numerical model has been experimentally validated against experimental data from technical literature (Halm,1997)(Chen et al.,2004a)(Chen et al.,2004b), comparing mass flow rate, discharge temperature, compression work and power consumption. Finally, the influence of wall temperatures and wall heat fluxes on the compressor performance and other output variables is analyzed.

Peer Reviewed