Compressor Design
Compressor Design
General Equations
If the suction pressure and the discharge pressures of the compressor are
then the specific work done by the compressor can be found using:
k
P ( )
k
w=Ps v s (
)(( d ) k1 1)
k1 Ps
Ps and
Pd respectively,
Here k is the index of compression. For the refrigerant R134a, it can be approximated to 1.15 under
normal operating conditions. However, if more accuracy is required, k can be found from the
equation:
P
ln( s )
Pd
k=
v
ln( d )
vs
Based on the mass flow rate of the refrigerant, the compressor power consumption and the volumetric
flow rate of refrigerant through the compressor can be found out sing:
P=mw
V r =mv
S
Once we find the value of V r , the actual swept volume of the compressor can be found, if we know
the volumetric efficiency of the compressor. The actual swept volume of the compressor is:
V
V s= vr
Assume a suitable stroke to bore ratio, based on the following guidelines:
Vacuum pumps and high speed compressors: <0.5
Fluorocarbon compressors: =0.8
Ammonia compressors: =1.0
High pressure compressors: =4.6
Once these values have been assumed, the bore of the cylinder can be found out using the equation:
3 240V s
D=
N
Here N is the rotational speed of the compressor in rad / s . The general speed ranges for
compressors are 1000 rpm to 1500 rpm .
Once the bore of the cylinder is found, the length of stroke can be found using:
L=D
The values of volumetric efficiencies for various compression ratios can be found using the following
table (taken from Principles of Refrigeration, Dossat, R.J.)
Pd =P 2+ 40 kPa=1057 kPa
k
1.025
)
P d ( k1
k
1.025
1057 ( 1.0251 )
w=Ps v s (
)(( )
1)=329.9 kPa0.02032 m3 /kg(
)((
)
1)=24.65 kJ /kg
k1 Ps
1.0251 329.9
The actual power consumed by the compressor and the volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant are:
P=mw=0.02361
kg/ s24.65 kJ /kg=0.5821 kW
3
3
V r =mv
Pd 1057
=
=3.204
P s 329.9
For the above compression ration, the volumetric efficiency is estimated to be v =0.795 . Hence the
swept volumetric flow rate of the refrigerant is:
V 0.001494
V s= vr =
=0.001879 m3 /s
0.795
r C=
The refrigerant chosen here is R134a, which is a fluorocarbon refrigerant. Hence the stroke-to-bore
ratio, is assumed to be 0.8. The rotational speed of the compressor, N is taken to be
1000 rpm which equals 104.7 rad /s .
Hence the bore diameter of the compressor is:
3
3 240V s
3 2400.001879 m / s
D=
=
=0.1109 m
N
0.8104.7
L=D=0.80.1109=0.08868 m
From the cycle analysis, the ideal work done by the compressor is:
Pideal =m(h
P
Pideal
110 mm
Length of stroke
90 mm
Power consumed
0.6 kW
0.5821
=0.9832
0.5863