Heat Transfer Simulation for Reciprocating Compressor with Experimental Validation

The efficiency of reciprocating compressor can be influenced by heat transfer and the reliability can be also affected by the temperature distribution in compressor. In consideration of the complex relationship of heat transfer, the compressor is divided into six control volumes including the suction muffler, the cylinder, the discharge chamber, the discharge muffler, the discharge line and the compressor shell. The steady state energy balance equations of the open system for each control volume are built up after the crankshaft rotates one cycle. The heat flux of the cylinder is calculated by the existing correlation. The heat transfer coefficient correlations in energy equations are chosen in references and revised by experimental results. Three same type reciprocating compressors used in R290 system installed with themocouples are tested under some planed conditions in order to ensure accuracy. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results. It shows that the simplified method presented in this paper is effective.