Experimental investigation of hinged and spring loaded rolling piston compressors pertaining to a turbo rotary engine

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering 2011-05, Vol.31 (6), p.1031-1038
• Main Authors: Okur, Melih, Akmandor, Ibrahim Sinan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air conditioning. Ventilation; Applied sciences; Compressing; Compressors; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Heat transfer; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; High speed; hinged vane; Rolling piston compressors; spring loaded vane; Springs; Techniques, equipment. Control. Metering; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermal engineering; turbo-rotary engines; vane compressor; Vanes
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.11.027

Hinged rolling piston compressor of a new thermodynamic cycle Pars engine promises high performance figures such as single stage high compression levels and higher volume flow discharge with competitively low input power and torque. The pumping characteristic of the present engine compressor unit has been increased by the implementation of a spring less vane configuration. The reciprocating vane which is usually operated by spring compression in air conditioning and refrigeration unit has been replaced by a hinge vane mechanism. At high speeds, the conventional spring loaded vane which is forced against the eccentrically moving rotor periphery does disconnect and starts rocking. With the new configuration, this mishap has been eliminated and subsequently resulting compressor pressure leaks have been avoided. Compressor experiments have been carried out at predetermined rotor speeds and compressed volume flow amounts and required shaft powers have been measured and derived accordingly. Experimentally determined pressure–volume relations have been compared with isentropic, isothermal, isochoric compressions as well as isobaric process. It is seen that at lower speeds, hinged vane compression is half way between isentropic and isochoric compressions whereas at high speed the compression process approaches further isochoric compression behavior. The isentropic compression efficiency of the hinged vane compressor is around 85% for pressures reaching 9 atm. ► Volume flow rate of rotary vane compressor unit has been increased by a hinged vane mechanism. ► Hinged compressor pressure output is almost twice the performance of a spring loaded compressor. ► The slipping and rocking of the spring loaded vane against the rolling piston have been eliminated.