Variable Speed Leakage Characteristics of Scroll Compressors for Miniature Compressed Energy Storage

Shijia Qi1,2

Zhen Liu1,2,Email

Zheng Li1,2

Zhichao Zhang3

Tengjun Huang1,2

1Hubei Key Laboratory of Power System Design and Test for Electrical Vehicle, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441053, China
2School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441053, China
3Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom

Abstract

Scroll compressor is especially suitable for miniature compressed air energy storage systems. The scroll compressors feature small size, low noise, lightweight, long service life, and high reliability. To investigate the evolution characteristics of transient flow fields in working chambers under variable rotational speeds, a three-dimensional transient model was established, and the dynamic grid technology was utilized to simulate the internal flow. The findings indicate that as the rotational speed increases, the leakage losses diminish, and the volumetric efficiency increases by 1.98% as the speed increases from 1200 to 3000 revolution per minute (RPM). During one working cycle, only the pressure in the exhaust chamber increases with increasing speed. Additionally, the temperature distribution is not even within the same compression chamber, with high-temperature regions concentrated in the region closer to the next high-pressure chamber.