Modelling Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer and Valve Dynamics in a Reciprocating Compressor

In the present study oneand two-dimensional numerical models are proposed for calculating gas flow and valve dynamics in a reciprocating compressor. It turns out that they are capable of capturing the most important physical effects during a compression cycle, namely the interaction between pressure waves inside the cylinder and valve dynamics. In order to model the heat transfer from the gas to the cylinder full three-dimensional simulations have been carried out. Inspecting the results a reconstruction of the heat flux depending only on few dimensionless numbers has been derived. The reconstructed heat fluxes have been incorporated into the simplified one dimensional compressor model allowing a heat transfer analysis of a compression cycle. Comparisons with measurements and full three-dimensional simulations of different types of compressors show good agreement. Modelling Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer and Valve Dynamics in a Reciprocating Compressor, Roland Aigner, Herbert Steinrück; TU VIENNA