Research of the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of different meshing pair profiles in water-flooded single screw compressors

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on the hydrodynamic lubrication properties of different meshing pair profiles (the gate-rotor tooth flank shape and the corresponding screw thread flank shape) of water-flooded single screw compressors. A test rig was designed to verify whether the water flowing through the meshing pair clearance could take load. Three specimens with different profiles were tested under the water-flooded condition. The balance position of the specimen, the water film thickness under different applied load and the effective water film carrying capacity were tested. A numerical model was proposed to calculate the water film pressure distribution and the effective water film carrying capacity under different film thickness. The numerical solutions were compared with the test results and showed good coherence. The results show that the three specimens can all get balanced under the water film torques and can restore balance after disturbances. The water film at the leading flank of the specimen with multicolumns enveloped profile has the largest water film pressure peak and effective carrying capacity. This study can be applicable in the design of single screw compressors meshing pair profile.

Keywords

Water-flooded single screw compressor meshing pair profile tooth wear hydrodynamic lubrication

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Zimmern B. Worm rotary compressors with liquid joints. Patent 3,180,565, USA, 1965.

Hao

. Design of the curved flank for the star-wheel tooth in single screw compressors. J Mech Des 2014; 136: 5–5.

Deng

Shu

. Rotary compressors, Beijing: China Machine Press, 1982.

Zimmern B and Patel GC. Design and operating characters of the Zimmern single screw compressors. In: Proceedings of Purdue compressor technology conference, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1972, pp.96–99.

Heidrich FL. Water flooded single screw (SSP) compressor technology. In: Proceedings of Purdue compressor technology conference, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1996, pp.145–150.

Feng

Liu

. Experimental studies of the tooth wear resistance with different profiles in single screw compressor. Tribol Int 2013; 57: 210–215.

Zimmern B. Rotary injection worm and worm wheel with specific tooth shape. Patent 3932077, USA, 1976.

Wang

Liu

. Research of leakage characteristics of single screw refrigeration compressors with the multicolumn envelope meshing pair. Int J Refrig 2015; 49: 1–10.

Zimmern B. From water to refrigerant: Twenty years to develop the oil injection-free single screw compressor. In: International compressor engineering conference at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1984, pp.513–518.

10.

Zimmern B. Single screw compressor with liquid lock preventing slides. Patent 6106241, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 2000.

11.

Zimmern B. Inter-engaging threaded rotor and pinion machine with multi-edged pinion tooth flanks. Patent 4321022, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1982.

12.

Jin

. A Study of the profile and hydrodynamic lubrication of a mono-screw compressor. J Xi’an Jiaotong Univ 1982; 16: 75–83.

13.

Jin

Tang

. Recent advances in the profile study of the engagement pair of a single screw compressor. J Xi’an Jiaotong Univ 1985; 19: 1–9.

14.

Feng

Guo

Zhao

. A design method of meshing pair profile of single screw compressors enveloped by multi straight lines. Compress Technol 2005; 191: 1–6.

15.

Feng

. A multicolumn envelope meshing pair for single screw compressors. J Mech Des 2009; 131: 074505–074505.

16.

Post W and Swaans M. Computer simulation of the hydrodynamic lubrication in a single screw compressor. In: International compressor engineering conference at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1986, pp.334–348.

17.

Sun S, Wu WF, Yu XL, et al. Analysis of oil film force in single screw compressor. In: International compressor engineering conference at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 2010, pp.1–7.

18.

Huang

Ting

. An optimization of the star wheel profile in a single screw compressor. Proc IMechE, Part A: J Power and Energy 2015; 229: 139–150.

19.

Kang

Ehmann

Lin

. A CAD approach to helical groove machining—I. Mathematical model and model solution. Int J Mach Tools Manuf 1996; 36: 141–153.

20.

Boblitt WW. Computer modeling of single-screw oil-flooded refrigerant compressors. In: International compressor engineering conference at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1984, pp.559–567.

21.

Bein TW. Computer modeling of an oil flooded SSC air compressor. In: International compressor engineering conference at Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 1982, pp.127–134.

22.

Jin

Shu

. Investigation on international leakages in single screw compressors and their effects on performance of the compressor. J Xi’an Jiaotong Univ 1996; 30: 66–71.

23.

Sun

. Handouts of lubrication mechanics, Beijing: Friendship Publishing Company, 1985.

24.

Kim

D-W

Kim

K-W

. Effects of sliding velocity and ambient temperature on the friction and wear of a boundary-lubricated, multi-layered DLC coating. Wear 2014; 315: 95–102.

25.

Horng

. Studies of tribological behavior and separation between surfaces at initial boundary lubrication. Wear 1998; 216: 8–14.

26.

Jisheng

Gawne

. Influence of lubrication regime on the sliding wear behavior of an alloy steel. Wear 1997; 211: 1–8.

27.

Launder

Leschziner

. Flow in finite-width, thrust bearings including inertial effects I-laminar flow. Trans ASME, J Lubric Technol 1978; 100: 330–338.