Danfoss: Scroll Optimization

Abstract

A scroll compressor consists of two plane spiral/helix running inside each other, traditionally both scrolls are the same circle involute with constant wall thickness. When the moving scroll follows a circular orbit the chambers move inwards and the air or fluid trapped in the chambers is compressed. The task was to investigate how a change in the basic geometry of the scrolls and the orbit influence the compressor performance and efficiency, and to optimise the design. We have no done any optimisation, but we believe we have found a sound foundation for the optimisation process. We also analyse the leakage between the compression chamber using a compressible lubrication model.