Flow visualization applied to a small refrigeration compressor

Abstract

This paper describes a flow visualization technique that was used to evaluate qualitatively the gas flow pattern inside a small, hermetically sealed, reciprocating refrigeration compressor. The applicable compressor designs are those in which the suction gas from the evaporator is dumped into the compressor shell, and is then drawn through a muffler into the suction plenum of the compressor. The physical separation of the muffler inlet from the suction gas inlet serves to reduce compressor noise and also provides an easy and convenient means of separating any liquid (compressor oil or liquid refrigerant) from the refrigerant gas. For the flow visualization studies the compressor housing was replaced by a clear plastic shell. Atmospheric air seeded with white smoke was the working fluid. The suction inlet and muffler were parts from a commercial compressor. The flow pulsations were modelled by connecting the muffler outlet to the input plenum of an auxiliary compressor. The flow patterns near the muffler inlet were recorded with a video camera. The mixing of the inlet gas with the gas circulating inside the muffler was studied. The effect of alignment and offset of the muffler inlet relative to the suction inlet, the effect of muffler size, and the effect of a shroud around the muffler were studied. The results were used to guide a companion study of detailed temperature and pressure measurements inside a working compressor.