Heat Transfer Model for Predicting Metal Temperatures in Scroll Compressor Unit

A heat transfer model of the scroll compressor unit was developed that predicts the temperature distribution in the metallic scroll elements. The scroll elements are modeled in two parts: the baseplates are modeled as quasi-axisymmetric disks, while the scroll wraps are modeled as two-dimensional fins. The wrap and baseplate models are coupled through boundary conditions at the interfaces. Convection and frictional boundary conditions are applied to the model. Existing scroll compressor simulations model friction and leakage during the compression process, but do not include detailed models for heat transfer. With the temperature distributions available from this model, direct calculation of the heat flux between the scroll elements and the refrigerant undergoing compression is possible. In this paper, development of the model is described and results for the fixed scroll baseplate temperature distribution are presented and compared to experimental data for three compressor conditions corresponding to on-design, under-compressed, and over-compressed operation.