Evaluation and investigation of driving bearing losses of an electrical scroll compressor

Globally, around 15%–20% of all produced electrical energy is used to power compressors due to the constant operation of compressors. Thus, even a slight enhancement in their efficiency can lead to significant reductions in total energy consumption. This present work introduced an analytical model of drive bearing considering gas force models to estimate power loss and friction moment with impact of rotation speed in an electrical scroll compressor by grease lubrication and analyzed the relative effect on the compressor performance. The frictional moment and power losses have been estimated in the case of load independence and dependence following two global models: Harris and Palmgren, in which the power loss due to driving bearing impact is 17.2 and 7.2 W according to the Palmgren and Harris models, respectively, which mean that the Palmgren model and the Harris model suggest that the drive bearing needs 1.4% and 0.6%, respectively, of total power to overcome friction caused. The analysis helps predict power losses and allows designers to achieve a more accurate estimation of the performance of electrical scroll compressors.