Simulation of the Deformation and Contact of Scrolls in the Scroll Compressor

Abstract The control of the clearances in a scroll compressor is crucial to ensure the reliability and efficiency of compressor, especially for the compressors without radial compliance mechanism. In this study, the fluid-solid-thermal simulation is conducted to get the temperature field, the pressure load distribution on scroll wraps. Then, the influences of the temperature, pressure and the inertial force on the deformation of scroll wraps are investigated. On these bases, the variation of gap size and potential contact between scroll wraps is analysed under various orbiting radii. It is shown that the deformation caused by temperature is more significant than the pressure and inertial force. The contact occurs even though orbiting follows the theoretical orbiting radius due to the positive radial deformation of scroll wrap and negative radial deformation of inner wall of fixed scroll.