Study on leakage via the radial clearance in a novel synchronal rotary refrigeration compressor

The leakage flow characteristics at the radial clearance between the rotor and the cylinder in a novel synchronal rotary (SR) refrigeration compressor were analyzed, and the oil–refrigerant two-phase leakage flow model was established. The leakage at different temperatures caused by wall velocity and pressure difference was calculated, and their influences on the total leakage were analyzed, respectively. The calculation results indicate that the leakage of the oil–refrigerant mixture decreases firstly and then increases with the increase in the temperature. However, the refrigerant leakage always decreases when the temperature increases. Moreover, the leakage caused by wall velocity has great influence on the total leakage, especially when the radial clearance is small.