Dynamic simulation of reciprocating refrigeration compressors and experimental validation

Among the various ways to simulate compressor behaviour, using efficiency definitions such as volumetric, isentropic or effective is relatively easy to perform and rapid when dynamic simulation is required. Calculating these efficiencies and their dependence on operating pressure, refrigerant type, and temperature is on the contrary relatively difficult to estimate. The approach presented here supposes that they depend essentially on two parameters, the dead volume ratio, having a particular influence on volumetric efficiency, and a friction factor mainly influencing both isentropic and effective efficiencies. The bases of the model are tested for a reversible and for a non-reversible reciprocating compressor when simulated over a compression cycle and dead volume ratio and friction factor influence is studied and discussed. Finally, the model is compared to experiments and allows validating the method, giving quite accurate results.