Annular Sliding Surface Grooves for Scroll Compressor Friction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In scroll compressors, the increased frictional resistance due to the pressing force from both axial sides hinders smooth operation and efficiency, particularly on the sliding surface with eccentric rotation between the movable scroll and the thrust plate, leading to refrigerant leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A sliding component with an annular shape featuring dynamic pressure generation mechanisms, including shallow and deep grooves and a communication passage, supplies fluid to the deep groove, generating dynamic pressure and forming a fluid film between sliding surfaces to reduce friction and prevent cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thrust plate is used to press the movable scroll toward the fixed scroll, then refrigerant leakage from the axial gap is reduced, but frictional resistance increases and smooth operation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydrodynamic lubrication by forming a fluid film between the thrust plate and movable scroll through carefully designed groove structures. The shallow groove and deep groove work together to generate dynamic pressure that lifts the sliding surfaces apart, replacing direct solid contact with fluid film contact, thereby reducing frictional resistance while maintaining the pressing force necessary to prevent refrigerant leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces localized groove structures (shallow groove and deep groove) at specific positions on the sliding surface to create local dynamic pressure generation zones. These grooves are strategically positioned to generate fluid pressure exactly where needed to reduce friction, while other areas maintain the pressing function, thus achieving local optimization of both friction reduction and sealing performance
2Reliability
If pressing force is applied from both axial sides, then refrigerant leakage is reduced, but frictional resistance increases and compression efficiency cannot be enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrodynamic pressure generation through groove structures to reduce frictional resistance on the sliding surface. The shallow groove and deep groove work together to create a fluid film that separates the thrust plate from the movable scroll, reducing friction and enabling smoother operation, which directly improves compression efficiency while maintaining the necessary pressing force to prevent refrigerant leakage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces frictional resistance and enhances lubricity, stabilizing the sliding process and preventing refrigerant leakage by maintaining a fluid film between the sliding surfaces, thus improving the compressor's efficiency and operation.
Implementation Method 1
dynamic pressure is generated in the shallow groove portion and the sliding surfaces are slightly separated from each other. As a result, a fluid film is formed between the sliding surfaces
Implementation Method 2
not only can lubricity be improved, but also the occurrence of cavitation can be suppressed. In this manner, the frictional resistance of the sliding surfaces during sliding can be stably reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding component has an annular shape with a fluid facing inside and outside of the sliding component and has a sliding surface relatively sliding with eccentric rotation, in which the sliding surface includes a land and a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms arranged in a circumferential direction, the dynamic pressure generation mechanism includes a shallow groove portion and a deep groove portion, the shallow groove portion communicates with the deep groove portion, and a communication passage providing a communication between the deep groove portion and either an inside space or an outside space of the sliding component is formed in the sliding component.