Technique for Numerical Analysis of Mixed Lubrication in Compressors of Air Conditioners and Hot-Water Heaters

Toshiba has developed a technique for the numerical analysis of mixed lubrication for application to compressor mechanisms in order to improve the performance and reliability of compressors in air conditioners and hot-water heaters.

Almost all of the parts of compression mechanisms have sliding surfaces. The lubricating condition of a sliding surface varies depending on the type of contact and form of movement. Equations expressing the oil-film pressure of a sliding surface, the elastic contact of a sliding surface, the equilibrium of forces, and the elastic deformation of the parts of compression mechanisms are solved as a coupled problem in this analysis. Moreover, the pressure distribution of a sliding surface can be obtained for mixed lubrication in cases where solid contact occurs in hydrodynamic lubrication. Friction loss can be predicted and reliability can be evaluated by investigating the accurate lubricating condition of a sliding surface.

This technique has been applied to the development of a natural refrigerant carbon dioxide (CO₂) compressor, contributing to the realization of an efficient and reliable product.

Numerical simulation of mixed lubrication in compression mechanism