A preliminary evaluation of the Groll rotary vane compressor

Abstract The principles of operation and design of the prototype of a novel design of vane compressor with significant advantages over the conventional sliding vane type are described. Its performance is given and compared to that of equivalent commercially available sliding vane and reciprocating compressors used in refrigeration systems. Its volumetric efficiency on average was 3% greater than that of the sliding vane compressor and 23% more than that of the reciprocating machine. The adiabatic efficiency was on average 15% greater than that of the sliding vane and about equal to that of the reciprocating compressor. Owing to its high rotational speed it is more compact than the reciprocating compressor. Since the vanes are rigidly retained about their axis of rotation they cannot chatter as in a sliding vane compressor. It is therefore smooth and quiet in operation and no mechanical faults were encountered in 432 h of operation.