Lubrication characteristics between the vane and the rolling piston in a rotary compressor used for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems

The rolling piston type-rotary compressor has been widely used for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems due to its compactness and high-speed operation. The present analysis is part of a research program directed toward maximizing the advantages of refrigerant compressors. The study of lubrication characteristics in critical sliding components is essential for the design of refrigerant compressors. Therefore, theoretical investigation of the lubrication characteristics of a rotary compressor used for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems was studied. The Newton-Raphson method was used for the partial elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis between the vane and the rolling piston of a rotary compressor. The results showed that the rotational speed of a shaft and the discharge pressure significantly influence the friction force and the energy loss between the vane and the rolling piston.