Conference Year

2016

Keywords

Valves, FSI

Abstract

The motion of automatic, self-acting valves is a primary aspect in achieving superior compressor reliability and performance. Simulation of compressor valve mechanics involves a complex set of interactions that include characteristics of the compression chamber, thermodynamics, gas flow, valve motion, and pressure pulsations through the valve passages. One-dimensional (1D) lumped simulation models that encompass these interactions have been formulated and refined over the past several decades. During that same time period, finite element theory for fluid-structural-interaction (FSI) has been developed. Â FSI provides three-dimensional (3D) results across the entire fluid and solid domain and is well-suited for compressor simulation. However, the usage of FSI on real problems has not been adopted until much more recently, as sufficient computational resources became available. Still, the high computational expense and significant run times create a practical barrier to using FSI as a routine design tool. This paper presents techniques for integrating 1D-lumped models with 3D-FSI models. Methods to properly formulate the 1D-models are discussed. Once formulated, these 1D-models provide quick and accurate results that are used to narrow various design alternatives. Additionally, the 1D-models provide initial conditions for the higher resolution 3D-FSI models in critical regimes of operation. Lastly, experimental data is shown to confirm the techniques.

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