Key
2506
Conference Year
2012
Keywords
oil, compressor, fluid dynamics, flow development, multi-phase
Abstract
Compressors produce a flow of oil droplets propelled by refrigerant flow while fully developed flow maps predict predominantly annular flow. This discrepancy is rooted in the lack of understanding of flow development. A newly developed video processing technique was used to quantify numerous flow parameters. The drop size, drop speed, drop concentration, film thickness, and film velocity were measured at a variety of refrigerant flow rates, oil circulation ratios, and temperatures. Measurements showing the changes in oil flow from the discharge of a compressor as a function of position are presented. An accompanying paper presents a model incorporating results from this experiment.