United States. A compressor design by innovators at Purdue University proposes a new drive mechanism for compressors used to cool in homes, buildings, airplanes and automobiles.
The Purdue team made a new design to create the orbital motion of the scroll compressors. The new design relies on a gear mechanism to create the orbital motion of one displacement envelope within another stationary displacement envelope to compress a coolant.
"In the conventional configuration of the scroll compressor, an Oldham coupling is usually used, which is based on a metal-to-metal sliding contact," said Leon Brendel, Ph.D. mechanical engineering student. "This causes friction losses and requires complicated wear processes for the manufacturer. Our design is driven by a gear mechanism, with the goal of reducing overall friction to deliver a more efficient compressor and simplify wear processes to reduce manufacturing costs."
Other members of the design team include Eckhard Groll and James Braun, purdue professors of mechanical engineering.
The in-orbit displacement design is driven by a gear mechanism consisting of a central gear and three smaller gears that surround and are connected to the central gear. Smaller gears have off-center anchor points to attach the base plate of the displacement in orbit.
"The mechanism can also be designed to define the orbit more precisely, thereby reducing leakage gaps, which could improve compressor efficiency," Brendel said.
Purdue's design moves any weight balance away from the center shaft to the three smallest gears, reducing vibrations and potentially increasing the maximum compressor speed.
Brendel said the Purdue compressor design has applications for cooling systems in residential homes, supermarkets and other large buildings, trains, cars and refrigerated trucks.
The design team is working with the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to license this proprietary technology. The office is now located in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in the Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus.
The researchers are looking for partners to continue developing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact Dhananjay Sewak of OTC in [email protected] and mention tracking code 2020-GROL-69101.
