Study on the torsional movement of a reed valve in a rotary compressor

Abstract

Torsional movement makes the motion of a reed valve very complex and unmanageable in a rotary compressor. However, there is little information on the torsional movement of the reed valve in comparison to the valve displacement and velocity in the literature. This article investigates the torsional movement of a reed valve in a rotary compressor under different operating conditions using a fluid–structure interaction model. The phenomenon of the torsional movement of the reed valve during an operating cycle in the compressor was first studied. Then, the impact process and stress between the reed and the retainer were examined as the torsional movement was considered. The effect of the key parameters (including the asymmetric shape of the discharge chamber, eccentric reed mounting, and compressor working conditions) on the valve torsional movement was evaluated. Results showed that the impact stress of the first contact between the reed and the retainer increased as the torsional movement increased. The asymmetric shape of the discharge chamber and the eccentric mounting of the reed had a large influence on the torsional movement of the reed valve, while the rotational speed of the compressor was the key factor that significantly affected the impact stress.