Design of a Compact, Lightweight Screw-type Compressor for Refrigeration Systems

Due to their reliability, efficiency, and high turndown capability, refrigeration screw compressors are common among positive displacement refrigerant compressors [1]. For industrial applications, the size and weight of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) compressors are acceptable. However, modern aviation, mobile platforms, and directed energy weapons require high cooling capacity with aggressive size and weight metrics that COTS compressors cannot meet. The present study shows that a new, compact, high-speed, asymmetric compressor screw design can meet these objectives. A compressor was designed and performance optimized using computer modeling. The compressor was fabricated and tested to validate the design, modeling, and manufacturing processes. At high thermal lift conditions, this design can achieve large cooling capacities while maintaining a 45%-53% isentropic efficiency. The compact, lightweight refrigeration screw compressor can be manufactured using existing methods.