Research of the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of different meshing pair profiles in water-flooded single screw compressors

In this paper, we focus on the hydrodynamic lubrication properties of different meshing pair profiles (the gate-rotor tooth flank shape and the corresponding screw thread flank shape) of water-flooded single screw compressors. A test rig was designed to verify whether the water flowing through the meshing pair clearance could take load. Three specimens with different profiles were tested under the water-flooded condition. The balance position of the specimen, the water film thickness under different applied load and the effective water film carrying capacity were tested. A numerical model was proposed to calculate the water film pressure distribution and the effective water film carrying capacity under different film thickness. The numerical solutions were compared with the test results and showed good coherence. The results show that the three specimens can all get balanced under the water film torques and can restore balance after disturbances. The water film at the leading flank of the specimen with multicolumns enveloped profile has the largest water film pressure peak and effective carrying capacity. This study can be applicable in the design of single screw compressors meshing pair profile.