City Research Online

Abstract

Twin-screw compressors used in refrigeration, gas and air compression represent approximately 80% of the millions of industrial positive displacement compressors produced globally each year. More than 95% of these are oil injected. Oil injected twin-screw compressor is just one type of multiphase screw machines. Other include twin-screw expanders, multiphase pumps and motors. Multiphase twin-screw machines are traditionally analysed and designed by use of chamber thermodynamic models. However, for further improvement of efficiency and reliability, it is necessary to use more advanced modelling techniques such as 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In order to obtain a fast and accurate solution of multiphase screw machines using CFD, it is important that a numerical grid of the highest quality is generated quickly and reliably. For that purpose, a deforming grid of a twin-screw machine is generated using algebraic transfinite interpolation upon which elliptic partial differential equations (PDE) of the Poisson’s form are solved numerically to produce smooth final computational mesh. This chapter gives a review of the current state of the art in the application of CFD in modelling of multiphase twin-screw machines including compressors, expanders and pumps. Future challenges and development trends in the application of CFD for multiphase twin-screw machines are also shown in the chapter.

Publication Type:	Book Section
Publisher Keywords:	Screw compressor, Computational fluid dynamics, Grid generation, Conformal grid
Subjects:	T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Departments:	School of Science & Technology School of Science & Technology > Department of Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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