Study on Improvement of the Suction Valve Using PIV Technique

The simplified test model of the commercial reciprocating compressor for an automotive air-conditioner is used to measure the displacement of the suction valves using a strain gauge and to investigate the velocity distributions of the discharge flow from the valves using the particle image velocimetry system. This paper is focused on the effects of shape of the suction valve on the vibration-reduction. The size of the suction valve hole and the width of the tip of the suction valve are changed as main parameters of the valve shape. First, the size of the conventional valve hole and the width of the tip of the conventional valve are changed and seven new valves are manufactured to reduce the vibration of the valve. Consequently, it is found that one shape of the new valves is the most effective for the vibration-reduction. Next, the influence of the natural frequency on the vibration-reduction is investigated using one shape of the new valves by changing the material and the thickness of the valve. In addition, the relation between the conventional valve and the new valves are also estimated by the pressure loss. Finally, the reason of the vibration-reduction for one shape of the new valves is discussed from the results of the flow analysis around the valve. The vibration-reduction for one shape of the new valves is confirmed by measurement of the displacement of the valve in the reciprocating compressor for the automotive air-conditioner.