A simple semi-empirical compressor model has been developed to be used in refrigeration system simulations. The model is based on thermodynamics principles and a large database. The purpose of the model is to reduce the amount of data required to completely characterise compressor performance using alternative refrigerants. Two compressor performance parameters were defined. An effective pressure drop accounts for mass flow losses in the compressor, while numerically determined functional dependence of the heat transfer loss coefficient is related to compressor energy losses. These parameters depict compressor operation with reasonable accuracy. A total of 122 data points, 8 different refrigerants, and 2 compressors were utilised in the project. The model predicted mass flow rates and required compressor power for all data points within 10% of relative error.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, calculating, reciprocating compressors, compressors, refrigeration, thermodynamics, refrigerants, mixtures, R22, R32, R152a, R134a, R125, R124, performance, replacing, pressure drop, fluid flow, heat transfer coefficient, heat flow, flow rate