Design and development of an oil-free double-scroll air compressor used in a PEM fuel cell system. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jun; Han, Yi; Pan, Shiyang; Wang, Zengli; Cui, Dong; Geng, Maofei
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 199(2022)
• Page Start: 840
• Page End: 851
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) -- Double-scroll compressor -- Oil-free -- Prototype -- Compression process; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.08.154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to arrive at an optimum design of a scroll compressor with requirements of a relative high volume flow rate and a compact structure, which is suitable for the use of hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) in the automotive application. An analytical model of multi-scroll compressors with arbitrary number of involute scrolls was established, and their working characteristics including the volume flow rate, built-in volume ratio, relative friction speed between the orbiting and fixed scrolls, and dimensions of scrolls were analyzed. An optimized double-scroll compressor, which can simultaneously meet the design requirements of the volume flow rate, structure size and oil-free lubrication, was designed, and a compressor prototype was developed and tested. Furthermore, numerical simulations of the working process of the double-scroll compressor were carried out and verified, and then p - V indicated diagram and the compressor performance were studied. Results show that the developed double-scroll compressor remarkably increases the volume flow rate, and reduces the relative friction speed between two scrolls simultaneously, compared with the conventional single-scroll structure; and therefore it shows very superior performance as an oil-free scroll air compressor used in the PEMFC of the automotive application. Highlights: A novel oil-free double-scroll air compressor used in a PEMFC was designed and developed. An analytical model of multi-scroll compressors was established. p - V indicated diagram of the new double-scroll compressor was obtained. Numerical simulations of working process of the new compressor were conducted and verified. .