Suction Flow Measurements in a Twin-Screw Compressor
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Flow Configuration and Instrumentation
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. LDV Results
3.2. PIV Results
4. Conclusions
4.1. LDV Findings
- The mean vertical velocity (Vz) component at Z = +75 mm (upstream) along the X and Y axes showed uniform downflow velocity profiles with values up to 1.4 m/s with no influence from the rotors’ rotational motion on the measured values. Similarly, the rotors’ motion had no impact on mean axial and horizontal velocity components at Z = +5 mm (entrance to the port), with low velocity values and uniform profiles.
- At Z = −10 mm, the influence of the rotors’ motion on the mean axial (Vx) and horizontal (Vy) velocity components is evident due to its close proximity to the rotors, especially on the axial velocity, forming wave-like profiles with positive values up to 1.8 m/s, while the horizontal velocities were positive (towards male rotor) or negative (towards female rotor) and formed a rotational flow motion with its centre close to the Z axis (centre of the suction cylinder). The results also showed that both Vx and Vy velocity components were influenced by the transverse locations along X and Y axes.
- In addition, the tracking of the measured Vx and Vy velocities at z = −10 mm showed the presence of a complex flow in the suction port that included an axial component moving down towards the rotors’ working chambers at the front of the compressor, and that the male rotor interacted better with the air flow within the suction port, causing more air to flow towards the male rotor.
- The results of all measured turbulence velocity fluctuations showed uniform distributions and were independent of the rotor motion, even at Z = −10 mm, the closest measured position to the rotors. The results also showed similar RMS values for all measured components, suggesting that the turbulence can be assumed to be isotropic.
4.2. PIV Findings
- The distribution of mean vector velocity of axial and horizontal velocity components in the X-Y horizontal plane at Z = +75 mm showed similar flow structures at all measured shaft angles, confirming that there is no influence from shaft movement on the flow features. The results also revealed, at all θ positions, the presence of a complex flow with a dominant main stream flow and two counter-rotating vortices at the top left and bottom right of the images; this was due to the undeveloped inlet cylinder flow.
- The distribution of mean vector velocity of axial and vertical velocity components within the Y-Z vertical plane at X = 0 mm showed similar flow structures at all measured shaft angles with no influence from rotor motions, and that the flow consisted of relatively strong horizontal stream flows on the top of all images. As the flow moved down towards the suction port, the velocities became more and more vertical, so at the very bottom of all images, near the suction port entrance, flow was almost entirely vertical.
- The contour results of turbulence velocity fluctuations in both the X-Y horizontal and Y-Z vertical planes displayed fairly uniform distributions, and the axial and horizontal RMS values were found to be within a similar range to LDV results, despite the higher statistical uncertainties associated with PIV measurements.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Nouri, J.M.; Guerrato, D.; Stosic, N.; Yan, Y. Suction Flow Measurements in a Twin-Screw Compressor. Fluids 2025, 10, 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10100265
Nouri JM, Guerrato D, Stosic N, Yan Y. Suction Flow Measurements in a Twin-Screw Compressor. Fluids. 2025; 10(10):265. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10100265
Chicago/Turabian StyleNouri, Jamshid Malekmohammadi, Diego Guerrato, Nikola Stosic, and Youyou Yan. 2025. "Suction Flow Measurements in a Twin-Screw Compressor" Fluids 10, no. 10: 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10100265
APA StyleNouri, J. M., Guerrato, D., Stosic, N., & Yan, Y. (2025). Suction Flow Measurements in a Twin-Screw Compressor. Fluids, 10(10), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids10100265