Theoretical and Experimental Study on Compressor Performance

A special issue of Machines (ISSN 2075-1702). This special issue belongs to the section "Turbomachinery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 769

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Interests: flow and heat transfer study of refrigeration system and cooling system, in particular the refrigeration compressor; detail mathematical simulation and measurement of compressor performance; novel compressor designs and performance improvement; microchannel flow and heat transfer; optimisation design of refrigeration components and systems; enhanced microchannel heat transfer in macro geometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue on the Theoretical and Experimental Study on Compressor Performance.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for groundbreaking studies that advance our understanding and optimization of compressor systems. We welcome a broad range of topics that explore innovative designs, simulations, and experimental research, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Compressor Design and Simulation Studies: Original articles that delve into diverse compressor designs and simulation techniques, showcasing advancements in modelling and prediction accuracy.
  2. Experimental Investigations: Studies presenting empirical data and insights into compressor behaviours under various operating conditions.
  3. Performance Enhancement: Research focused on optimizing compressor performance, with emphasis on energy efficiency, noise and vibration reduction, frictional loss mitigation, and other critical performance aspects.
  4. Novel Compressor Designs: Articles introducing new compressor architectures or modifications aimed at enhanced functionality and efficiency.
  5. Green Compressor Technologies: Research on environmentally friendly compressors for heating and cooling applications, including innovative approaches for emission reduction.
  6. Greener Refrigerants: Studies evaluating the use of alternative, eco-friendly refrigerants in compressors for sustainable heating and cooling applications.
  7. Other Aspects of Compressor Studies: We also welcome submissions on diverse topics related to compressor technology, from material innovation to lifecycle assessment and beyond.

This Special Issue seeks to create a valuable resource for those working to elevate the field of compressor technology and applications. Submissions that offer theoretical insights, practical advancements, or comprehensive reviews are highly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Kim Tiow Ooi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Machines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • compressor design
  • compressor technologies
  • compressor efficiency
  • compressor performance prediction

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

28 pages, 9135 KiB  
Article
Performance Analysis of a Reciprocating Refrigeration Compressor Under Variable Operating Speeds
by Willian T. F. D. da Silva, Vitor M. Braga and Cesar J. Deschamps
Machines 2025, 13(7), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines13070609 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 224
Abstract
Variable-speed reciprocating compressors (VSRCs) have been increasingly used in domestic refrigeration due to their ability to modulate cooling capacity and reduce energy consumption. A detailed understanding of performance-limiting factors such as volumetric and exergetic inefficiencies is essential for optimizing their operation. An experimentally [...] Read more.
Variable-speed reciprocating compressors (VSRCs) have been increasingly used in domestic refrigeration due to their ability to modulate cooling capacity and reduce energy consumption. A detailed understanding of performance-limiting factors such as volumetric and exergetic inefficiencies is essential for optimizing their operation. An experimentally validated simulation model was developed using GT-SUITE to analyze a VSRC operating with R-600a across speeds from 1800 to 6300 rpm. Volumetric inefficiencies were quantified using a stratification methodology, while an exergy-based approach was adopted to assess the main sources of thermodynamic inefficiency in the compressor. Unlike traditional energy analysis, exergy analysis reveals where and why irreversibilities occur, linking them directly to power consumption and providing a framework for optimizing design. Results reveal that neither volumetric nor exergy efficiency varies monotonically with compressor speed. At low speeds, exergetic losses are dominated by the electrical motor (up to 19% of input power) and heat transfer (up to 13.5%). Conversely, at high speeds, irreversibilities from fluid dynamics become critical, with losses from discharge valve throttling reaching 5.8% and bearing friction increasing to 6.5%. Additionally, key volumetric inefficiencies arise from piston–cylinder leakage, which causes up to a 4.5% loss at low speeds, and discharge valve backflow, causing over a 5% loss at certain resonant speeds. The results reveal complex speed-dependent interactions between dynamic and thermodynamic loss mechanisms in VSRCs. The integrated modeling approach offers a robust framework for diagnosing inefficiencies and supports the development of more energy-efficient compressor designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theoretical and Experimental Study on Compressor Performance)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 877 KiB  
Article
Challenges in CFD Model Validation: A Case Study Approach Using ANSYS CFX and TurboGrid
by Jordan Dickenson, James M. Buick, Jovana Radulovic and James Bull
Machines 2025, 13(7), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines13070593 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 228
Abstract
Model validation is an essential part of CFD-based projects. Despite being successfully employed for decades, the level and extent of CFD model validation details vary significantly in the published literature, which, in turn, adversely affects the repeatability and usefulness of published models and [...] Read more.
Model validation is an essential part of CFD-based projects. Despite being successfully employed for decades, the level and extent of CFD model validation details vary significantly in the published literature, which, in turn, adversely affects the repeatability and usefulness of published models and data. This study explores the various challenges associated with validating CFD models of thermodynamic components, namely, the compressors and their performance evaluation. The methodology involves blade generation through TurboGrid and BladeGen, mesh generation to ensure computational efficiency, and pre-processing with CFX to define boundary conditions and turbulence models, all within ANSYS 2024 R1. Three case studies are discussed, each assessing different compressor configurations and common challenges encountered during the model validation stage. Based on the case studies, a number of recommendations are presented relating to best practices in terms of both the use of published materials to validate new models and the level of detail required for experimental or simulation publication to ensure they can be replicated or used to validate a new model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theoretical and Experimental Study on Compressor Performance)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop