Expedited method of testing and refinement of refrigeration centrifugal compressors

JSC “VNIIKHOLODMASH”, Altufevskoe highway 79a-3, Moscow, 127410 Russia

^* Corresponding author: golovinnmv@yandex.ru

Abstract

Currently existing regulatory documents assume that refrigeration compressors are tested as part of test rigs with heat-exchange equipment. Given the high energy intensity of centrifugal compressors, the drive power of which in cooling mode with a cold capacity of up to 8.0 MW can be 2.0 or more MW, the creation of test rigs for preliminary and acceptance tests at the manufacturer’s factory requires a large investment. An alternative to the considered refrigeration centrifugal compressors test method is a test on a test rig in which the agent is partially condensed. In this case, an evaporator and a full-sized condenser are not required. The mathematical model of the refrigeration centrifugal compressors developed by JSC VNIIKHOLODMASH, allows testing of the refrigeration centrifugal compressors in model conditions, when the entire compressor operation cycle at the test rig is carried out in the area of superheated steam. Since the refrigeration centrifugal compressors mathematical model is based on physical simulation of compression processes in model stages at different values of conditional Mach numbers, dimensionless characteristics of model stages can be used to calculate the characteristic of the created compressor when operating under new conditions. The implementation of the model test method provides reduction of testing time due to absence of phase changes of the agent, improves the accuracy of the obtained results, reduces of power consumption, simplifies the test rig, and reduces consumption of the agent for filling the rig and water for cooling the agent.