Analytical model uses Harris and Palmgren modeling to estimate power loss in scroll compressors

As up to 20% of all electricity produced powers compressors, even slight improvements in efficiency of constantly running compressors could deliver significant reductions in total energy consumption. Spiral-shaped scroll compressors that are used in anything from air conditioning to supercharged engines are a major contributor to this energy loss.

Salah Taresh Abdo Mohammed and Tao Liu have proposed an analytical model that estimates power loss of driving bearing versus rotation speed in an electrical scroll compressor, considering a gas force load. By applying Harris and Palmgren modeling to the structural parameters and operational conditions of a scroll compressor, the researchers were able to ultimate connect friction in the driving bearing on compressor performance.

“Our paper study is purposefully scoped to evaluate and investigate the driving bearing power losses, giving designers a detailed form of power consumption to help them the problem-solving stage and resulting in the proposition of the possible solutions in illuminating or further decreasing the losses in driving bearing,” said Salah Taresh Abdo Mohammed. “Furthermore, this model provides a framework that can be extended to include large industrial compressors by substituting these parameters with parameters appropriate for the other machines.”

The rotation of the bearing components of scroll compressors creates friction among their components, leading to power loss.

Using the Palmgren and Harris models — which are used to predict power loss in these types of compressors — the researchers estimated the frictional moment and power losses with rotation speed due to driving bearing impact is 17.2 W and 7.2 W based on each model respectively, translating to requiring 1.4% and 0.6% of total power to overcome friction caused.

They next look to examine power loss on other bearings, as well as examining other forms of lubrication.

Source: “Evaluation and investigation of driving bearing losses of an electrical scroll compressor,” by Salah Taresh Abdo Mohammed and Tao Liu, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy (2026). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0302886 .