Experimental study of a retrofitted scroll compressor for operation with two-phase refrigerant flows

Experimental testing; Mixture properties; Oil-refrigerant mixture; Scroll compressor; Two-phase compression; Oil-refrigerant mixtures; Phase compression; Pressure ratio; Refrigerant flow; Test-bench; Two phase; Vapor quality; Mechanical Engineering

Abstract :

[en] The present paper introduces an experimental investigation of a scroll compressor working with two-phase refrigerant flows, in the frame of a novel thermodynamic cycle making use of two-phase compressions/expansions called REGEN-BY-2. The design of the test bench dedicated to two-phase compression will first be explained. The objective of this test bench is to assess the performances of the compressor working with a two-phase refrigerant-oil mixture under varying conditions such as inlet pressures, inlet vapor qualities, oil circulation ratios, pressure ratios and speeds. Three experimental campaigns have been conducted, the first two are dedicated to compare different oils, while the third does not use any oil, thereby experimenting a pure-refrigerant two-phase compression. The methodology to obtain the compressor inlet vapor quality is detailed, and the related assumptions developed. The performance indicators, i.e., isentropic and volumetric efficiencies, are defined for a two-phase oil-refrigerant mixture. A total of 253 operating points (with and without oil) have been used to generate 3D maps, showing the evolution of the efficiencies for varying pressure ratios and inlet qualities. The results shows a decrease of efficiency at low vapor qualities, especially at high pressure ratios, where under-compression is amplified. Finally, the results of the pure-refrigerant compression are analyzed, showing decent isentropic efficiencies, with a minimum of 50% at a vapor quality of 0.35 and an optimal pressure ratio of 2.7.

Disciplines :

Mechanical engineering

Author, co-author :

Leclercq, Nicolas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Aérospatiale et Mécanique (A&M)

Bederna, Benedikt G.; Schaufler Chair of Refrigeration, Cryogenics and Compressor Technology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany

Lemort, Vincent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Thermodynamique appliquée

Language :

English

Title :

Experimental study of a retrofitted scroll compressor for operation with two-phase refrigerant flows

Publication date :

September 2025

Journal title :

International Journal of Refrigeration

ISSN :

0140-7007

Publisher :

Elsevier

Volume :

177

Pages :

219 - 231

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0140700725002014?httpAccept=text/xml

European Projects :

H2020 - 851541 - REGEN-BY-2 - Next REnewable multi-GENeration technology enabled by TWO-phase fluids machines

Funders :

European Union

Funding text :

The project source of the results presented in this paper has received funding from the European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N 851541 .

Available on ORBi :

since 23 March 2026

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