A review of the research status of scroll expander

Abstract

In order to solve the problem of energy crisis and take the road of sustainable development, the development of renewable energy and recycling of low-grade waste heat have attracted more and more attention. As a new type of volumetric energy conversion device, scroll expander is wi dely used in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery, because of its advantages such as small size and so on. Scroll profile is one of the main factors affecting scroll expander performance. Compared with the traditional constant section scroll profile with same suction volume, volume ratio and shell size, the new type of variable section scroll profile could reduce scroll tooth height, better mechanical properties and improve efficiency, therefore making it more suitable for working under complex operating conditions. In order to reduce the head invasion rate, airflow friction factor, the power loss at the air inlet, and improve the pneumatic power conversion efficiency, a new head correction method is proposed. Although R123, R134 and R245 are the most commonly used working medium in scroll fluid machinery, the selection of working medium in scroll expander is still a key problem. The overall performance of the scroll expander can be improved by designing different inlet shapes and positions or double-symmetrical exhaust ports. The radial leakage caused by axial clearance of scroll expander can be improved by developing new scroll profile to reduce the length of radial leakage line and optimizing the design of scroll top sealing mechanism. The tangential leakage caused by radial clearance can be improved by enhancing the manufacturing precision and installation accuracy of scroll plate and designing the radial variable mechanism. At present, fewer research has been carried out on the leakage of scroll expander. Therefore reducing the leakage loss to improve the performance of scroll expander is of great significance in the future research.

Analysis of Flow Characteristics at the Inlet of a Circular Involute Variable Wall Thickness Scroll Expander

“…In an organic rankine cycle (ORC) power generation system, the expander serves as the core component of the system [1][2][3]; in it, the scroll expander has the advantages of a simple structure, large built-in volume ratio, and high isentropic efficiency. Such systems are widely used in low-temperature waste heat ORC power generation systems [4,5]. To enhance the performance of the scroll expander, many scholars have focused on the profile of the scroll expander, the change of flow field, and the deformation of the scroll [6][7][8].…”

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Nonlubricated Air Scroll Expander Derived From a Refrigerant Scroll Compressor

“…This can result in savings in electricity between 23% and 35%, as the data demonstrate (Tomasz et al, 2022). In the recent literature review (Wei et al, 2022), the scroll-type expander's application is refined only to power generation, design, leakage loss and works in a higher pressure range.…”