Quantitative analysis of flow inside the accumulator of a rotary compressor

The flow structure inside the accumulator of a rotary compressor was investigated experimentally using a hybrid particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) velocity field measurement technique. A proto-type accumulator was studied while operating under real working conditions. The flow inside the accumulator was qualitatively visualized using a high-speed camera. The period of one cycle of the rotary compressor was divided into 4 phases and the velocity fields inside the accumulator were measured using a phase-averaging technique. The flow inside the accumulator, especially in the region between the screen holder and tube holder, showed a pulsating periodic flow structure according to the rotational phase of rotary compressor.