In this paper a mathematical model for swash plate compressor is presented. Using this model, the description of the swash plate motion and the average power input to the compressor was derived as a function of the compressor geometry and angular speed under different operating conditions. The performance of an automotive air conditioning system provided with a swash compressor type is experimentally studied.
The theoretical and experimental studies of the swash plate compressor indicate that the average power acting on the swash compressor mainly depends upon the swash plate inclination angle, rotational speed and system pressure. It is concluded that, small value of the swash plate inclined angle is necessary for decreasing the power lost due to friction between the slipper and the swash plate and decreasing the shaft power required for the swash compressor. Also, in the design case when a long stroke and minimum shaft power for the swash plate compressor are required, the present analysis is very important for selecting the suitable inclined angle and the stroke length of the swash compressor. The experimental results show that low rotational speed, high cooling capacity and low shaft power per unit refrigerant mass flow rates are required for high values of coefficient of performance and volumetric efficiency. The coefficient of performance relative to that obtained for the corresponding Carnot cycle is parabolically decreased by increasing the shaft power per unit refrigerant mass flow rates.
The shaft power values obtained from the theoretical results agree with those obtained from a simulated program prepared by the manufacture company of the swash compressor [8] under different operating conditions.