Performance Analysis and Test Research of PEMFC Oil-Free Positive Displacement Compressor for Vehicle

In order to study the matching characteristics of the positive displacement air compressor and the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cells), air supply subsystem, the basic operating performance parameters of the scroll and single-screw air compressors were analyzed with the focus on the oil-free double-wrap scroll compressor. According to the thermodynamic model and three-dimensional unsteady-state numerical simulation, the variation of the temperature, pressure, and velocity was obtained. Besides, under the rated operating condition of the compressor, the inlet and outlet mass flow rate of the fluid in the working chamber with the orbiting angle of the crank was achieved. Based on the built test platform, the actual working process of scroll and screw compressors was analyzed. This study indicates that the volume flow can be significantly increased by improving the speed of the positive displacement compressor. Based on the experimental measurement, when the height of the scroll tooth of the scroll compressor increases by 5 mm, the volume flow of the prototype SC2 increases by 0.17 m3/min and the exhaust temperature is reduced by 13 °C at the rated speed.