A Hybrid Steady-State Compressor Model for Real-Time Applications in Performance Monitoring, Control and Optimization

Abstract

In this study, a hybrid steady-state compressor model is proposed that can be used in the real-time performance monitoring, control and optimization of the vapor compression cycle. In the proposed model, first, a detailed analysis of the mass flow rate is presented, which is based on the volumetric efficiency concept and the assumption of a polytropic compression process. Then, discharge temperature of the refrigerant and power consumption of the compressor are also investigated. Three semiempirical models are constructed respectively. Further, to tune the unknown empirical parameters of the models, a social learning particle swarm optimization (SLPSO) algorithm is developed by using the real-time experimental data. An experimental apparatus of a refrigerant system is tested to validate the proposed models. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed models accurately predict the performance of real-time operating compressors. Meanwhile, the models identified by the SLPSO algorithm are more accurate than those identified by the traditional least-squares method.