Improving the Reliability of a Reciprocating Compressor for Applications in a Refrigerator

Seong-woo Woo; Yong-ho Chu; Haeng-Keun Ahn

Korean Journal of Materials Research, Vol.17, No.11, 580-586, November, 2007

DOI10.3740/MRSK.2007.17.11.580 Export Citation

Improving the Reliability of a Reciprocating Compressor for Applications in a Refrigerator

Seong-woo Woo, Yong-ho Chu¹, and Haeng-Keun Ahn^{1, †}

SAMSUNG Electronics Co., LTD., 272, Oseon-Dong, Gwangsan-Gu Gwangju-City, 506-723, Korea
¹Division of Advanced Materials Engineering, Research Center of Industrial Technology, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, 561-756, Korea

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To enhance the reliability of a newly designed reciprocating compressor applied in a domestic compressor, accelerated life tests were developed using new definitions of the sample size and the B1 life index. In 1st accelerated life testing, the compressor was locked due to the fracture of the suction reed valve. The failure modes and mechanisms of the suction reed valve in the accelerated tests were found to be similar to that of the failed product in the field. The root cause of the failure was the overlap between the suction reed valve and the valve plate in the suction port. The missing parameters in the design phase were modified by expanding the trespan size, introducing tumbling process, changing the material and thickness for the valve, introducing a ball peening and brushing process for the valve plate. In 2nd accelerated life testing, the compressor was locked due to the interference between the crank shaft and thrust washer. The corrective plan was to heat treat the crank shaft. The B1 life of the compressor improved from 1.5 to 12.9 years.

Keywords:Reciprocating compressor;Reliability design;Load analysis;Accelerated life testing

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[1] Taguchi G,Tsai SC, Introduction to quality engineering, p.3, ASME Press, New york, (1992). (1992)

[2] Ryu DS, Chang SW, Micro. Rel., 45(4), 611 (2005)

[3] Woo SW, A simplified cycle simulation model for the vapor-compression refrigeration system utilizing R-134a, Master's thesis, College Station, Texas A&M University, (1992). (1992)

[4] Domanski P, National Bureau of Standards Report, No.1218, 16 (1986). (1986)

[5] Fisher SK, Rice CK, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report, No. CON-80/R1, 1(1983). (1983)

[6] Downing RC, ASHRAE Trans., 80(2), 158 (1974)

[7] Whitesel WA, Ref. Eng., 65(2), 35 (1957)

[8] ASM International Handbook Committee, Electronic Materials Handbook,1, p.887, Materials Park, Ohio, (1989). (1989)

[9] Lee SY, Reliability Engineering, p.73, Hyung Seol, Seoul, (2003). (2003)