Positive-Displacement Compressor (MA)

Positive displacement compressor in a moist air network

Since R2024a

• 

Libraries:
Simscape / Fluids / Moist Air / Turbomachinery

Description

The Positive-Displacement Compressor (MA) block represents a positive-displacement compressor, such as a reciprocating piston, rotary screw, rotary vane, or scroll, in a moist air network. Port R and port C are mechanical rotational conserving ports associated with the compressor shaft and casing, respectively. When there is positive rotation at port R with respect to port C, moist air flows from port A to port B. The block may not be accurate for reversed flow.

The figure shows the steps of a piston compressor on a P-V diagram, which has these states:

• a — The compressor cylinder is full at inlet pressure.

• b — The pressure inside the compressor exceeds that of the outlet, which results in fluid discharge.

• c — The compressor reaches the top of the piston stroke, and only the clearance volume remains in the cylinder.

• d — The pressure inside the cylinder drops below the inlet pressure, which results in fluid intake.

Mass Flow Rate

The block calculates the mass flow rate as

$$\dot{m}={\eta }_V\omega \frac{V_{disp}}{v_s},$$

where:

• ṁ is the mass flow rate.

• ω is the angular velocity of port R relative to port C.

• v_s is the specific volume at the inlet. The block calculates this value from the nominal inlet conditions.

• V_disp is the displacement volume that the block uses.

Displacement Volume

When you set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, the block uses the Displacement volume parameter as the value for V_disp.

When you set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed, the block calculates the displacement volume as

$$V_{disp}=\frac{{\dot{m}}_{nominal}{v}_{s,nominal}}{{\omega }_{nominal}{\eta }_{V_{nominal}}},$$

where:

• ṁ_nominal is the value of the Nominal mass flow rate parameter.

• ω_nominal is the value of the Nominal shaft speed parameter.

• η_Vnominal is the value of the Nominal volumetric efficiency parameter when the Efficiency specification parameter is Analytical. When the Volumetric efficiency parameter is Tabulated, the block uses the tablelookup function to interpolate η_Vnominal as a function of the shaft speed and the pressure ratio.

Volumetric Efficiency

You can parameterize the volumetric efficiency by using analytical values or a lookup table.

Analytical Volumetric Efficiency

When you set Efficiency specification to Analytical, the block calculates the volumetric efficiency by using analytical values. When the Thermodynamic model parameter is Polytropic, the volumetric efficiency is

$${\eta }_V=1+C-C{\left(\frac{p_{out}}{p_{in}}\right)}^{\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$n$}\right.},$$

where p_in and p_out are the inlet and outlet pressures, respectively, and n is the value of the Polytropic exponent parameter. The block calculates the clearance volume fraction, C, as

$$C=\frac{1-{\eta }_{V_{nominal}}}{p_{ratio}{}^{1/n}-1},$$

where η_Vnominal is the value of the Nominal volumetric efficiency parameter and p_ratio is the value of the Nominal pressure ratio parameter.

When the Thermodynamic model parameter is Isentropic, the volumetric efficiency is

$${\eta }_V=1+C-C\left(\frac{v_{in}}{v_{out}}\right),$$

where v_in and v_out are the inlet and outlet specific volumes, respectively. The block calculates the clearance volume fraction, C, as

$$\text{C=}\frac{1-{\eta }_{Vnominal}}{v{r}_{nominal}-1}$$

where $${\text{vr}}_{nominal}=v_{i{n}_{nominal}}/v_{ou{t}_{nominal}}$$ is the nominal specific volume ratio. The block calculates this value from the nominal inlet conditions and the isentropic efficiency.

Tabulated Volumetric Efficiency

When you set Efficiency specification to Tabulated, the block calculates the volumetric efficiency by interpolating the values of the Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) parameter as a function of the shaft speed and the pressure ratio.

Conservation of Mass

When you clear the Model water droplets evaporation parameter, the block conserves mass such that

$$\begin{array}{l}{\dot{m}}_A+{\dot{m}}_B=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{wA}+{\dot{m}}_{wB}=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{gA}+{\dot{m}}_{gB}=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{dA}+{\dot{m}}_{dB}=0\end{array}$$

where:

• $$\dot{m}$$_B is the mixture mass flow rate at port B.

• $$\dot{m}$$_wA and $$\dot{m}$$_wB are the water vapor mass flow rates at ports A and B, respectively.

• $$\dot{m}$$_gA and $$\dot{m}$$_gB are the trace gas mass flow rates at ports A and B, respectively.

• $$\dot{m}$$_dA and $$\dot{m}$$_dB are the mass flow rates of the water droplets at ports A and B, respectively.

If you select Model water droplets evaporation, the mass balance equations are

$$\begin{array}{l}{\dot{m}}_A+{\dot{m}}_B+{\dot{m}}_{d_{evap}}=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{wA}+{\dot{m}}_{wB}-{\dot{m}}_{d_{evap}}=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{gA}+{\dot{m}}_{gB}=0\\ {\dot{m}}_{dA}+{\dot{m}}_{dB}-{\dot{m}}_{d_{evap}}=0\end{array}$$

The mass flow rate for the evaporated droplets, $$\dot{m}$$_devap, is

$${\dot{m}}_{d_{evap}}=\max \{{\dot{m}}_A,0\}{r}_{d_{evap}}.$$

r_devap is the mass ratio of water droplets that can evaporate,

$${\text{r}}_{d_{evap}}=\text{min}\left\{r_{d_A},x_{w_{capacity}}\right\},$$

which depends on r_dA, the mass ratio of water droplets to moist air at port A.

The capacity of the moist air to hold more water vapor is

$${\text{x}}_{w_{capacity}}=\max \left\{x_{w{s}_B}-x_{w_A},0\right\},$$

where x_wsB is the specific humidity at saturation, and x_wA is the specific humidity.

Conservation of Energy

The block conserves energy such that

$${\varphi }_A+{\varphi }_B+{\dot{m}}_A\Delta h_t=0,$$

where Δh_t is the change in specific total enthalpy and ṁ_AΔh_t is the fluid power, which is equal to the mechanical power, torque*ω.

When the Thermodynamic model parameter is Polytropic, the fluid power is

$${\dot{W}}_c=\omega \frac{n}{n-1}{\eta }_V{p}_{in}{V}_{disp}\left[{\left(\frac{p_{in}}{p_{out}}\right)}^{\frac{n-1}{n}}-1\right],$$

where the block uses the polytropic relationship $${\text{pv}}^n=\text{constant}$$ to relate p_in, p_out, v_in, and v_out.

When the Thermodynamic model parameter is Isentropic, the fluid power is

$${\dot{W}}_C={\dot{m}}_A\Delta h_t.$$

The block calculates Δh_t from the isentropic efficiency, η_isen. When the Efficiency specification parameter is Analytical, η_isen is equal to the value of the Isentropic efficiency parameter. When the Efficiency specification parameter is Tabulated, the block calculates η_isen by interpolating the values of the Isentropic efficiency table, eta_isen(pr,w) parameter as a function of the pressure ratio and the shaft speed.

Visualizing the Volumetric Efficiency

To visualize the block volumetric efficiency, right-click the block and select Fluids > Plot Volumetric Efficiency.

Each time you modify the block settings, click Reload Data in the figure window.

When you set Efficiency specification to Analytical and Thermodynamic model to Polytropic, the block plots the compressor volumetric efficiency against the pressure ratio.

When you set Efficiency specification to Analytical and Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, the block plots the compressor volumetric efficiency against the pressure ratio at T_{out nom}, the nominal outlet temperature.

When you set Efficiency specification to Tabulated, the block plots the compressor volumetric efficiency against the pressure ratio for each element in the Shaft speed vector, w parameter.

Assumptions and Limitations

• The block may not be accurate for flow from port B to port A.

• The block assumes that the flow is quasi-steady. The compressor does not accumulate mass.

Examples

Hydrogen Refueling Station

Models a hydrogen refueling station. Hydrogen is stored in low-pressure storage tanks at 200 bar at the station. A 3-stage intercooled compressor maintains the necessary pressure in a cascade buffer storage system so that the station is ready to dispatch hydrogen to any connected vehicles. The buffer is divided into high-pressure tanks at 950 bar, medium-pressure tanks at 650 bar, and low-pressure tanks at 450 bar. To avoid wasting compression energy, the lowest pressure buffer that is greater than the vehicle tank pressure is used to dispatch hydrogen. Priority valves switches between the different buffer tanks to control which buffer tanks to fill and discharge from.

• Open Model

Ports

Conserving

A — Compressor inlet

moist air

Moist air conserving port associated with the compressor inlet.

B — Compressor outlet

moist air

Moist air conserving port associated with the compressor outlet.

C — Compressor casing

mechanical rotational

Mechanical rotational conserving port associated with the compressor case.

R — Compressor shaft

mechanical rotational

Mechanical rotational conserving port associated with the compressor shaft.

Parameters

Displacement

Displacement specification — Option to specify displacement by volume or nominal conditions

Volumetric displacement (default) | Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed

Whether to specify the fluid displacement according to volume per cycle or nominal condition values.

Displacement volume — Displacement volume

130 cm^3/rev (default) | positive scalar

Fluid volume displaced per cycle. The block defines a cycle as one compression stroke and one expansion stroke, which occur during a single crank shaft revolution. This volume is the difference between the maximum cylinder volume and the clearance volume, (V_a — V_c). In general, the displacement volume is the volume swept out by the compressor over one shaft revolution.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement.

Nominal mass flow rate — Nominal mass flow rate

0.01 kg/s (default) | positive scalar

Nominal mass flow rate that the block uses to find the displacement volume.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed.

Nominal shaft speed — Nominal shaft speed

1000 rpm (default) | positive scalar

Nominal shaft speed that the block uses to find the displacement volume.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed.

Efficiency

The table shows how the options for the Thermodynamic model and Efficiency specification parameters affect the availability of dependent efficiency parameters.

Thermodynamic model
Polytropic		Isentropic
Efficiency specification		Efficiency specification
Analytical	Tabulated	Analytical	Tabulated
Polytropic exponent	Polytropic exponent	Isentropic efficiency	Isentropic efficiency table, eta_isen(pr,w)
Nominal volumetric efficiency	Pressure ratio vector, pr	Nominal volumetric efficiency	Pressure ratio vector, pr
	Shaft speed vector, w		Shaft speed vector, w
	Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w)		Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w)

Efficiency specification — Option to parameterize volumetric efficiency analytically or by using tables

Analytical (default) | Tabulated

Whether to parameterize the displacement volumetric efficiency by using analytical equations or tabulated data.

Thermodynamic model — Thermodynamic model parameterization option

Polytropic (default) | Isentropic

Whether to use a polytropic or isentropic thermodynamic model.

Polytropic exponent — Polytropic exponent

1.2 (default) | positive scalar

Exponent that the block uses when implementing the polytropic pressure-volume relationship.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Thermodynamic model to Polytropic.

Isentropic efficiency — Isentropic efficiency

0.65 (default) | positive scalar

Constant efficiency the block uses when implementing the analytical isentropic pressure-volume relationship.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic and Efficiency specification to Analytical.

Isentropic efficiency table, eta_isen(pr,w) — Isentropic efficiency table

[.95, .9, .85, .8, .75; .925, .875, .825, .775, .725; .875, .825, .775, .725, .675; .75, .7, .65, .6, .55] (default) | matrix

Efficiencies the block uses when implementing the tabulated isentropic pressure-volume relationship.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic and Efficiency specification to Tabulated.

Nominal volumetric efficiency — Nominal volumetric efficiency

0.95 (default) | positive scalar

Nominal volumetric efficiency to compute the clearance volume fraction. The nominal volumetric efficiency is the volumetric efficiency when the compressor operates at nominal conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Efficiency specification to Analytical.

Pressure ratio vector, pr — Pressure ratio vector

[2, 4, 6, 8] (default) | vector

Vector of pressure ratios that correspond to the compressor volumetric efficiency. Each element corresponds to a row of the Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) parameter. This parameter must be a vector of size N, where N is the length of the Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Efficiency specification to Tabulated.

Shaft speed vector, w — Shaft speed vector

[800, 1500, 2800, 3300, 4000] rpm (default) | vector

Vector of shaft speeds that correspond to the compressor volumetric efficiency. Each element corresponds to a column of the Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) parameter. This parameter must be a vector of size M, where M is the width of the Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Efficiency specification to Tabulated.

Volumetric efficiency table, eta_vol(pr,w) — Volumetric efficiency

[.95, .9, .85, .8, .75; .925, .875, .825, .775, .725; .875, .825, .775, .725, .675; .75, .7, .65, .6, .55] (default) | matrix

Volumetric efficiency for a given shaft speed and pressure ratio. This parameter must be a matrix of size N by M, where N is the length of the Pressure ratio vector, pr parameter and M is the length of the Shaft speed vector, w parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Efficiency specification to Tabulated.

Nominal Conditions

The table shows how the options for the Displacement specification, Thermodynamic model, and Efficiency specification parameters affect the availability of dependent nominal condition parameters.

This table shows the dependent parameters when you set the Displacement specification parameter to Volumetric displacement:

When the Displacement specification parameter is Volumetric displacement
Efficiency specification
Analytical				Tabulated
Thermodynamic model				Thermodynamic model
Polytropic		Isentropic		Polytropic		Isentropic
Nominal pressure ratio		Nominal pressure ratio				Nominal pressure ratio
		Nominal inlet pressure				Nominal inlet pressure
		Nominal inlet temperature				Nominal inlet temperature
		Nominal inlet humidity, water droplet, and trace gas parameters				Nominal inlet humidity, water droplet, and trace gas parameters

When you set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed, the parameters in Nominal Conditions do not depend on the Efficiency specification or Thermodynamic model parameters.

Nominal pressure ratio — Nominal pressure ratio

5 (default) | positive scalar

Nominal pressure ratio that the block uses to compute the clearance volume fraction.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select any parameterization except when Displacement specification is Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model is Polytropic, and Efficiency specification is Tabulated.

Nominal inlet pressure — Nominal inlet pressure

0.101325 MPa (default) | positive scalar

Nominal inlet pressure that the block uses to find the displacement volume.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Nominal inlet temperature — Nominal inlet temperature

293.15 K (default) | positive scalar

Nominal inlet temperature that the block uses to find the displacement volume.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Inlet humidity specification — Quantity to use to describe inlet humidity level

Relative humidity (default) | Specific humidity | Mole fraction | Humidity ratio | Wet-bulb temperature

Whether to describe the inlet moist air humidity level using the relative humidity, specific humidity, water vapor mole fraction, or humidity ratio.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Nominal inlet relative humidity — Relative humidity at inlet

0.5 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Moist air relative humidity at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet humidity specification to Relative humidity.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet humidity specification to Relative humidity.

Nominal inlet specific humidity — Specific humidity at inlet

0.01 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Moist air specific humidity, defined as the mass fraction of water vapor in a moist air mixture, at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet humidity specification to Specific humidity.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet humidity specification to Specific humidity.

Nominal inlet water vapor mole fraction — Mole fraction of water vapor at inlet

0.01 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Mole fraction of the water vapor in a moist air mixture at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet humidity specification to Mole fraction.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet humidity specification to Mole fraction.

Nominal inlet humidity ratio — Humidity ratio at inlet

0.01 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Moist air humidity ratio, defined as the mass ratio of water vapor to dry air and trace gas, at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet humidity specification to Humidity ratio.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet humidity specification to Humidity ratio.

Nominal inlet wet-bulb temperature — Wet-bulb temperature at inlet

287 K (default) | positive scalar

Wet-bulb temperature of the moist air mixture at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet humidity specification to Wet-bulb temperature.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet humidity specification to Wet-bulb temperature.

Inlet trace gas specification — Quantity to use to describe inlet trace gas level

Mass fraction (default) | Mole fraction

Whether to use the mass fraction or mole fraction to describe the trace gas level at the inlet.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Nominal inlet trace gas mass fraction — Mass fraction of trace gas at inlet

0.001 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Mass fraction of the trace gas in a moist air mixture at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet trace gas specification to Mass fraction.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet trace gas specification to Mass fraction.

Nominal inlet trace gas mole fraction — Mole fraction of trace gas at start of simulation

0.001 (default) | scalar in the range [0,1]

Mole fraction of the trace gas in a moist air mixture at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set:

• Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed and Inlet trace gas specification to Mole fraction.

• Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement, Thermodynamic model to Isentropic, and Inlet trace gas specification to Mole fraction.

Nominal inlet mass ratio of water droplets to moist air — Ratio of water droplets to moist air

0 (default) | positive scalar

Mass ratio of water droplets to moist air at the inlet under nominal operating conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Relative humidity at saturation — Relative humidity above which condensation occurs

1 (default) | positive scalar

Relative humidity above which condensation occurs in the compressor.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, either set Displacement specification to Nominal mass flow rate and shaft speed or set Displacement specification to Volumetric displacement and set Thermodynamic model to Isentropic.

Parameters

Mechanical efficiency — Compressor mechanical efficiency

0.9 (default) | positive scalar

Ratio of the fluid power to the mechanical shaft power.

Model water droplets evaporation — Option to model water droplet evaporation

off (default) | on

Option to model evaporation of water droplets due to temperature change in the compressor.

Relative humidity at saturation — Relative humidity above which condensation occurs

1 (default) | positive scalar

Relative humidity above which condensation occurs in the compressor.

Inlet area at port A — Inlet area

0.01 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Inlet area associated with port A.

Outlet area at port B — Outlet area

0.01 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Outlet area associated with port B.

References

[1] Mitchell, John W., and James E. Braun. Principles of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning in Buildings. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2013.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2024a

R2025a: Model water droplet evaporation

Model water droplet evaporation due to temperature change by using the Model water droplets evaporation parameter.

R2024b: Model water droplets suspended in moist air flow

Blocks in the moist air domain can now model water droplets suspended in a moist air flow. To model water droplets, select Enable entrained water droplets in the Moist Air Properties (MA) block connected to your moist air network.