A novel approach to tube design via von Mises probability distribution

Abstract

Discharge tube is a critical component in a reciprocating compressor that carries the refrigerant. It also transmits vibrations from compressor body to housing, making the design of tube a complex engineering problem combining static, modal and flow behaviour. This study proposes a novel design algorithm for discharge tube, to decrease the dependency on the trial-and-error approach commonly used by manufacturers. The computational approach creates a tube that connects the inlet and outlet using von Mises probability distribution. The created geometries are checked for static and dynamic properties using FEA. The algorithm continues until a candidate design passes the imposed thresholds. The candidate designs perform similarly to benchmark in evaluated aspects, demonstrating promising results. The presented algorithm is successful in generating alternative tube designs from scratch and can accommodate varying requirements. The main novelty of this study is the development of a comprehensive decision algorithm that considers multiple engineering parameters simultaneously.