Scroll Compressor Exposed: Understanding Its Mechanical Magic

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As an HVAC guy with 17 years experience i'd like to say this was a rather well put together video. I'd also like to add a warning about digital scrolls. They are extremely inefficient. They still draw about 60% power while unloaded as they do loaded. The only real application as i see it would be as a capacity modulating stage in a system with multiple compressors, to get a true n-100% capacity instead of 100/n steps. Emerson have pushed them out in datacenter applications which is where i've come in contact with them. Hugely wasteful, and they do wear out quicker than a fixed scroll. And the noise they make, awful.

Up until now I was just guessing at what was happening inside a scroll compressor, but now I see. You've created an incredibly effective illustration- thanks so much!

Great video. I did a lot of scroll compressor development at my first job out of college and this video would've saved me a few weeks of learning.

Thank you for this video. I worked in the Automotive field for more than 30 years and part of that was learning about and repairing mobile A/C systems including my own vehicles. While auto compressors were mostly belt driven, obviously being variable engine speed, piston pumps with "Swash Plates" could give variable output. Some vehicles had electronically controlled output, many had clutch engagement on the drive side. Since Hybrids came out, their compressors could use the High Voltage Battery Power changed to a 3 Phase A/C Motorized Compressor. I'm reading more lately how low pressure gas engine fuel pumps are 3 phase power now. That pump has it's own module that changes the 12 Volt battery power to variable 3 phase power controlled by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) which runs the engine. The Fuel Pump Control Module changes the fuel pump's output depending on the signal from the PCM and it's demands. That's on a CAN network. Talk about complexity! Thank you for this video.

Excellent animation to show the actual scroll operation! Two other issues though: 1. The toy that bubbles in your hand does NOT have ‘refrigerant’ and is NOT boiling! It’s simply air pressure from the expansion caused by your warm hand heating the lower chamber! (This was the main reason for my comment and I didn’t see anyone else mention it.) 2. When looking through comments I was reminded of another thing that hit me. As someone else noted, the spray bottle doesn’t make liquid evaporate, but just “atomizes” it for greater surface area for easier evaporation.

Even if I am not a Mechanical Engineering professional/student I enjoyed the video . This channel is a great source of information and knowledge . Love for “The Engineering Mindset “❤

Thanks, Paul! My Carrier heat pump (domestic service) has a variable-speed compressor, variable-speed blower, and (possibly) an electronic expansion valve. We selected this model for its high efficiency. I was pleased to see some of these aspects covered in your video. At the same time, your breakdown of the compressor reveals a great many wear points, particularly within the scroll mechanism. Rather concerning.~~~~Arthur Ogawa

Simple, concise and full of information. No one can do better than this person. You are great Thank you very much 👏👏👏👏

The graphics in this video make this so much easier to understand. I already had a vague idea of how these worked but it makes much more sense now.

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This is a great video! The ventilators I used to work on used scroll compressors with reed valves. Had to tear them down and service them every 5000 hours. Super interesting system

Great explanation! Having worked with reefers onboard container ships, I've always wondered how these compressors work. Now I want to see a Starcool compressor from inside 😂

This is the best and more detailed explanation I've ever saw! Good Job man! You've raised the bar!!!

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This video about compressors was a lot clearer than others I'd watched. Big thumbs up to Engineering Mindset!👍👍

It's pretty mind blowing that those scrolls can be engineered to a gas tight precision fit across the entire surface of two complex complementary shapes like that!

Great video! I worked on the Boeing 787 supplemental cooling units for about a year which use scroll compressors. The -8 and -9 aircraft SCUs use a TXV while the -10 uses an EEV. Variable speed motors and with an economizer to improve coefficient of performance (efficiency).

Beautifully explained!

VRF systems are completely changing the game for small scale cooling systems, especially with the increase in ductless systems in the US. I've got a ductless mini split heat pump in my office and it has fantastic temperature control, never feels too hot or too cold in the space and I know it only uses as much energy as it needs to maintain that temp.