Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Victrex USA | Subject: Victrex Peek polymer
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 13 April 2006
Polymer cuts refrigerator energy
consumption
Using polymer for a discharge valve, appliance maker increases the advantages of a linear compressor, reducing refrigerator energy consumption by more than 30%.
When appliance manufacturer LG Electronics of Seoul, Korea wanted to reduce the energy consumption of its refrigerators, it switched from steel to Victrex Peek polymer for the discharge valve in the linear compressors Unlike regular compressors that use rotary motions to convert electric energy to mechanical energy, the linear compressor uses linear motion to drive the pistons
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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By using Victrex Peek for the discharge valve, LG Electronics has been able to increase the advantages of the linear compressor, reducing refrigerator energy consumption by more than 30%.
The discharge valve is a key element of the linear compressor.
It pushes the coolant compressed by the piston towards the heat exchanger and closes the compressor.
Before switching to Victrex Peek, the valve was made of steel.
"The problem with steel is that it is thin and quick to transfer heat", said Andrew Ragan, Product Manager, Victrex USA.
"The result was heat loss in the valve between the low-temperature air input and the high-temperature air outlet".
"An additional problem with the steel valve was that it generated noise by clashing with the metal part".
"The switch to Victrex Peek has resulted in minimal thermal loss because the valve traps heat from escaping".
"It has also resulted in a significant noise reduction." A high performance thermoplastic, the polymer is used as a replacement for machined metals in various high performance applications due to its combination of heat, chemical and wear resistance properties.
"In this particular application, fatigue resistance was also an important property", said Ragan.
"Because the Victrex Peek discharge valve is fatigue-resistant, it is not easily broken down after thousands of repeated cycles of discharging coolants and shutting down the compressor door".
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