Reliability Design and Case Study of a Refrigerator Compressor Subjected to Repetitive Loads

Abstract

A newly designed crank shaft of a compressor for a side-by-side (SBS) refrigerator was studied. Using standard mass and energy conservation balances, a variety of compressor loads typically found in a refrigeration cycle were analyzed. The laboratory failure modes and mechanisms were compressor locking and crank shaft wear. These were similar to those of the failed samples in the field. Failure analysis, accelerating life testing (ALT), and corrective action were used to identify the key reliability parameters and their level. The design parameters of the crank shaft included the hole locations and the groove of the crank shaft used for oil lubrication, crank shaft hardness, and thrust washer interference. Based on the analysis and design changes, the B1 life of the new design is now over 10 years with a yearly failure rate of 0.01 percent. A procedure was recommended for refrigerator parts design which included five steps.

Reliability Design of Mechanical System‐Like Water‐Dispensing System in Refrigerator Subjected to Repetitive Impact Loading

“…Under B1 life 10 years, if the objective number of life cycles L BX and AF are given, the actual required test cycles h a can be obtained from Eq. (16). ALT equipment can then be conducted in accordance with the operation procedure of the dispenser system.…”

“…It will benefit to confirm the final design of new product. Another case study of this new reliability testing methodology [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] will be suggested.…”

The Reliability Design and Its Direct Effect on the Energy Efficiency

“…The applied food weight force for the ALT was 0.68 kN. With a quotient, n, of 2, the total AF was approximately 4.0 using equation (13).…”

“…Based on the analysis of a failed refrigerator drawer and handle systems, we demonstrated our new reliability design method. The new method uses ALT; the new concept of product life, LB; and sample size, as a novel means of determining proper design parameters [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”