This study presents a theoretical analysis of the exceptional lubrication performance of the thrust slide-bearing of a scroll compressor. It is suggested that the elastic deformation of the thrust plate, due to large loads, is responsible for the exceptional lubrication characteristics. In the theoretical modeling, the thrust slide-bearing surfaces are treated as rough sliding surfaces. The average Reynolds equation from Patir & Cheng for rough surfaces is applied to analyze the fluid lubrication at the thrust slide-bearing, while the Solid Contact Theory by Greenwood & Williamson is applied to analyze the plastic and elastic contacts between the orbiting and fixed thrust plates. For given values of the wedge angle between the sliding surfaces, several parameters including the oil film pressure, the solid contact force, the fluid frictional force and the solid shearing drag force, are calculated to determine the resultant friction coefficient at the thrust slide-bearing. The theoretical calculations show good agreement with lubrication test results, adding weight to the supposition that the exceptional fluid lubrication performance of the thrust slide-bearing results from the formation of an oil wedge due to large thrust loads.
