This study presents an establishment of optimal design method for lubrication at the thrust slide-bearing of scroll compressors, where, the analysis method using the average Reynolds equation by Patir & Cheng and the solid contact theory by Greenwood & Williamson were applied to calculate the resultant lubrication performance. For given values of friction area, thrust load and orbiting speed, the oil film pressure, the solid contact force and the friction forces were calculated to determine the friction coefficient. The friction coefficient decreased gradually with decreasing the friction area, because of decreased oil viscous force. When the friction area became quite small, however, the influence of the effect of surface roughness became large, thus resulting in increased friction coefficient. Thereby, the optimum performance appeared, which changes according to the friction area. In addition, the optimal friction area changed with the orbiting speed, the thrust load, the oil viscosity and the wedge angle. It was concluded that the optimal design values of the thrust slide-bearing can be calculated for given working conditions of the compressor.
