What are the different requirements for bearings for different types of automotive air-conditioning compressors?

Automotive air-conditioning compressors are the core components of air-conditioning systems. Their function is to compress refrigerant and circulate it to the condenser and evaporator. Different types of compressors (such as piston type and rotary type) have different requirements for bearing performance and design due to their differences in internal structure and working methods. This article will compare these two types of compressors and analyze their specific requirements for Auto AC Compressor Bearings

1. Working principle and bearing requirements of piston compressors
Piston compressors compress refrigerant through the reciprocating motion of the piston in the cylinder. Due to the large number of moving parts, the requirements for bearings have the following characteristics:

High load bearing capacity

Piston compressors generate large radial and axial loads during operation, requiring bearings to withstand high-intensity mechanical pressure.
Commonly used are rolling bearings and sliding bearings, which have strong durability and load-bearing capacity.
Anti-vibration performance

Pistons are prone to vibration during reciprocating motion, and bearings need good shock absorption performance to maintain the stability of the system.
High wear resistance

Due to the high frequency of piston movement, bearings need to have excellent wear-resistant materials to reduce friction and extend service life.
Good lubrication performance

Piston compressors have high requirements for lubrication, and bearings need to have lubrication retention to avoid problems such as sticking or overheating caused by insufficient lubrication.
Low noise design

Piston compressors are usually used in passenger cars, and their bearings need to be optimized to reduce operating noise and improve riding comfort.
2. Working principle and bearing requirements of rotary compressors
Rotary compressors use rotary motion to compress refrigerants, and typical structures include scroll and rolling rotor types. Compared with piston types, their structures are more compact and the requirements for bearings are also different:

High-precision design

The moving parts of rotary compressors usually have high rotation speeds, and bearings need to provide higher precision to ensure smoothness and efficiency of movement.
Low friction performance

Rotary compressors have relatively less friction during operation, so the low friction design of bearings is required to be higher to further reduce energy consumption and heat accumulation.
Anti-centrifugal force performance

The centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation imposes additional loads on the bearings, so the bearings need to have strong structural stability.
High temperature resistance

Rotary compressors generate more heat due to their efficient operation, and bearings need to be able to maintain stable performance in high temperature environments.
Long life and maintenance-free design

Due to the relatively sealed structure of rotary compressors, the bearing design needs to minimize maintenance requirements and extend service life to reduce maintenance costs.