Solving the conjugate tooth profile of screw compressor rotors using edge detection method based on Alpha Shape algorithm

While designing a screw compressor, the design of the rotor profiles is the most important because rotor profiles essentially determine the overall performance of the screw compressor. In the field of rotor design, the mutual solution of male and female rotors is characterized by shortcomings such as complex and error-prone calculation, and unsolvable interference. In this study, an edge detection method based on the Alpha Shape algorithm was proposed to avoid the complex calculation process in the traditional planar meshing theory and quickly obtain the point cloud data with singularity points removed. The results show that, with relatively high accuracy and fast processing speed, this algorithm can extract comparatively desirable edges so as to obtain data of the female (male) rotor profile based on the conjugate male (female) rotor profile. The analytical method and the experimental method were used to compare the data of the conjugate rotors, verifying the correctness of the design, which efficiently and highly accurately overcame the problems in mutual solution of male and female rotors. This method can also be applied to design similar conjugate products such as gears, worms, and milling cutters.