Although the idea for a scroll compressor has been around for over 100 years, the technology is only about 50 years old. As the industry continues to advance, so does the need for reliable, clean, and oil-free compressed air. Scroll compressors are ideal in commercial applications that include: medical, pharmaceutical, food, laboratory, textile, electronics, and production facilities.

Read more

Anywhere quiet, clean air is required, a heavy-duty scroll compressor is the only way to go. They come in a wide variety of sizes, up to 40 HP, and can produce as much as 116 CFM! Scroll compressors utilize a very innovative (spiral) design that compresses air quietly with fewer moving parts and less required maintenance. 

How Does a Scroll Compressor Work?

Scroll air compressors use two spiral-shaped scroll pieces to compress air. One scroll is stationary, meaning it's fixed in place and doesn't move, and the other fits inside the stationary scroll and is moved in a tight circular motion without rotating. The moving scroll presses against the inside of the stationary scroll in such a way that, as it moves in a circular motion, it pushes and traps air into small pockets between the two.

The pockets of air continue being moved through the spiral toward the center. As the air moves further toward the center of the spirals, the air pockets become smaller, and the air in those pockets gets compressed.

Once the compressed air pockets reach the center, they're released into a discharge pipe to be used, or they're released into an air treatment system. An air treatment system is not included with the scroll compressor, as it's typically custom-created with the necessary components to serve the user's desired purpose.

The air treatment system utilizes air delivery piping to deliver the compressed air from the compressor, through a series of filters and dryers, into a receiver tank where the air can be held until it's used. However, some applications that make constant use of the compressed air to run assembly-line machinery may not require a tank. 

Key Benefits of Scroll Compressors

1. 100% Oil-Free Air

A major key benefit of scroll compressors is that they're 100% oil-free. For tasks or work environments that require 100% oil-free compressed air, scroll compressors can offer that. The two spirals found in scroll compressors that compress the air don't touch, meaning there's no need to use any oil for lubrication. But this doesn't just mean oil-free air, it also means there are no oil changes.

2. Very Low Maintenance

That leads to the next major benefit of scroll compressors—they're very low maintenance. Because there's no oil to change, and there are no spark plugs to worry about, the only real maintenance these machines require is a filter change. This not only saves you time, but it also saves you money. You don't have to worry about changing out oil filters, and you won't experience the costly pressure drop across oil filters.

3. Incredibly Energy Efficient

And speaking of saving money, scroll air compressors are incredibly energy efficient. In addition to the innovative scroll technology and lack of oil filters previously mentioned, these machines are also available with an optional built-in dryer that significantly reduces downstream pressure drop.

And if you're using your scroll air compressor for heavy-duty applications, there's an optional air-cooled IP55 class F motor designed specifically for the tough jobs. Furthermore, they're typically designed for easy serviceability, saving your more time and labor costs. So even if you weren't in need of an oil-free air compressor, the efficiency alone may be worth opting for a scroll compressor.

4. Extremely Quiet

Last, but not least, it's important to point out that these machines are extremely quiet during operation. The fact that there's no friction between the parts reduces noise significantly, as does the fact that there are no reciprocating pistons - keeping motion more smooth and balanced to reduce vibration. 

Choosing the Right Scroll Compressor

When choosing a scroll compressor, first determine which type of electrical service you have, either single or 3-phase power. Single-phase is the standard type of service, while 3-phase power is a special commercial power service. If you have access to 3-phase power, you can benefit greatly from the high-efficiency premium motors that are available in those models.

Next, consider the varying specs. How much pressure do you need? Scroll compressors generally come in 116 PSI or 145 PSI, and both single-phase models and three-phase models come available in either one. Cubic feet per minute (CFM) is another spec you should consider when selecting a scroll compressor.

CFM is the amount of high-pressure air being released per minute. This is how much work your compressor can do per minute given a set PSI. So, a 116 PSI unit that puts out 55.1 CFM will be capable of completing tasks faster than a 116 PSI unit that puts out 8.9 CFM. Don't forget the optional built-in dryer for reducing pressure drop.

If you'll be using your new scroll air compressor for heavy-duty operation, you can also consider the optional air-cooled IP55 class F motor, which is totally enclosed and highly efficient.

Scroll Air Compressor Buyer’s Guide

Contents

Leling supply professional and honest service.

Toggle

Scroll-type air compressors are also commonly known as spiral air compressors because of their scroll or spiral-looking ergonomic structure. You can also call them to scroll vacuum pump or scroll pumps. It operates incredibly on the rule of the positive displacement method. The structure is more like a free-standing rolled spiral that is fixed to a solid flat base on one side.

Scroll compressors require very little maintenance as compared to other air compressors, making them easy to maintain expediently. Apart from the low maintenance, it tosses a very high-efficiency rate making it a more premium compressor type. Scroll-type air compressors also fall under the category of oil-free compressors, as there is no oil usage even in the gearbox; thus, no leakage of oil occurs.

Scroll or spiral compressors usually come in the market with very little weight as they have a very small size, which provides convenience to the user in handling. Scroll air compressor has one very unique feature; it also works as the scroll expander when it functions in reverse or opposite rotation, thus providing mechanical work while expanding compressed air, gas, or fluid.

Working Principle of Scroll Air Compressor

The working of scroll air compressors occurs in relatively three phases. When the moving scroll is rotated around the stationary scroll, the gas pockets are formed, and thus the air gets trapped in these pockets, which then further passes to the below discussed three phases.

Suction phase:

In this first shaft revolutionary phase, the motion scroll moves around the orbit of the fixed spiral; as in result, it creates the gas pockets. And when the gas pocket is formed, the suction port endows the outside air to get in a trap with these air spaces or gas pockets. When the first rotatory revolution is completed, the adjacent surfaces meet at the ends so that the air can’t move outside.

 Compression Phase:

This is the second shaft revolutionary phase; in this phase, the rotatory scroll again starts moving around the fixed scroll. As the air is sealed in the gas pockets, further motion causes the air to move to the inner gas pockets and in turn, the volume of the air is reduced and the air gets compressed. When this second phase completes, the maximum gas is compressed in the gas pockets.

Discharge phase:

This is the third shaft revolutionary phase; in this phase, the compressed gas which is present at the most inner pockets moves toward the discharge port with the help of further motion of scrolls. The compressed air then discharges out through the port which results in making the volume in gas pockets condensed to zero.

Once this procedure cycle completes, the three phases, namely suction phase, compression phase, discharge phase, again transpire instantaneously at comparative sequence.

Parts for Scroll Air Compressor

Talking about its structural parts, it consists of the steel welded cylindrical shell, where the compressor shell is enclosed. This is the reason these scroll air compressors are called fully hermetic compressors. 

A single scroll type air compressor ponders two spiral or scrolls. From these two scrolls, one is attached or fixed to the body of the compressor, and the other is in continuous motion. The scroll, which is fixed to the body basically provides a motion pathway to the moving scroll. The moving scroll rotated around the orbit of the fixed scroll. The motor shaft and discharge port are also contrasted that carries the operation.

In most compressors, the suction or discharge valves are used, but these scroll compressors don’t work on these suction valves; rather, they use the most efficient dynamic valves that also operate the compressor at a very high differential pressure rate. Thus, these dynamic valves also aid in increasing the functioning efficiency of these scroll compressors. Apart from the other compressors, this scrolls compressor does not have a piston to compress the air.

Advantages of Scroll Compressors

1. Due to the absence of a piston, the scroll air compressor endows the 100% compression of gas, thus reducing the cost of energy.
2. As it only has few moving parts, thus it helps the compressor to work quietly without making any sharp noise.
3. Due to less noise and vibration, it does not require the suspension of springs.
4. Having few parts and less friction also make the compressor more durable.
5. It has considerably less weight as compared to other compressors, making it easy to handle.
6. Scroll-type air compressors work very efficiently at all types of duty cycles, whether it of low duty or high duty.
7. It tosses a very high energy productivity ratio.
8.  The three working phases occur simultaneously, thus the flow of gas is very smooth which progressively reduces the gas pulsations.
9.  It proves very beneficial for cleaning purposes, as it contains no oil that makes it contamination-free.

Applications of Scroll Compressors

1. Scroll air compressors have vital use in all field systems of air conditioning. They are also used in the household conditioning sector as they produce very low noise. Moreover, it also proves very beneficial for commercial conditioning purposes.
2. Other than air conditioning purposes, these compressors are also used in laboratories. As laboratories require a small or noise-free compressor, it would be the best option because scroll air compressors are ultra-quiet.
3. It also offers wide use in the refrigeration of food and fruits.
4. Hospitals and medical centers also use these scroll compressors.
5. It is also used in water cleaning equipment as it is oil-free, so it carries out the cleaning purpose more effectively without any contamination.
6. Other than the above applications, these scroll-type air compressors have found a wide range of applications in heat pumps, vacuum pumps, transportation of trucks, and naval containers.

On a final note, we can articulate that the above-fabricated article encompasses all the momentous details about the scroll-type air compressors. All this information is contrived after thorough groundwork. So before buying any compressor, you ought to peruse this comprehensive article; it will for sure lead you to buy the best compressor.

The company is the world’s best scroll air compressor manufacturers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

By |July 1st, |Choosing the right air compressor|

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author: olivia

Related Posts