Rotary Screw Air Compressors

Operations with consistent needs for compressed air nearly always benefit from rotary screw air compressors. These compressors can flat-out run and run nonstop. The main strength of Rotary Screw Air Compressors is their continuous runtime. Continuous run time is exactly what it sounds like; the compressor is constantly compressing air, thanks to the design of the rotors. 

These compressors have become an industry staple due to their reliability, noise level, and efficiency. Using two motors, pressure is created to compress the air. The simplicity of their design makes these some of the most accessible compressors to use and maintain. The standard enclosure features technology to reduce the noise of an air pump that is much quieter than a reciprocating piston compressor. The way that the rotary screw compressor starts and stops uses less energy than the reciprocating piston would in the same environment.

How Do Rotary Screw Air Compressors Work?

Now that the more technical explanation is out of the way let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of how rotary screw compressors create compressed air:

1. Gas is sucked into the compression chamber, which consists of two screw rotors.
2. As they rotate, the air is isolated in the cavities and moved down the chamber through the rotors.
3. The chamber’s overall size decreases as it moves away from the opening, reducing its volume and increasing its pressure.
4. The pressure builds, and the air is condensed.
5. Once the pressure has reached the threshold, the discharge valve will open and move the air into the next process step, whether dryers, storage, or filtration.

The compression process is streamlined and requires less internal air movement than the reciprocating compressors. The air is pulled in, and as it moves through the compression chamber, pressure is applied to compress it. No matter the variation, this process remains the same across all rotary screw compressors. These aptly named compressors are known for their consistency and efficiency, and they can come in oil-lubricated or oil-free.

If you would like to learn more about the rotary screw air compressors we carry and more just like them, read here.

Rotary Screw Air Compressor Variations

Rotary Screw compressors are typically divided into two leading technologies when it comes to their oil usage: Oil-free and Oil-injected. Both of these options cover all of the needs for rotary screw compressors. You might need an oil-free if there are high air quality standards, but the oil injection will work just fine for everything else. These two technologies are often referred to as dry and wet screws, respectively.

The main difference, besides oil content, is how the rotors spin:

• Oil-Lubricated Screws the male rotor drives the female rotor
• Oil-Free Screws, a timing gear, is responsible for ensuring a calculated clearance between the two rotors.

Different variants will result in slight differences between components. For example, oil-free rotary screw compressors come with an asymmetric screw profile to boost energy efficiency and reduce internal leakage. These compressors rely on the timing gear to prevent contact between the rotors.

Oil isn’t the only thing that can cause differences between rotary screw compressors. 

https://youtu.be/qW2RANdPUJ8

Main Benefits to Rotary Screw Air Compressors

Rather than delve into the details, let’s go over the benefits of going with a rotary screw compressor. There are five main points we are going to focus on.

1. Energy Efficiency
   1. Due to low heat emission and the potential use of a VSD, these machines are more energy efficient than their reciprocating piston counterparts.
2. Long Lifespan
   1. A combination of easy maintenance and low heat emissions makes this machine the ultimate workhorse. It can run at full power 24/7 and still experience minimal capacity loss.
3. Continuous Air Flow
   1. Plan and simple, there is no need for a cooldown period, allowing these machines to keep working and avoid overheating issues. It would only take a break when there is no longer any capacity.
4. Noise Volume
   1. Because these motors are not in direct contact with each other, they create a quieter environment around the compressor. Not only is the basic unit quieter but with the right add-ons, these machines can also be nearly silent.
5. High Capacity
   1. These compressors can compress air 24/7, allowing them to produce higher volumes of air than other models.