A scroll compressor is a type of orbiting displacement compressor which uses spiral elements to compress a specific amount of air into a continuously decreasing volume. The actual compressor element consists of a fixed spiral and a motor-driven orbiting spiral and compression comes from the interaction of these elements.
The spirals are mounted with 180° phase displacement to form air pockets. When the orbiting spiral moves, air is drawn in and captured in one of the air pockets, while the orbiting scrolls seals off the inlet port. The air is then compressed gradually while moving toward the center where the outlet port and non-return valve are situated. The compression cycle lasts for 2.5 turns, which allows a continuous flow of pulse-free compressed air to leave the scroll element through the outlet port.
Because the scroll element is belt driven and lacks metal-to-metal contact, oil lubrication in the compression chamber is not required, making scroll compression technology suitable for oil-free air applications such as food processing, medical and dental applications and laboratory research. The slow speed of the scroll compression elements ensures relatively quiet operation and little vibration, making it suitable for installations at the point of use, and there are few moving parts, so reliability is high and service interventions are minimal.
Learn more about the technology behind your favorite Atlas Copco machine by downloading a copy of our free air compression manual or contact us – we’d be happy to send you a copy of your own.
