What are the Advantages of Scroll Compressors?
The transition away from oil-free piston compressors in favor of something quieter and more efficient has led many consumers to purchase a scroll compressor in its place. It's a move that offers a variety of benefits outside of the obvious reduction in noise for a working space.
This change has affected industries ranging from laboratory-based research to air brakes on commercial vehicles. So why the sudden jump?
What is an oil-free scroll compressor?
Scroll compressors buck the trend of implementing a vertical piston to generate pressure, instead using the rotation from a pair of interlocked scrolls — sometimes casually referred to as spirals — to create an output of pressurized air. As air enters the unit, it follows a rotating scroll until it is eventually compacted against the second, stationary scroll and sent through a small discharge port.
This process can be more clearly seen in a video replicating the tool's internal operations. While most models will show that compressed air arrives on the first rotation, it typically takes several orbits to move air to the high-pressure discharge port.
Top-notch reliability
Scroll compressors typically feature fewer moving parts than piston-constructed alternatives, funcitoning mainly with the movement of an orbital scroll moving around a fixed, stationary scroll. Generally speaking, having fewer moving parts decreases the likelihood of failure.
The orbital motion also means this alternative requires less maintenance than traditional compressor designs.
Greater efficiency
The compact design of a typical scroll compressor provides far greater efficiency than a comprable reciprocating compressor. According to a study completed at Purdue University, the volumetric efficiency of a scroll compressor ranges from 89 to 94%. A reciprocating compressor typically records a range between 58 to 66%.
Less noise
One of the biggest advantages a scroll compressor offers is quieter operation. A typical compressor will operate between 70 and 85 decibels, while a scroll compressor will typically operate around 57 decibels. For reference, the higher end of that scale is roughly comprable to a hairdryer or city traffic as heard from inside a car.
This is especially favorable for applications which may favor quieter settings, even with a mechanical room, like medical facilities or laboratories.
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