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.

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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

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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. 

Is a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) always the most efficient?

I need a lot of air; do I need a Screw or Tooth Compressor?

What are the differences in Compressor types?

Have you asked these questions while trying to decide on the best medical air compressor technology to use for you medical facility and still don’t know the answers? Well, there is no perfect answer. There are many variables that influence the decision.

A screw or tooth compressor can provide a lot of air, but do you need that much? You can have a VFD with it to reduce the amount of air delivered, but it can only go down so low. And you don’t want to turn a large motor ON and OFF too much as it can be damaged. So, you have a minimum run time, whether you need it to run or not and that still requires power.

The heat generated is very similar.

The scroll compressor provides much more redundancy.

Piping and Power can be split on a scroll if needed. However, Piping and Power has to be split on a Screw or Tooth.

Another option would be to install a Scroll compressor. These are small compressors (2-10HP) that can be configured in many ways. You can connect two compressors to one motor (for 15 & 20HP). You can also Multiplex them where a Control Panel monitors the air pressure and determines how many compressors to turn ON to maintain the air pressure. Since these compressors are ON/OFF, you have full output and power or no output or power. Flowrate and power usage can be compared. Below are some comparisons of different configurations of scroll compressors compared to a tooth or screw compressor.

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