AIR COMPRESSORS

These are devices used to compress air by reducing the volume and increasing its pressure. There
are five types of compressors which fall into two main categories; positive air compressors and
dynamic air compressor.

SCROLL AIR COMPRESSOR

This is one of the air compressors that is used to compress air by the aid of its scrolls. It is also
called the spiral compressor. It has two interleaving scrolls/ spirals hence the name. one of the
scrolls is stationery (it does not move), it is connected to the housing of the compressor. The
other one rotates; it is connected to a plate that connects with the shaft that aid the rotation.
When the shaft rotates the plate also rotates that makes the spiral to rotate too. The device is fully
hermetic and enclosed in the compressors shell which is cylindrically welded. The scroll
compress is an example of a positive displacement air compressor….

HOW IT WORKS

• The movable scroll orbits (rotates) in a path defined by the fixed scroll. Since the
movable scroll is connected to a crank shaft of the compressor, the crank shaft acts as the
driving mechanism of the movable scroll because it moves as the shaft is rotating.
• The gas pockets are formed between the two scrolls as a result of the scroll movement.
These gas pockets suck in air at the outer part of the scrolls and then the air is driven
towards the center while being compressed at different stages.
 • Before being trapped the air has lower pressure and temperature but upon reaching the
center of the scrolls, the air assumes higher temperature and pressure. This is as a result
of the compression.

Below is the figure showing the process of air compression in stages.

ADVANTAGES OF SCROLL COMPRESSOR

➢ They are inherently efficient compared to other types of compressors

➢ Due to lower vibrations, they do not need spring suspensions
➢ The absence of more movable parts, scroll compressors are considerably quite compared
to other types
➢ Absence of pistons for gas compression enables it to reach 100% volumetric efficiency
thereby reducing energy cost.

DISADVANTAGES

▪ Their hermetic structure makes it difficult to dismantle hence difficult to repair when
damaged
▪ It can only rotate in one direction and not the other way round
▪ Increment capacity control on systems with several scroll compressors has proven
problematic.
APPLICATIONS

Scroll compressors are used in;

• Air conditioning equipment as an automobile supercharger

• Food and fruit refrigeration
• Truck transportation
• Vacuum pump
• Marine containers