Screw Type Compressor
Screw air compressors come in two types: oil-free and oil-injected. Oil-free models are used for special sensitive processes where the compressed air needs to meet specific quality standards.
Rotary-type positive displacement mechanisms power a screw compressor to crank out high CFM air on a continuous basis. This makes it ideal for situations requiring 24/7 operation.
High Compression Capacity
Rotary screw air compressors have a high compression capacity, meaning they can produce a lot of compressed air on a continuous basis. This allows them to power operations on a 24/7 basis and helps you maximize the value of your investment.
The rotary screw air compressor uses screw type compressor two inter-twined helical screws, called rotors, to compress the air. The meshing rotors create a continuous sweeping motion that produces far more pressure than a reciprocating piston compressor that goes through an up and down motion. This smooth movement reduces noise levels and prevents pulsation of the compressed air flow.
This design also makes it easy to control the flow of the compressed air. Simply adjusting the rotational speed of the rotors adjusts the output. BOGE’s patented whisper quiet technology further reduces the noise generated by rotary screw air compressors.
An oil injected rotary screw air compressor injects oil into the compression process to lubricate the rotors and reduce friction. The resulting oil gets mixed in with the compressed air, but it can be removed with an oil separator and additional inline filtration. Rotary screw air compressors typically use less oil than reciprocating piston compressors, reducing overall maintenance costs.
Low Noise Levels
Unlike piston compressors that operate with more moving parts that generate vibration, screw air compressors are smoother and quieter. This is largely due to the fact that their rotary screws don’t touch each other during operation, so they don’t create a loud banging noise like piston compressors do. This makes them ideal for working environments where machine noise needs to be kept at a minimum.
In addition, screw compressors don’t produce any pulsing as they compress air. This is a big advantage because pulsing can disrupt the consistency of compressed air, and result in poor performance for pneumatic equipment. This smoothness also means that the pressure output of a screw compressor can be controlled much more precisely, as opposed to other types of air compressors which require a pump to operate.
The noise levels generated by a screw compressor are largely down to the type of air compressor, the lubrication system and the frequency of maintenance. If the wrong lubricant is used, it can increase the friction of the compressor, and therefore cause higher noise levels. Regular maintenance by professional technicians helps to keep sound levels low and ensure that the compressor is in top condition.
ELGi’s range of oil-injected rotary screw air compressors are designed to be the perfect workhorses for industrial applications, encapsulating all functional components into a single housing. They offer high reliability, easy maintenance and energy-efficient operations.
High Energy Efficiency
Screw compressors work at low speeds which helps to save energy. Special insulation and coating materials also help to minimize energy loss during operation. With state-of-the-art control systems, screw compressors optimize energy consumption by operating based on air demand. This results in significant energy savings for businesses.
Oil-free rotary screw compressors are highly effective for applications where the compressed air must meet stringent purity requirements. Unlike oil-injected compressors which introduce some oil into the processed air for cooling and lubrication purposes, oil-free units keep the compressed air free of any contaminants. While they offer lower PSIG levels than oil-flooded compressors, this makes them an excellent choice for food-grade and pharmaceutical applications.
Even though screw compressors produce a higher volume of compressed air than piston compressors, they consume less energy. This is largely due to the fact that they operate at lower internal temperatures. Furthermore, screw compressors require less space for cooler and air dryer installations which further helps to save on energy costs.
It’s important to properly size a rotary screw compressor in order to achieve maximum efficiency and energy savings. An undersized compressor won’t meet air demands, and an oversized one wastes energy. Atlas Copco’s compressor specialists can help you select the right-sized rotary screw compressor for your specific application. We can also provide an air audit to determine the exact amount of energy your existing compressor system is using.
Long Lifespan
A screw compressor works in a different way than other compressed screw type compressor manufacturers air producing machines. While piston compressors use up and down movements to create pressure, a screw compressor uses a shaft rotation that means all movement contributes to the compression of air, making them much more efficient at creating high quality air with less noise.
The rotary screw compressor’s ability to maintain the same level of air pressure over long periods of time makes it an ideal choice for continuous operations like those needed in factories or workshops. This longevity also helps reduce energy costs over the long term and is one of the reasons why a rotary screw air compressor is so cost-effective.
Screw compressors are able to achieve higher CFM per horsepower than reciprocating compressors because they can compress more air in a single stage thanks to their design. This also means they can operate at a wider temperature range without sacrificing efficiency, which is important for businesses operating in harsh environments where the temperature can affect equipment.
Depending on the application, a rotary screw compressor can be oil-injected or oil-free. In an oil-injected model, oil lubricates the rotors in the air end and is separated out from the compressed air before it exits the system. Oil-free models are typically used in applications where entrained oil carry-over would cause contamination, such as in medical research, food & beverage processing and semiconductor manufacturing.