Air compressors in industrial applications are very crucial, as a lot of tools get powered by them on the production lines. These tools are known as pneumatic tools. Compressed air is cheaper, more efficient, and versatile for powering industrial tools; hence, they are extensively used across industries.
There are different types of air compressors, and choosing the right type is very important to ensure your dedicated industrial applications are attended to. In this blog, you will get an insight into two of the most common compressors used for most industrial applications, scroll vs screw air compressors.
A] What Are Scroll Air Compressors?
A scroll air compressor also referred to as the spiral compressor, works on positive displacement and internal air compression. These types of compression systems are available in both oil-free and oil-lubricant versions. But, in most cases, the oil-free scroll air compressor is recommended, especially where there’s a need for clean & dry quality air without any form of oil residues in the chamber.
The scroll air compressors consist of two working components, stationary and orbiting scroll. These elements are bolted to one another and oscillate in a consistent motion without any kind of metal contact during air compression. The air is then compressed in small volumes within the given air pockets.
The working of a scroll compressor is initiated when the orbiting scroll is driven with the help of a short-stroke crankshaft. Following that, it runs eccentrically around the fixed scroll’s centre. Due to the movement of the orbiting scroll, suction is created, which then draws air from an inlet opening situated over the element housing at its top.
The air that’s captured within the air pockets situated in between both the scrolls will then be compressed gradually while they move towards the housing’s centre, which has a non-return valve and outlet port. And then, the compressed air will be discharged from the outlet at the centre of all assembly. The purpose of a non-return valve is to ensure no air backflows within the system.
The scroll elements rotate at 180 degrees, which is also called phase displacement. This helps provide the system and its elements with radial stability. As the compression chamber within this system becomes very small during the operating process, it is specified as an internal compression approach.
1. Advantages Of Scroll Air Compressors
Some of the advantages of scroll air compressors are as follows:
- Oil-Free Working: The scroll air compressors can operate completely oil-free without the need for any kind of lubrication. This makes the entire system eco-friendly and will reduce maintenance expenses.
- Quieter Operation: Using the scroll air compressors allows you to implement quieter operations within the industrial space. There is less or no friction within the system, which reduces the noise levels.
- Cost-Effective: The oil-free scroll air compressors are efficient in terms of energy utilisation due to the multi-unit control mechanism embedded in them. It allows the system to produce just the required amount of air, enabling you to save your operations costs.
- No Drain Treatment Necessary – Oil Free Scroll compressors drain is clean unlike that of lubricated compressors, Therefore reduces cost of drainage.
2. Disadvantages Of Scroll Air Compressors
Here are some of the disadvantages of scroll air compressors that you should take note of as well:
- Initial Costs are Higher: The cost of installing the scroll air compressors for your industrial application comes at a high initial cost.
- High Repair Costs: As per the scroll compressor design, if there’s any kind of malfunction within the system, then the service costs might add up to become expensive. Moreover, the system isn’t even serviceable immediately, which might lead to some downtime.
B] What Are Screw Air Compressors?
The screw compressors come with a rotary-type mechanism which works on positive displacement. The design of the screw air compressor allows it to deliver compressed air at a consistent flow rate. Hence, this is ideal for heavy industrial applications, especially in automotive, textiles, iron & steel, shipping, plastic, food & beverage, moulding, infrastructure and other such sectors.
These compressors are ideal for both commercial as well as industrial businesses due to their efficiency, durability and energy savings. Screw air compressors for the industrial application helps in trapping the air between two different meshed motors. The air volume will then undergo reduction when it passes through these rotors. Volume reduction then produces compressed air, which is then used for serving diverse applications.
The screw air compressors convert the power efficiently into compressed air output by using a consistent rotary motion. As stated earlier, it consists of two rotors, each of them having helical lobes that connect to the shaft. They are called the male and female rotors!
Upon rotation, the leading male lobe strip will reach out to the contour of the female groove. It will then trap the air within the pocket. The air will then move down from the groove of the female rotor and will be compressed when the volume is shrunk. As the male lobe reaches the groove’s end, the air that’s trapped within will be released or discharged.
Such compressors are also available in both oil-free as well as oil-lubricated versions. The oil lubricants used in the dedicated type of screw air compressor help with sealing, noise dissipation and cooling.
1. Advantages Of Screw Air Compressors
Here are some of the advantages associated with the use of screw air compressors for industrial applications:
- Less Noise During Application: The screw air compressors are designed with the use of noise-dampening technology, which helps your compressor to operate silently yet efficiently.
- Needs Less Maintenance: The screw air compressors require low maintenance efforts than the others, as it has a very simple design and limited moving parts.
- Better Quality of Air: The screw air compressors will offer you consistent dry and clean compressed air, which is important for various applications.
- Energy saving – screw compressors have the ability to provide air at different pressures and volume when required and can remain in an idle condition when not in use saving on electricity cost. You can rely on some energy-saving tips for your screw air compressor to bring the consumption under control.
2. Disadvantages Of Screw Air Compressors
Alongside the perks, here are some of the downsides of screw air compressors for you to take note of:
- High Initial Cost: The cost of installing this screw air compressor is initially higher because of its durability and longevity.
C] Industries That Use Scroll Compressors
There are various industries that use scroll compressors as their primary preference. Some of them are:
- Printing Industry: The scroll compressors are used for diverse printing applications such as digital, screen, inkjet, label, package, flexographic and others.
- Food Industry: The scroll compressors help the food industry with processing and packaging operations. Moreover, it also helps the industry operate the pneumatic equipment.
Additionally, an oil-free version is used to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in operations. - Diamond Industry: The oil-free scroll air compressors are used specifically in the diamond industry to serve the operations of polishing, shaping and cutting jobs.
- Healthcare Industry: The healthcare industry makes use of scroll compressors for powering surgical instruments, respiratory devices and dental drills. Moreover, the air abrasion, air syringes and dental suction units also use air compression through scroll systems.
- Laboratories: The labs make use of scroll air compressors for powering their equipment that are driven by air. Following that, they make use of these compressors to fulfil their mass spectrometry or gas chromatography applications.
- Semiconductor Development Sector: The scroll air compressors are used for manufacturing the semiconductors alongside wafer cleaning, pneumatic conveying and wafer cleaning.
D] Industries That Use Screw Compressors
Here are the industries that make use of screw compressors as their primary preference:
- Food & Beverage Industry: The screw air compressors being used in the food and beverage industry serves the application such as bottling, labelling, packaging and others. Moreover, the compressed air produced by the system is used for the proper preservation and processing of the shoes.
- Iron & Steel Industry: Screw air compressors are ideal for iron & steel industries to position the material trucks, drive system lubrication, gas deaeration and slag chamber drilling. Moreover, these compressors help with attaining stable combustion.
- Pet Bottling Industry: The pet-bottling industry makes use of screw air compressors for labelling, filling, packaging and blowing processes. Compressed air is also used for drying or cleaning the bottles alongside production lines.
- Automotive Industry: The automotive industry makes use of screw compressors for powering the pneumatic tools, operating the assembly lines and handling the paint job.
- Glass Industry: All the screw air compressors used in the glass industry serve the purpose of powering pneumatic tools such as glass cutters. Moreover, it also helps provide air for the glass blowing, grinding or polishing applications as well.
E] How To Choose The Right Air Compressor For Your Industrial Needs?
Before you connect with the best air compressor supplier for your industrial unit, you must know the important factors to choose the right one to suit your needs.
Knowing the importance of screw and scroll compressors in diverse applications is what would help you choose the best among them. The screw compressors are recommended for heavy-duty applications within the manufacturing sector, whereas the scroll compressors are ideal for indoor settings where loud noises aren’t entertained.
Some of the factors that will help you make an efficient choice upon considering screw compressor vs scroll compressor:
- Energy efficient
- Initial investment
- Maintenance cost
- Reliability
- Noise
- Longevity
- Durability
- Lubrication preference
- Compression ratio, etc.
Considering these factors, you will be able to help yourself find the right suitable air compressor (scroll compressor vs screw compressor) that goes well with your industrial needs. In case of any confusion, you can also connect with experts or air compressor manufacturers to get the right advice on the selection.
Conclusion
With this scroll vs screw compressor guide, you got an insight into the difference between screw and scroll compressors and how they work efficiently to serve your diverse industrial applications. Even though there are various types of compressors, you must assess your requirements and pick the one that brings you ample returns.
If you want to learn more about screw vs scroll compressors, you can reach out to Bimpex Machines Pvt Ltd., and our consultants will help you understand the robust applications of them both. Contact us right away!