Delivering 100% Class 0 certified air, when and where critical
Delivering the best air quality
Our oil-free scroll compressors are engineered with your application's needs in mind. They provide a consistent supply of clean, high-quality air. This is important for sensitive applications which come in contact with humans like instrument air for electronics production, laboratories, scientific instrument air, and food and beverage. It's also useful in situations where quality control is imperative like electronics manufacturing.
With the latest Atlas Copco oil-free scroll compressors, including the SF+, you'll benefit from an efficient, technologically advanced machine. In addition, such equipment delivers the following.
- Superior performance. The unique design of our scroll compressors allows for continuous operation with minimal maintenance, always ensuring top performance.
Energy & cost savings. Benefit from reduced installation costs as our compressors eliminate the need for downstream oil treatment. Atlas Copco oil-free scroll compressors minimize pressure drops, leading to significant energy savings. Our highly efficient compressors are engineered to lower power consumption without sacrificing performance.
Sustainability. With no oil in the compression process, our compressors can help reduce your carbon footprint and supporting your sustainability goals.
Designed for durability
Atlas Copco compressors are built to last. Our oil-free scroll technology ensures a long lifespan for the compressor. This is due to the points below.
Stiff shaft design. The major rotating mass is supported by a strong structure, preventing deflections during operation and extending the equipment's life.
Minimal moving parts. The scroll compressor's simple yet effective design means fewer parts are subject to wear, translating to lower maintenance costs and downtime.
Silent operations
As mentioned, oil-free scroll compressors operate at low noise levels. The sound generated is similar to a quiet office. This is due to the slow speed of the scroll elements. Therefore, they are ideal for noise sensitive environments like research facilities, hospitals, and offices.
Other suitable places include factories and workshops that aim to maintain a good work environment. Like stated in the introduction, it's better to use a scroll compressor than a piston machine to meet such needs.
Scroll compressors consist of two spiral-shaped scroll elements that are bolted together: a stationary scroll and an orbiting scroll driven by a motor. The process of compressing air in a scroll compressor involves several steps:
- Oscillation: The scrolls oscillate in a continuous motion without metal-to-metal contact, compressing air in crescent-shaped pockets.
- Orbiting Scroll Motion: The orbiting scroll, driven by a short-stroke crankshaft, moves eccentrically around the fixed scroll, creating suction that draws air in from the inlet at the top of the housing.
- Compression: Air captured in pockets between the scrolls is gradually compressed as it moves toward the center.
- Discharge: Compressed air is discharged from the outlet port at the center, where a non-return valve prevents backflow.
- Stability: The 180° phase displacement provides radial stability, and the internal compression minimizes leakage due to lower pressure differences between air pockets.
By following these steps, scroll compressors achieve efficient and reliable air compression.
- Cooling Fan: Helps dissipate heat generated during the compression process, ensuring the compressor runs efficiently and prevents overheating.
- Suction Chamber: The area where air or gas is initially drawn into the compressor.
- Suction Opening: The inlet through which air enters the suction chamber.
- Delivery Opening: The outlet through which compressed air or gas is discharged from the compressor.
- Fixed Scroll: The stationary spiral element that helps form the compression chamber.
- Orbiting Scroll: The moving spiral element driven by a motor, responsible for compressing the air by orbiting around the fixed scroll.
- Fail-Safe Temperature Sensor: A safety feature that monitors the compressor’s temperature to prevent overheating and potential damage.
- Compression Chamber: The space between the fixed and orbiting scrolls where the air is compressed as the orbiting scroll moves.
Modular scroll compressor
- Scroll compressors with variable flow technology incorporate the benefits and flexibility of a modular system. They utilize two to four compressor modules integrated into one canopy.
- Additionally, the Elektronikon® controller continuously monitors the status of each element and starts and stops the compression elements. This ensures that the compressed air output matches the air demand.
- Moreover, the air quality and user-friendliness of these units guarantee a smooth production process.
Digital scroll compressor
- On the other hand, the digital scroll compressor has a mechanical design. This machine matches the output of the compressor to the cooling requirements of the complete process.
- The digital scroll compressor is mainly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. They ensure precise temperature control in these applications. When temperatures are kept stable during the transportation of food, for example, this results in better food quality.
Quality on tap: SF Scroll Compressors Deliver Oil-Free Air
Industries served
Electronics
Clean, dry air is essential in electronics production to prevent rust, corrosion, and contamination. An oil-free scroll compressor provides the high-purity air required for precision assembly, cleanroom environments, and circuit board etching.
Laboratories
The compressed air requirements of laboratories are stringent. The integrity and reliability of lab work depends on a consistent supply of high-quality air. Our SF+ range of oil-free scroll compressors provides the clean and sterile air that labs need.
Scientific instrument air
In scientific environments, clean and consistent compressed air is crucial for powering tools and pneumatic equipment. Known as "instrument air," this extremely clean, dry air is essential for operating medical tools, sterilizing instruments, and conducting lab experiments.
Food & Beverage
For F&B producers, clean air is essential to ensure product safety and compliance with regulations. Using food grade compressed air equipment that meets ISO 8573-1:2010 Class 0 standards is the best way to achieve this in cleaning, packaging, or processing.
FAQs
What are scroll compressors?
A scroll compressor is a type of positive-displacement compressor. It works through the internal compression of air or gas. Scroll compressors can be oil-lubricated or oil-free. The latter is best suited for applications where there is a need for clean, dry air quality without any oil contamination in the compression chamber.. Know more.
How are scroll compressors different from screw compressors?
While the scroll compressor works with two inter-fitting scrolls in which one scroll is fixed and the other moves, the screw compressor involves rotary movement using male and female motors.
How do scroll compressors work?
Scroll compressors consist of two spiral-shaped scroll elements that are bolted together: a stationary scroll and an orbiting scroll driven by a motor. The process of compressing air in a scroll compressor involves several steps including oscillatin, orbiting scroll motion, compression, discharge and stability.
Screw compressors are highly recommended for heavy-duty industrial applications in the manufacturing sector. Industries such as automotive, brewing, food packaging, aerospace, and construction often leverage screw compressors. In these industries, compressor systems are required to run continuously for several hours, making the screw compressor the perfect fit, as it supports continuous usage without overheating.
On the contrary, a scroll compressor is an ideal choice for indoor settings where loud noise is a problem. For example, in medical facilities and laboratories, scroll compressors work best due to their quieter nature. Scroll compressors are also preferred in residential air-conditioning systems and medical HVAC systems.
What are the applications of scroll compressors?
Scroll compressors are widely used in various industrial applications due to their efficiency and reliability. They meet the basic requirements of a general-purpose compressor and are typically used in:
Laboratories & Research: Instrument calibration, sample analysis, and environmental control in cleanrooms.
Medical & Healthcare: Providing clean air for ventilators and incubators, powering surgical tools, and assisting in breathing during surgery.
Food & Beverage: Food packaging and vacuum sealing, meat processing, and carbonation.
Electronics: Parts cleaning, maintaining cleanroom environments, and preventing moisture and corrosion in precision assembly.
When is the scroll compressor the right choice?
Selecting a scroll air compressor involves considering several factors including size, flow, and air quality requirements.
Size & Technology: Identify the correct size and technology for your application.
Air Quality: Decide between an oil-free or lubricated compressor based on air quality needs.
Capacity & Flow: For higher capacity and flow, units with multiple scroll elements (two or four) can be chosen. It may be more economical to use a single large compressor instead of multiple smaller ones.