How Do Twin Screw Compressors Work?

Large-scale industrial processes requiring extra power, such as construction machinery, can utilize twin screw compressors. These intricately designed devices manage to multiply airflow through their assemblies for a reliable and strong output.

HIstory

The first screw compressor patent was issued in 1878. Afterward, the twin screw compressor was refined for applications, like the automobile, in the 1980s.

Function

A twin screw compressor employs two large helical screws that are intertwined with one another, creating lobed spacings. As air is moved into the compressor's casing, the lobes are filled with air. As the screws turn with the air-filled lobes, the air is progressively compacted as it moves toward the outlet port. Here, it is expelled as compressed air to power various devices.

Considerations

Since heat is a natural byproduct of the compression process, lubricating oil is typically used within the chamber. This oil absorbs the heat to protect the integrity of the twin screws' shape and function.

References

• The Air Conditioning Heating Refrigeration News: Servicing Twin Screw Compressors
• Whipple Industries: The History Of Screw Compressors