Benefits
Events
Products & Programs
The rotary screw compressors we use today were invented by the Swedish engineer Alf Lysholm. This unique design uses a rotary type positive displacement mechanism that reduces the pulsation of flow, or surging, that is common in the more traditional piston compressors. Rotary screw compressors are used everywhere from large industrial applications to small power tools. The typical whining sound associated with a pneumatic grinder is a great reference to this unique constant positive displacement of air.
While power tools and large industrial applications are common uses for the rotary screw compressor, the automotive industry uses them as well; they are referred to as “blowers” or supercharges. Whatever the application, rotary screw compressors have one commonality:, they all have very tight clearances and rotate at very high speeds. This poses a challenging problem when trying to understand airflow and efficiencies at their operating speed of ~15,000 RPM with a typical clearance of 20-150 microns.
Read more in this case study: Tiny Gaps: Using CFD To Study Rotary Screw Compressors
