Scroll Compressors- What You Need To Know About Them

You have probably seen a black box at the back partThis type of AC compressor was first discovered
of your air conditioner and this is called a scrollduring the early 20th century but was developed into
compressor. The term 'black box' is not a technicalthe current model that we are familiar of today only
term because they just refer to the black casing. Thisduring the late 60's. Scroll compressors are known to
machine is used to compress the refrigerant in the airhave the ability to have a smaller outlet pressure and
conditioner; they are usually the replacement for pistonflow rate compared to piston or the compressors that
compressors. They are smaller than the previousare reciprocating. Even though piston compressors and
machines that came before them.scroll compressors are very similar to one another, the
When you see this AC compressor in the aircooling system for a scroll compressor is much more
conditioner in your home, you will see that there arecomplicated than the previous. However, a lot of
two spirals. The first spiral is stationary while thepeople still prefer these scroll compressors over the
second spiral is the one rotating around the stationarypiston because people feel that they are getting more
spiral that traps the refrigerant gas. The process ofbenefits from them.
compression in this air conditioner compressor happensBut even with the numerous advantages that these
due to the quick reduction of the gas that sweepsscroll compressors bring to the users, the
refrigerant from the port on the inside to the outside.disadvantages are still undeniable. One of the various
The scientific explanation is that kinetic energy isdisadvantages of this type of compressor is that they
transformed to become potential energy.are more prone to unwanted dirt just because suction
A specific kind of AC compressor is characterized byvalves are not present with them. Because they are
one of the two things: operation type or seal type. Themore prone to dirt, they are also more susceptible to
choices that a user can choose from in the seal typedifferent problems caused by the dirt they accumulate
are whether it is completely sealed, open type, andin their system.
semi-sealed. On the other hand, the choices that oneWith all the important information given about scroll
can choose from the operation type are eithercompressors, the choice is still up to you if you think
centrifugal, rotary, scroll, or piston. The good thing aboutthat you will feel much more comfortable using a scroll
each and every air conditioner compressor is that theycompressor over a piston compressor or vice versa.
are tested to know their different capabilities when itOf course, both of these and all the other types have
comes to different aspects like efficiency, pressuretheir own advantages and disadvantages that is why it
ration, maximum pressure ratio, mass flow rate, andis just up to you to decide which of these weigh more
even the rotational speed.for you.