Performance of the Use of Plastics in Oil-Free Scroll Compressors

Manufacturing cost of high precision scroll compressor parts remains a dominating factor in determining the overall production cost. Traditionally, scroll compressors are made of metallic parts which require high tolerances to avoid leakage. Precision is even more important when the compressor is designed for oil-free operation and metal to metal contact can potentially be detrimental to the overall performance. With implementation of non-metallic compressor parts such as plastics, various avenues such as injection molding can be taken to reduce production cost. In addition, various polymer blends can be chosen to alleviate the danger of contact through the use of self-lubricating materials. In the present study, a new compressor concept has been designed and built from both plastic and metallic materials. Performance tests have been conducted on the compressor concept and comparison between plastic and metallic compressor performance have been made