Would a scroll compressor work as a compressed air motor ?

[Externet]

Hi.

A piston compressor can, but

Would a scroll compressor work as an air motor if fed by compressed air ?

 

Would it turn accordingly to its air supply?

 

They work hot as any compressor and their machined tolerances would be not ideal if they will run very cold because of the expansion. What considerations/re-machining would be convenient to implement, or what would be detrimental to its performance/efficiency if not re-machined ?

 

Would internal heating from friction be 'helpful' to efficiency as it would aid into the expansion?

[Hal.]

Mechanism of a scroll compressor .

From the folks over at the Wiki .

Click on the image for motion .

 

 

 

 

Wiki for the scroll compressor click here !

Edited August 10, 2011 by Hal.

[Hal.]

[John Cuthber]

Love the comedy sound effects.

[Enthalpy]

A scroll compressor was used as a motor - with tiny power! - in gas meters. Very little pressure drop is allowed there, and the scroll combined desirable features:

low friction but tight enough

smooth and silent movement over decades

materials compatible with natural gas

parts easily made by plastic injection

you can guess that reciprocating pistons couldn't replace it, nor could a rotary vane pump. A Roots or a gear pump maybe, but they're more difficult to produce. The only competitor then was a gas turbine, with the easily running bearings being the difficulty.

 

Now, if you want to produce a big mechanical power from compressed air, you must check the stress and deformation of the parts, how the seals will work and how much they wear... and this leaves little choice. For instance, only the Wankel emerged are a rotary internal combustion engine because Mr. Wankel solved the seals problem.