How a rotary screw compressor works
Follow the air from the moment it enters to the moment it leaves — and see what each part does, what happens when it fails, and how to spot it.
AirAir + oil mixtureOil circuitScavenge line
Click any component in the diagram to see what it does.
The air path
- 1Ambient air is drawn into the machine.
- 2The air filter removes dust and grit before anything else.
- 3The inlet valve decides how much air actually gets in.
- 4The screws compress it, with oil injected to seal, cool and lubricate.
- 5The air/oil mixture enters the separator tank, where most oil drops out.
- 6The separator element catches the fine oil mist that is left.
- 7The minimum pressure valve keeps the tank pressurised so separation works.
- 8The aftercooler cools the air and condenses out water.
- 9Clean, cool air leaves for your network.
The oil loop
- 1Oil collects in the sump at the bottom of the separator tank.
- 2The thermostatic valve sends it to the cooler, or bypasses it when cold.
- 3The oil cooler dumps the heat of compression.
- 4The oil filter removes wear particles.
- 5The oil is injected back into the screws — and the loop starts again.
Keep going
Every part in this circuit that wears is a part we make.