COMPARISON OF REFRIGERATION & HVAC COMPRESSORS

VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCIES

Reciprocating compressor:  65% to 92%

Rotary compressor:  87% to 92%

Scroll compressor:  > 95%

Screw compressor:  87% to 94%

Centrifugal compressor:  > 99%



CAPACITY (TONNAGE) USAGE

Reciprocating compressor: below 5 tons, below 10 tons, 10-20 tons, 5-150 tons   

Rotary compressor: below 5 tons

Scroll compressor:  5 to 10 tons

Screw compressor:  20 to 750 tons 

Centrifugal compressor: > 150 tons, 10,000-20,000 tons

 

INSTALLATIONS/APPLICATIONS

Reciprocating compressor:
refrigerators, freezers, ice machines, residential air conditioning, heat pumps, split air conditioners, residential to light commercial

Rotary compressor:
home appliances, refrigerators, room air-conditioners, window units, residential central air conditioning, heat pumps

Scroll compressor:
automobile air conditioning systems, heat pumps, freezers, water coolers, large residential, light commercial Central systems, commercial chillers

Screw compressor:
commercial chillers, large commercial and industrial market  

Centrifugal compressor:
industrial and commercial cooling and air conditioning, heat pump, commercial and industrial chillers, largest systems



ADVANTAGES:

Reciprocating compressor:
most commonly used, versatile, robust and powerful, durable (endurance), economical to operate, low initial cost, easy to install, reaches high pressures  

Rotary compressor:
high reliability, high durability, quiet, very efficient, few moving parts, low rotational speeds, low initial cost, low maintenance costs, usable in dirty environments

Scroll compressor:
reliable, very durable, very efficient, lesser moving parts, smoother and quieter operation, less torque variation, 

Screw compressor: 
can produce high pressure, consume less power than reciprocating compressors, low to medium initial and maintenance costs, few moving parts

Centrifugal compressor: 
pumping efficiency increases with speed, no valves, pistons or cylinders, few moving parts


DISADVANTAGES:

Reciprocating compressor:
vibrational issues, noisy, requires maintenance

Rotary compressor:
used on small systems, limited to smaller volumes, lesser pressure developed

Scroll compressor:   
typically more expensive, cooling is difficult compared to piston compressors

Screw compressor: 
difficulty in dirty environments, high rotational speeds, shorter life expectancies

Centrifugal compressor: 
operate at high speeds (e.g. 25,000 rpm), main bearings commonly subject to wear and tear, not positive displacement (fixed volume chamber/casing)