If you wish to purchase an air compressor, you could be faced with choosing between and oil-lubricated and oil-free compressor. Both have their pros, cons and suitabilities for different types of tasks and industries. VEMC is the leading ELGi screw compressor dealer in Mumbai, and in this blog, we tell you about the major differences between these two types of air compressors.
Piston vs screw air compressors
Before we go to the oil-lubricated and oil-free compressors, lets first talk about the difference between piston and screw compressors. The main difference lies in the way these compress the air. While a piston compressor use a piston driven by a crankshaft, a screw compressor uses two meshing helical screws.
Role of oil in air compressors
Primarily, oil in air compressors acts as a coolant to dissipate the heat generated in the process of compression. It also acts as a lubricant as an air compressor has lots of moving parts which constantly rub against each other, causing friction and wear and tear. Thirdly, air compressor oil seals the compression chamber, thus also acting as a sealant.
Pros and cons
Now that we know the role oil plays in an air compressor, lets jump to the pros and cons that oil-lubricated and oil-free compressors bring to the table.
Oil-lubricated compressors
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
1. These require very little maintenance and resolving technical issues is usually quite simple. | 1. These leave traces of oil which can cause problems in certain sensitive operations. |
2. These tend to have a longer lifespan. | 2. These are often bulky, take up a lot of space, and are difficult to move around. |
3. They produce very little heat or noise. | |
4. These are capable of performing heavy duty work and can be used in extreme conditions. |
Oil-free compressors
Pros | Cons |
1. They’re usually smaller in size and thus quite easy to move around. | 1. These generate more heat and noise. |
2. They can deliver clean compressed air without any traces of oil. | 2. These compressors have more maintenance requirements. |
3. These compressors require zero manual lubrication. | 3. They have a short lifespan as compared to oil-lubricated compressors. |
4. They are less costly than oil-lubricated air compressors. | 4. Unlike oil-lubricated compressors, these are not suited for heavy duty operations. |
Which type of air compressor is best suited for your industry?
In operations and industries where slightest contamination can be problematic, oil-free compressors are the best choice. These include industries like:
- Paper
- Food and beverage
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electricals
However, in case there is no contamination risk as such, oil-lubricated compressors are any day a great choice, as these have low maintenance, longer lifespan, and produce less noise and heat.
Still not sure which compressor is the right choice for your business? Free free to get in touch with VEMC by calling us on 022 43436655 or emailing us at marketing@vemc.co.in. We are the leading ELGi screw compressor dealer based in Mumbai.