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What is the Difference Between a Screw Compressor and a Piston Compressor?
Air compressors are used across thousands of businesses and industries for various applications from vehicle body painting to food manufacturing. The two different types of compressors are screw compressors and piston compressors, but what is the difference between the two?
The main difference between a screw compressor and a piston (reciprocating) compressor is the way the air is compressed inside of the unit. Screw compressors use two meshing helical screws, while piston air compressors use pistons driven by a crankshaft. Another difference is the moving parts as the screw compressor has two moving parts which are not in contact while the piston compressor has a lot of moving parts. The screw compressors operate at a lower temperature and integrate a good cooling system.
Screw compressors are typically more heavy-duty units used for larger industrial applications.
Another difference is the moving parts as the screw compressor has two moving parts which are not in contact while the piston compressor has a lot of moving parts. The screw compressors operate at a lower temperature and integrate a good cooling system.