The words “compressor” and “roots blower” describe machinery that raises gas pressure. Although their basic purpose of moving gases or air may seem identical, they have various functions and are better suited for distinct uses. I’ll go over the main distinctions between a Roots blower and other kinds of compressors below, paying special attention to the features that set Roots blowers apart.

Roots Blower

A Roots blower is a positive displacement blower. It works by first forcing (displacing) a certain volume of trapped air into the discharge pipe. The following are some differences and features unique to Roots blowers:

1. Twin Lobe Blower: This is the traditional Roots blower design, with two interlocking rotors known as lobes. Air is transferred from the intake side to the exhaust as they revolve because it becomes trapped between the lobes and the housing.

2. The three Lobe Roots Blowers variant employs three lobes as opposed to two. In comparison to twin lobe blowers, the inclusion of a third lobe lessens vibration and pulsation, leading to quieter operation and less mechanical stress.

3. Vacuum Duty Root Blower: These blowers are made especially for vacuum applications, where they must continue to function even at reduced atmospheric pressures.

4. Positive Displacement Blower: Roots blowers fall under this larger category. The mechanism by which positive displacement blowers increase the pressure of a captured air or gas pocket is by decreasing its volume.

Compressor

A compressor is a mechanical device that lowers the volume of a gas in order to raise its pressure. There are many different kinds of compressors, such as axial, reciprocating, centrifugal, and rotary screw compressors. Certain compressors (such as turbo compressors) are not based on positive displacement, in contrast to Roots blowers. They vary from Roots blowers in the following ways:

1. Rotating Screw Compressors: These compress air by means of two rotors, which are meshing helical screws. When air enters from one end and becomes stuck between the rotors, its volume reduces as it travels along the screws, which raises the air pressure.

2. Turbo compressors: They work by accelerating air through the use of a rotating impeller. The air is slowed down in a diffuser, where its velocity is transformed into pressure.
3. Reversible Compressors: Using pistons driven by a crankshaft inside a cylinder, these compressors function similarly to positive displacement blowers by increasing pressure through reducing volume.

Key Differences

• Mechanism: Roots blowers are a kind of positive displacement blower that, with each cycle, moves and traps a fixed amount of air. With the exception of positive displacement models, the majority of compressors compress air by turning kinetic energy into pressure.

• Pressure and Efficiency: In comparison to many other compressor types, roots blowers typically result in smaller pressure rises. Furthermore, because of leakage (slip) back from the discharge side to the intake, they are less effective at higher pressure ratios.

• Applications: Roots blowers are preferred for applications (such as wastewater treatment and compressor conveying) that call for high air volumes at relatively low pressures. Pneumatic tools, air conditioning systems, refrigeration, and other applications requiring high pressures require compressors, particularly non-positive displacement types.

Identifying these distinctions makes it easier to select the appropriate machinery for a certain industrial, automotive, or commercial application, guaranteeing operational effectiveness and efficiency. For more information, Get in touch with us here.