Sr.No. Parameter Reciprocating compressor Rotary compressor 1 Free air delivered Up to 300 m3/min Up to 3000 m3/min 2 Air supply Intermittent Continuous 3 Discharge pressure Very high up to 1000 bar Very low 10-15 bar 4 Lubrication system Complicated Simple 5 Speed Can’t run at high speed & directly coupled with the shaft of prime mover. Can be run at high speed & directly coupled with the shaft of prime mover. 6 Purity of air deliver Not clean because comes in contact with lubrication oil Clean because not comes in contact with lubrication oil 7 Balancing problem Major Not major 8 Size of compressor Large size for a given discharge Small size for a same discharge 9 Efficiency Isothermal efficiency is used as standard Isentropic efficiency is used as standard 10 Suitability Low discharge of air at very High pressure. Large discharge of air at Low pressure.
