The basic principle of a screw compressor is as the male and female rotors are rotating in opposite direction they draw air in between them. As the air progresses along the rotors the air is compressed as the volume space between the rotors decreases, hence creating compressed air that is displace to the outlet. In liquid-injected screw compressors, a liquid is injected into the compression chamber and often into the compressor bearings. Its function is to cool and lubricate the compressor element's moving parts, to cool the air being compressed internally, and to reduce the return leakage to the inlet. Today oil is the most commonly injected liquid due to its good lubricating and sealing properties, however, other liquids are also used, for example, water or polymers. Liquid-injected screw compressor elements can be manufactured for high pressure ratios, with one compression stage usually being sufficient for pressure up to 14 and even 17 bar, albeit at the expense of reduced energy efficiency.
