Reliability
Scroll compressors have fewer moving parts than reciprocating compressors which, theoretically, should improve reliability. According to Copeland, a big manufacturer of scroll compressors, scroll compressors have 70 percent fewer moving parts, while comparing with the conventional reciprocating compressors.
In 2006 a major manufacturer of food service equipment, Stoetling, chose to change the design of one of their soft serve ice cream machines from reciprocating to scroll compressor. They found through testing that the scroll compressor design delivered better reliability and energy efficiency in operation. However, many refrigeration applications rely on reciprocating compressors, which appear to be more reliable in these applications than scroll compressors. These applications include supermarket refrigeration and truck trailer applications.
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