Staged Scroll Technology
Patented staged scroll technology from Air Squared allows for high vacuum capability in a compact and lightweight design - ideal for applications with challenging performance, size, and weight requirements.
Modern innovation drives technological progress into an ever-shrinking footprint, continuously challenging pneumatic solutions to deliver better performance in less space. Simultaneously reducing moving parts and increasing or maintaining performance, patented staged scroll technology from Air Squared is ideally suited for vacuum applications with challenging size and weight restrictions.
Staged scroll technology adds a second involute to the back of the orbiting scroll and a mating involute to the housing, packaging multiple vacuum stages (in series or parallel) in a single compact design. All stages operate using a common crankshaft, motor, and housing, substantially reducing the size, weight, and componentry. The unique configuration can be used to create compact two-stage, three-stage, or four-stage scroll designs.
Features
- 100% Oil-Free
- Maintain the purity of your system with oil-free scroll technology
- Compact, Lightweight Design
- Space-saving staged scroll arragement has fewer moving parts than competing technology
- High Vacuum Performance
- Deep vacuum capability with patented staged scroll technology
- Quiet, Smooth Operation
- Dynamically balanced, valve-less, and nearly pulsation-free
- Efficient Performance
- Continuous vacuum process with no re-expansion or throttling losses
Applications
- Mass Spectrometry
- Backing Turbo Pump
- Scanning Electron Microscopes
- High Energy Physics
- Vacuum Coating
- Helium Leak Detection
- General Laboratory Vacuum
- Aerospace Environmental Atmospheric Monitoring
- ORC Waste Heat Recovery
Staged Scroll Technology Products and Projects
View past projects that supported staged scroll technology development or find your vacuum pumps solution with products engineered specifically for OEMs.
Staged Scroll Technology Products
Staged Scroll Technology Projects
Two-Stage Scroll Compressor for Vapor Compression Refrigeration
January 21, 2019
Designed as the driving compressor in the innovative Zero-Gravity Vapor Compression Refrigerator for space-bound food storage, the two-stage and semi-hermetic P07T013A-BLDC-C-SH scroll compressor is adaptable for several commercial refrigeration applications. The semi-hermetic housing facilitates compatibility with different working fluids, including air, inert gases, and refrigerants. The Two-stage design minimizes size and power requirements while maximizing […]
March 05, 2018
Multi-stage scroll technology from Air Squared allows for higher pressure ratios in a compact, lightweight, and efficient design. Typically used by Air Squared in vacuum pump designs that require low absolute pressure, multi-stage scroll technology can also be used to compress gases from low inlet pressures to a higher discharge pressure. The V07T016A-BLDC-SH was designed […]
Two-Stage Semi-Hermetic Compressor for Aerospace
July 28, 2016
In early 2016, Air Squared was awarded a contract from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to develop a semi-hermetic scroll compressor that is capable of boosting Mars atmospheric pressure to match atmospheric pressure on Earth (7 Torr to 760 Torr). The compressor is part of the Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE) technology demonstration experiment for the […]
Miniature Vacuum Pump for Handheld Mass Spectrometry
March 17, 2013
For sensing hazardous material in a handheld mass spectrometer, the compact and lightweight V05T010A-BLDC-C is 50mm by 30mm and weighs just under 250 grams. The unit is one of the smallest Air Squared designs to date and the first miniature pump to incorporate patented two-stage vacuum technology. The scope of the design project called for […]
40 kW Two-Stage Scroll Expander
December 01, 2010
Designed for waste heat recovery, the semi-hermetic 40 kW scroll expander features two stages and operates at approximately 80% efficiency. UPDATE (March 29th, 2014) – Development of a second generation large-scale expander is complete. The E46H122A-SH single-stage expander had modifications for increased power output. View all projects
High-Vacuum Three-Stage Scroll Pump
March 01, 2009
Developed for the Department of Homeland Security, the V12T22N4.0 scroll vacuum pump is designed around high-vacuum performance in a compact and lightweight package. The unit is specifically purposed for portable mass spectrometry and other gas analysis applications. The V12T22N4.0 features a unique three-stage scroll configuration that provides high-vacuum capability without a turbo pump. The patented […]
40 kW Two-Stage Lubricated Scroll Expander
March 18, 2008
Designed for use in an organic rankine cycle (ORC) to recover wasted heat, the E44T88N4.25L scroll expander leverages a patented two-stage scroll configuration to produce up to 40 kW output power. The unit requires lubricant to be cycled through with the working fluid and incorporates semi-hermetic design features for adequate sealing. The unit is one […]
October 18, 2007
Designed for Energetix, the E36T67N5.0 uses a two-stage scroll configuration to provide up to 50kW output power. The unit is rated for a maximum inlet pressure of 14 bara and operates at 1,800 RPM. Prototypes will be used to expand air in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) application. A UPS provides emergency power when the […]
V10T16N4.0 Two-Stage Vacuum Pump
October 11, 1999
Patented two-stage scroll compressor technology allows the pump to provide less than 10 mt ultimate vacuum while measuring only 3.75″ wide x 4.5″ high x 6.0″ long and weighing just 4 lbs. Its lightweight, unobtrusive design makes it easy to integrate onboard portable devices such as vacuum sterilization equipment, detectors, and mass spectrometers, as well […]
Staged Scroll Technology News
Development of Zero-Gravity Refrigeration System Continues
June 04, 2018
Broomfield, CO –Air Squared is one step closer towards developing another innovation for the commercial space industry with Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding for a Zero-Gravity Vapor-Compression Refrigerator (ZVCR) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Phase II SBIR award will allow Air Squared to fabricate and test a full-scale […]
NASA Award Funds Development of Martian Atmosphere Scroll Compressor
May 21, 2018
Broomfield, CO — The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded Air Squared Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to further develop its technology for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) processes by collecting, separating, pressurizing, or processing gasses from the Mars atmosphere. The award follows a Phase I SBIR award where Air […]
Space-Bound Refrigeration System Development Funded by NASA
April 11, 2018
Broomfield, CO — The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded Air Squared Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to develop a scroll-based zero-gravity vapor compression refrigeration (ZVCR) system for improved cold storage in space travel. The award follows a 2017 solicitation under the Logistics Reduction (H3.04) subtopic that is part of […]
NASA Funds Multi-Stage Scroll Compressor Technology
May 05, 2017
Broomfield, CO — Air Squared has been awarded Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the topic Mars Atmosphere Acquisition, Separation, and Conditioning for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). The SBIR award follows Air Squared’s work with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on the Mars […]
Two-stage Scroll Roughing Pump Awarded Phase I SBIR Funding
September 07, 2016
Broomfield, CO — The US Navy has identified an autonomous vacuum system as a key component to eliminating maintenance on current shipboard vacuum isolation systems. The cost of maintenance for current vacuum insulation systems is estimated at $550,000 US per ship over the life of the ship. While autonomous vacuum systems already exist, they are […]
February 02, 2016
Broomfield, CO – After finishing an extensive paper study that evaluated the feasibility of designing a scroll compressor for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Air Squared, Inc. has been awarded a contract to develop two CO2 scroll compressor designs that will be used in the Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE) technology demonstration experiment for the […]
Three-stage Scroll Vacuum Pump
July 12, 2009
New three-stage scroll pump is first of its size to produce 5 mTorr vacuum without turbo boost – 10 times greater than standard-size pumps.
January 01, 2003
Compact new vacuum pump draws on patented two-stage scroll technology to provide clean, quiet, reliable performance on portable lab and medical devices.
Custom Scroll Design
Contact Air Squared to learn how a custom staged scroll vacuum pump can support your application by providing the most advanced oil-free, high vacuum solution available.
Advanced Custom Design Capability with Staged Scroll Technology
For over twenty-five years, Air Squared has continuously challenged the limits of possibility with scroll technology. With the introduction of patented staged scroll technology and an ever-expanding range of custom design capability, put our innovations to work in your application.
Oil-Free Scroll Design
Orbiting scroll technology offers a quiet oil-free alternative to traditional technology like piston, diaphragm, and vain.
High Vacuum
Using patented coatings and staged scroll technology, scroll vacuum pumps can achieve high vacuum without the need for a roughing pump.
Compact Footprint
Unique staged configurations allow scroll compressors and vacuum pumps to fit in small space envelope without sacrificing
Ultra-Lightweight
Using patented staged scroll technology, vacuum pump solutions can be engineered incredibly lightweight.
Gases other than Air
With several patented sealed and semi-hermetic configurations, staged scroll vacuum pumps can be designed for compatibility with a wide-range of working fluids.
Staged Scroll Technology Explained
Staged scroll technology significantly reduces the size and weight of an oil-free scroll design. This is the best place to start for a basic understanding of the technology and how it can support your application.
Performance
Range Capability
Flow Rates 0 – 3,000 lpmv
Vacuum < 2 mTorr
Expansion Output 10 – 80 kWe
Staged Scroll Technology Exploded View (from Front and Rear)
Staged scroll technology describes a patented configuration that allows multiple stages to be arranged in a single compact package to increase pressure or increase flow. All stages share a common crankshaft, motor, and housing. The unique configuration can be used for two-stage, three-stage, or four-stage scroll designs and can operate in series, parallel, or both.
In a two-stage design, an additional involute is added to the back of the orbiting scroll and a mating involute is added to the housing, allowing a single orbiting scroll to be used for two stages simultaneously.
Each stage can be optimized based on the required displacement and required vacuum, compression, or expansion.
Staged scroll technology allows all stages to share a common crankshaft, motor, and housing. By removing redundant components between stages from the design, the overall footprint of the design is substantially reduced without sacrificing performance. The reduced part count also improves reliability, reduces cost, and reduces weight.
