Structural Concepts 20-71040

COMPRESSOR

Compressors are used in all kinds of restaurant equipment from refrigerators and freezers to walk-ins, from merchandisers and display cabinets to condiment and frozen beverage dispensers and much more. A compressor is a mechanical device (a motor) that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume to affect cooling via the transfer of heat.

Compressors used in refrigeration systems are often described as being either "hermetic" or "semi-hermetic". The difference between the hermetic and semi-hermetic types is their design and construction. A hermetic compressor has a one-piece welded steel casing that cannot be opened for repair -- if the hermetic unit fails, it is simply replaced with an entirely new one. A semi-hermetic compressor uses a large cast metal shell with gasketed covers and screws that can be opened in order to replace the motor and other internal components.