Vert Rotors/ Vimeo
Vert.04 technology Vert Rotors
The Vert0.4 technology is the smallest of its kind in the world.
Vert Rotors, a producer of miniature compressors from composites based on its proprietary technology, has created the world’s smallest high-pressure clean air compressor using 3D printing.
The low vibration air compressor was first developed for space travel, but Vert Rotors has adapted it using 3D and CAD technologies, only recently available, for commercial applications on Earth. The VERT.04 technology, the smallest of its kind in the world, is also being regarded as the first real innovation in this technology for a century.
It was first unveiled as a prototype satellite cooling system for the Ministry of Defence’s Centre for Defence Enterprise to improve the quality of infrared imaging. Vert’s adapted version produces clean air compresses to 155 pounds per square inch (psi), nearly four times higher than the current generation of industry-standard small compressors, which generally produce around 32psi.
“Innovation in compressor design is glacially slow – our device is the first new design in the last 30 years to come to market,” said Olly Dmitriev, CEO at Vert Rotors. “As for micro compressors, the current design was developed almost 100 years ago, no wonder they cannot achieve low vibration when working at high pressure. Air compressors are used in multiple applications, from producing pharmaceutical drugs to aerospace engineering. Current models are noisy and vibrate a lot, which is a challenge to meet customers’ expectations.”
Vert’s compressor also uses water-injection instead of machine oil, eliminating the risk of contamination. Vert Rotors have made a real effort to move away from the use of oil so their compressor can be safely used in specific industries. Oil-free air is critical in sterile environments such as hospitals, dental clinics, food and electronic production plants.
“Oil is the most-efficient lubricant to make sure compressors operate at maximum efficiency, but oil particles can contaminate the air that’s being produced,” added Dmitriev. “Water is the natural alternative, but the current generation of water-injected compressors that are small enough for medical applications struggle to operate efficiently or produce the high pressure that’s needed.
"Our compressor solves this problem by using a conical screw design, with the male rotor revolving inside the female rotor, making them the only miniature screw compressor that reaches high efficiency.”
