Air Compression Fundamentals2 / 13
Compressor Types & Efficiency
Reciprocating, screw, rotary vane; energy efficiency and performance.
10 min read · Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead · Last reviewed July 2026
Two questions decide most of a compressed air system's electricity bill: what kind of compressor it uses, and, far more importantly, how that compressor behaves when the site needs less than full output. Machines are rarely the problem at full load; the money disappears at part load, where most systems spend most of their lives. This lesson covers the main compressor types and the control modes that determine their part-load appetite.
In this lesson
- 01The machines
- 02Where part load eats the money
- 03Multiple machines: sequencing
- 04Sources and further reading