The principle of rotary screw air compression is really no different than reciprocating (piston) compression. Both are positive displacement machines that take in a fixed volume of air at atmospheric press.
[pdf] Innovations in rig automation, drill string design, drilling fluid chemistry, and the workhorse polycrystalline diamond compact drill bit continue to allow drillers to get wellbores to total depth in less time across all major U.S. basins, observes Cristi Harrington, vice president of North American sales for drilling contractor, Helmerich & Payne.
[pdf] One of the most significant advancements in screw air compressor technology is the widespread adoption of Variable Speed Drive (VSD) systems. Traditional fixed-speed compressors run at a constant speed, regardless of the actual air demand.
[pdf]