Air Squared

Air Squared is a vertically integrated research and development (R&D) original equipment manufacturing (OEM) firm headquartered in Thornton, Colorado. Its operations include the design, fabrication, and production of oil-free scroll compressors, vacuum pumps, and expanders. Organized in two divisions, Air Squared Manufacturing handles volume assembly and production whereas Air Squared Inc. handles research and development.

Air Squared

Company type	S corporation
Industry	Electric Vehicles Medical Aerospace Fuel Cells Tritium Handling
Founded	September 1, 1991; 32 years ago (1991-09-01) in Cincinnati, Ohio
Founder	Robert Shaffer
Headquarters	Thornton, Colorado
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Scroll Compressors Scroll Vacuum Pumps Scroll Expanders
Production output	20,000 scroll machines (2020)
Number of employees	120 (2022)
Website	https://airsquared.com

History

In 1991, Robert Shaffer founded Air Squared Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio^[1] to license oil-free scroll compressors for medical device applications.^[2] Air Squared's first patent was awarded in 1997 titled Scroll compressor having a tip seal.^[3] In 2001, Air Squared Manufacturing Inc. was formed in Broomfield, Colorado. Operations were consolidated when both entities merged to form Air Squared Group Inc. in 2016. In 2022, all operations were relocated to Thornton, Colorado.

Products & Research

Compressors

 

The Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE) with its scroll compressor highlighted in teal

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) compressor for the Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE).^[4][5]
• Liquid-cooled air braking compressor for heavy-duty electric vehicles.^[6]
• Fuel cell forklift air compressor.^[7]
• Oil-free bedside medical device air compressors.^[8]
• Zero-gravity vapor compression refrigeration compressor system (VCRS).^[9]

Vacuum Pumps

• All-metal Tokamak reactor tritium roughing vacuum pump.^[10][11]
• Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) vacuum pump.^[12]

Expanders

• Organic Rankie cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery generator set expander and pump.^[13]
• Integrated natural gas, fuel cell, and waste heat recovery generator set expander.^[14]

References

1. . WayBack Machine. Archived from the original on 1999-11-27. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
2. "Breaking Sound, Weight, and Battery-Life Barriers". Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry. Medical Product manufacturing News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
3. Shaffer, Rob. "Scroll compressor having a tip seal". Google Patents. USPTO. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
4. Cody, Sara. "With Perseverance and a little MOXIE, MIT is going to Mars". MIT News. massachusetts institute of technology. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
5. Hecht, Michael. "Dr. Michael Hect - MOXIE - 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention". Youtube. The Mars Society. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
6. Törnquist, Lina. "The Volvo FL Electric: How does it work?". Volvo Trucks. Volvo. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
7. Hislop, Reid. "PLUG POWER PLACES LARGE PRODUCTION ORDER FOR AIR SQUARED COMPRESSORS TO BE USED IN GENDRIVE FUEL CELL UNITS". Plug Power Press Release. Plug Power. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
8. Mraz, Stephen. "Scanning for Ideas: Air Squared developed world's smallest continuous-duty scroll compressor". Machine Design. Endeavor Business Media. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
9. Brendel, Leon P.M; Braun, James E.; Groll, Eckhard A. (November 2019). "Matching Testing Possibilities and Needed Experiments for Successful Vapor Compression Cycles in Microgravity". 3rd International Conference of Refrigeration and Cryogenic Engineering, Air Conditioning, and Life Support, Systems. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
10. Boone, Louis; Foster, P.J. "Normetex Pump Replacement" (PDF). Energy.gov. Savannah River National Labs. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
11. Shaffer, Bryce; Nicholas, Nathan (10 December 2019). "All-Metal Scroll Vacuum Pumps for Tritium Processing Systems". Fusion Science and Technology. 76 (3): 366–372. doi:10.1080/15361055.2020.1712988. S2CID 214329842. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
12. Jones, Davey; Williamson, Jill. "Purge Pump and Separator Assembly" (PDF). Marshall Space Flight Center Research and Technology Report:2018. NASA. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
13. Shaffer, Kirk. "A Novel Way to Power Greener Homes". Cision. PR Web. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
14. Rusch, Emilie. "Mines researchers awarded $7.7M from ARPA-E to test full-scale hybrid stationary power system". Mines Newsroom. Colorado School of Mines. Retrieved 21 September 2020.