7 TECHNICAL TRENDS--7.1 ROTARY COMPRESSORS

Rotary compressors first appeared in the 1930s. In 1937, the U.S.-based General Electric (GE) developed a rotary compressor for room air conditioners (RACs). At that time, because the manufacturing and assembly quality of precision parts was insufficient, rotary compressors were not widely used. In 1972, GE introduced a compact and lightweight Carry-Cool window-type air conditioner with a rotary compressor, which attracted a lot of attention.