As　industries　such　as　food,　pharmaceuticals,　electronics,　and　chemicals　advance　towards　high-end　refinement,　there　is　an　increasing　demand　for　pure,　oil-free　compressed　gas.　This　demand　is　driven　by　the　need　to　ensure　product　quality,　adhere　to　precision　technology　requirements,　and　strictly　comply　with　production　safety　standards.　Consequently,　the　trend　towards　using　oil-free　compressor　is　rapidly　growing　across　various　sectors.　However,　the　majority　of　compressors　labeled　as　“oil-free”　are　not　entirely　devoid　of　oil,　as　they　still　require　bearing　lubrication.　Consequently,　the　advancement　of　water-lubricated　oil-free　compressors　has　emerged　as　a　significant　research　focus　for　the　future.　Despite　the　evident　performance　benefits　of　oil-free　single-screw　compressors　(SSCs),　there　is　a　scarcity　of　publicly　available　studies　on　this　topic,　and　no　comprehensive　overview　exists　regarding　the　key　technologies　involved　in　the　development　of　water-lubricated　oil-free　SSCs.　This　work　aims　to　address　this　gap　by　synthesizing　the　limited　public　reports　on　the　development　of　water-lubricated　oil-free　SSC　technology.　Additionally,　it　examines　other　relevant　technologies　that　can　inform　the　development　of　such　compressors.　The　work　provides　a　systematic　overview　of　the　basic　performance　modeling　and　prediction　of　water-lubricated　oil-free　SSCs,　as　well　as　the　development　of　their　key　components.　Finally,　it　offers　forward-looking　perspectives　on　the　future　development　of　this　technology.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd