An apparatus for driving a compressor comprises a compressor having a compression
mechanism part for sucking a fluid to compress the same, and an electric motor
for driving the compression mechanism part, and an inverter device for driving
the electric motor at variable speeds. The electric motor comprises a self-starting
type electric motor having a rotor, which comprises a cage conductor and a polarized
permanent magnet, and the inverter device comprises a plurality of semiconductor
switches for controlling drive frequencies of the electric motor.
