Abstract: A regenerative centrifugal compressor has an impeller disk with axial impeller blades on either side of the impeller disk rim, and a support housing for rotationally supporting a drive shaft for the impeller disk, and also defining annular compression chambers that respectively surround one or the other of the rows of impeller blades. The annular compression chambers extend in the rotation direction of the impeller from an inlet to an outlet, with a stripper section extending from the outlet to the inlet in the rotation direction. Stripper seal inserts formed of a low-friction material softer than the impeller blades are fastened into stripper receptacles on either side of the housing at the stripper section. A baffle at the inlet conducts inlet air around the impeller to a radially inward side thereof. Annular running seals are provided between the rim of the impeller disk and the housing. The blades of the impeller are shaped for optimal efficiency and compression.