Abstract: A sliding vane compressor for use in refrigeration systems includes a rotatable hollow shaft, a cylindrical compressor rotor which surrounds the shaft, end covers enclosing the compressor rotor and a pair of vanes disposed within the rotor to compress a working medium entering the rotor. The compressor rotor and end covers have end faces in a contact area therebetween. At at least one of end faces of either rotor or end cover, a number of spirally-shaped grooves are formed curved in the direction of rotation of the rotor shaft. These grooves extend from the periphery of the respective end face toward the center thereof but short of said center to produce a flow preventing leakage of the working medium between the low pressure region and the high pressure region in the compressor.