<p>A rotary compressor comprises a compression chamber defined by enclosing both ends of a cylinder (4) with a main bearing (5) and an end bearing (6); compression elements (3) including a piston (8) which is eccentrically rotated by a crank shaft (7) within the compression chamber, and dividing the compression chamber into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber; and a sealed container (1) to be a plenum space, in which the compression elements are housed and lubricating oil is sumped at the inner bottom section of the sealed container to effect lubrication of sliding parts of the compression elements, wherein the lubricating oil is returned into the sealed container (1) after it has been cooled through a heat-exchanger (18) provided outside the sealed container.</p>
