Compressor Device and Compression Method
20210164455 · 2021-06-03
Inventors
- Stephan Hillebrand (Witzenhausen, DE)
- Patrick Zeisberg (Espenau, DE)
- Nils Friedrich (Willingshausen, DE)
Cpc classification
F04B53/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/1178
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B37/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/109
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B39/041
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B25/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B1/124
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/111
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B39/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B53/162
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F04B1/124
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B53/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B53/16
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A compressor device for compressing a gas in at least one compression chamber in at least one compression cylinder is disclosed. In each of at least two drive cylinders, at least one drive piston is disposed, said at least one drive piston dividing each of the at least two drive cylinders into two drive chambers. The at least one first and second drive chamber, by way of a hydraulic fluid, are able to be periodically impinged with a fluid pressure in order for the respective drive piston to be moved. Each of the remaining drive chambers in the at least two drive cylinders, by way of a connection piece, are connected in a non-positive locking manner by a fluid. The movement of the drive pistons by way of at least one mechanical connection means is able to be transmitted to at least one compression piston.
Claims
1. A compressor device for compressing a gas in at least one compression chamber in at least one compression cylinder, wherein a) in each of at least two drive cylinders at least one drive piston is disposed, said at least one drive piston dividing each of the at least two drive cylinders into at least one first and second drive chambers; b) the at least one first and second drive chambers by way of a hydraulic fluid, are configured to be periodically impinged with a fluid pressure in order for the respective drive piston to be moved; c) each of the remaining drive chambers in the at least two drive cylinders, by way of a connection piece, are connected in a non-positive locking manner by a fluid; d) the movement of the at least one drive piston, by way of at least one mechanical connection means, is able to be transmitted to at least one compression piston which is disposed so as to be movable in the at least one compression cylinder said compression piston movably delimiting the at least one compression chamber in the at least one compression cylinder on one side such that movements of the at least one drive piston are able to be converted to a volumetric variation of the at least one compression chamber; e) the at least one compression cylinder, in spatial terms, is disposed so as to be separated from the at least two drive cylinders by a spacing; and f) at least one connection chamber is filled with a functional gas and is disposed between the at least one compression cylinder and the at least two drive cylinders.
2. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one compression cylinder does not share any common wall with the at least two drive cylinders.
3. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing is at least the size of a maximum distance travelled by one of the at least one drive pistons in the assigned drive cylinder.
4. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one connection chamber is configured to be filled with the functional gas for purging the at least one connection chamber, for detecting leaks in the at least one connection chamber, and/or for blocking the at least one connection chamber.
5. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one measuring device is provided, and wherein the at least one measuring device is configured to determine a position of the at least one drive piston, the at least one mechanical connection means, and/or the at least one compression piston.
6. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two drive cylinders are disposed below the at least one compression cylinder.
7. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seal is provided between the at least one compression cylinder and the at least one compression piston and/or the at least one mechanical connection means.
8. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cooling device, which discharges waste heat created in the operation of the at least one compression cylinder, is disposed on the at least one compression cylinder.
9. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a compressed gas for forming a compression in multiple stages is configured to be directed as gas to be further compressed from a first compression chamber into at least one second compression chamber.
10. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve device for decoupling the movement of the drive pistons.
11. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling the impingement of the at least one first and second drive chamber with the hydraulic fluid via the valve device.
12. The compressor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid pressure between the at least one first and second drive chamber and each of the remaining drive chambers is configured to be synchronized via at least one synchronizing installation which bypasses the respective drive piston.
13. A method for compressing a gas in at least one compression chamber in at least one compression cylinder, the method comprising the steps of: a) disposing at least one drive piston in each of at least two drive cylinders, said at least one drive piston dividing each of the at least two drive cylinders into two drive chambers; b) periodically impinging at least one first and second drive chamber by way of a hydraulic fluid with a fluid pressure in order for the respective drive piston to be moved; c) connecting each of the remaining drive chambers in the at least two drive cylinders, by way of a connection piece, in a non-positive locking manner by a fluid; d) transmitting the movement of the drive pistons by way of at least one mechanical connection means to at least one compression piston which is disposed so as to be movable in the at least one compression cylinder, said compression piston movably delimiting the at least one compression chamber in the at least one compression cylinder such that movements of the drive pistons are able to be converted to a volumetric variation of the at least one compression chamber; and e) disposing the at least one compression cylinder, in spatial terms, so the at least one compression cylinder is separated from the at least two drive cylinders by a spacing, wherein at least one connection chamber, which is filled with a functional gas, is disposed between the at least one compression cylinder and the at least two drive cylinders.
14. The compressor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the seal is a labyrinth seal.
15. The compressor device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control system controls the impingement of the at least one first and second drive chamber with the hydraulic fluid via the valve device as a function of data from the at least one measuring device.
16. The compressor device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control system controls the impingement of the at least one first and second drive chamber with the hydraulic fluid via the valve device as a function of data from at least one process parameter.
17. The compressor device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacing is at least the size of a maximum distance travelled by one of the at least one drive pistons in the assigned drive cylinder.
18. The compressor device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one connection chamber is configured to be filled with the functional gas for purging the at least one connection chamber, for detecting leaks in the at least one connection chamber, and/or for blocking the at least one connection chamber.
19. The compressor device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one measuring device is provided, and wherein the at least one measuring device is configured to determine a position of the at least one drive piston, the at least one mechanical connection means, and/or the at least one compression piston.
20. The compressor device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least two drive cylinders are disposed below the at least one compression cylinder.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Exemplary embodiments will be illustrated in exemplary manner hereunder.
[0041]
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[0044]
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[0050]
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[0052]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0053] An embodiment of a compressor device 100 which has one compression chamber 1a, 1b in in each case one compression cylinder 2a, 2b for a gas is illustrated in
[0054] The compression cylinders 2a, 2b here are disposed in a vertical manner so as to be mutually parallel, wherein the gas (to be compressed) entering from the compression chambers 1a, 1b, or the exiting (compressed) gas, respectively, is illustrated by double arrows at the end side of the compression cylinders. The compression chambers 1a, 1b have in each case one gas inlet 5a, 6a, and one gas outlet 5b, 6b. The gas inlet 5a, 6a and the gas outlet 5b, 6b, can be formed by gas valves (not illustrated).
[0055] The volume of the compression chambers 1a, 1b by way of compression pistons 3a, 3b is periodically varied during the compression procedure.
[0056] The compression pistons 3a, 3b, movably delimit in each case the compression chambers 1a, 1b in a downward manner in the compression cylinder 2a, 2b. The compression pistons 3a, 3b in the embodiment illustrated when in operation perform work only in a stroke, that is to say that said compression pistons 3a, 3b are single-action compression pistons.
[0057] The compressor device 100 herein is aligned such that the force of gravity points downward. It is likewise conceivable and possible for the compressor device 100 to be aligned in an arbitrary manner in relation to the force of gravity. For example, the compressor device 100 can be aligned so as to be horizontal in relation to the force of gravity. The drive cylinders 12a, 12b are in each case disposed so as to be mutually coaxial below the at least one compression cylinder 2a, 2b. In other exemplary embodiments (not illustrated) the drive cylinders 12a, 12b are disposed above the at least one compression cylinder 12a, 12b.
[0058] Drive pistons 13a, 13b which in the embodiment illustrated are disposed in the two drive cylinders 12a, 12b serve for driving the compression pistons 3a, 3b.
[0059] The two drive pistons 13a, 13b subdivide in each case the internal chambers of the drive cylinders 12a, 12b into two drive chambers 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d. The volume of the drive chambers 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d can vary depending on the position of the drive pistons 13a, 13b within the drive cylinders 12a, 12b. The sum of the volumes of the drive chambers 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d in one drive cylinder 12a, 12b is in each case constant herein.
[0060] The first and the second drive chamber 11a, 11b are periodically impinged with a hydraulic fluid. The entering and exiting hydraulic fluid is illustrated by double arrows (hydraulic fluid infeed 18a, 18b). For example, when hydraulic fluid is forced into the first drive chamber 11a the drive piston 13a moves upward. The movement takes place along the movement axes Ba, Bb.
[0061] A third and a fourth drive chamber 11c, 11d is in each case indicated above the drive pistons 13a, 13b, said third and fourth drive chambers 11c, 11d being fluidically connected to one another by way of a connection piece (15).
[0062] For example, when the first drive piston 13a moves upward the fluid situated in the third drive chamber 11c is forced into the fourth drive chamber 11. An exchange of fluid between the drive chambers 11c, 11d takes place on account of the fluidic coupling (hydraulic non-positive locking coupling).
[0063] The drive pistons 13a, 13b are coupled to the compression pistons 3a, 3b by way of at least one mechanical connection means 20a, 20b, the latter here being a straight rod. In this embodiment, the drive cylinders 12a, 12b and the compression cylinders 2a, 2b lie in each case so as to be mutually aligned on top of one another.
[0064] On account of the mechanical connection means 20a, 20b, a movement of the drive pistons 13a, 13b is able to be transmitted to the compression pistons 3a, 3b which are movably disposed in the compression cylinders 2a, 2b. Movements of the drive pistons 13a, 13b are thus able to be converted to a volumetric variation of the compression chambers 1a, 1b.
[0065] The compression cylinders 2a, 2b in spatial terms herein are in each case disposed so as to be mutually separated from the two drive cylinders 12a, 12b by a spacing Da, Db. The risk of contaminations for example being carried from the drive cylinders 12a, 12b to the compression cylinders 13a, 13b is minimized by specifying said spacings Da, Db.
[0066] The spacings Da, Db also have the effect that the compression cylinders 13a, 13b do not share any common wall with the drive cylinders 12a, 12b; the compression cylinders 2a, 2b and the drive cylinders 12a, 12b, are mutually separated in particular in spatial, fluidic and also thermal terms.
[0067] In one embodiment, the spacing Da, Db can be chosen to be at least as long as the maximum distance travelled by one of the drive pistons 13a, 13b in the assigned drive cylinder 12a, 12b.
[0068] At least one connection chamber 30a, 30b which for purging the at least one connection chamber 30a, 30b, for detecting a leak in the at least one connection chamber 30a, 30 and/or for blocking the at least one connection chamber 30a, 30b is able to be filled with a functional gas is disposed between the compression cylinders 2a, 2b, and the drive cylinders 12a, 12b in the embodiment illustrated according to
[0069] The embodiment according to
[0070] A measuring device 17 by way of which the position of one of the drive pistons 13a, 13b is to be determined is schematically illustrated in
[0071] A stroke of 500 mm is able to be implemented using such a compressor device 100, for example. The overall height of the device in this instance would be approx. 1800 mm. In principle, other dimensions are also able to be implemented.
[0072] The embodiment according to
[0073] Alternative construction modes for compression devices 100 will be illustrated in the figures hereunder, wherein reference is made to the description of the embodiment of
[0074] A second embodiment which is likewise single-action, single-stage and hydraulically coupled in a rod-proximal manner, but has an air-cooling system, is illustrated in
[0075] Rib devices are disposed as a cooling device about the compression chambers 1a, 1b in this embodiment. The functional mode otherwise corresponds to that of the first embodiment.
[0076] A third embodiment which represents a further variant of the embodiment of
[0077] Like the first embodiment, said third embodiment has a water-cooling system. However, the hydraulic coupling takes place not in a rod-proximal manner but in a piston-proximal manner by way of the connection piece 15. Accordingly, the hydraulic fluid infeed lines 18a, 18b lie above the drive pistons 13a, 13b, that is to say proximal to the rod.
[0078] Compressor devices of the type illustrated here can also be configured as dual-stage compressors.
[0079]
[0080] A further variant is illustrated in
[0081] However, the compression chamber 1a, 1b in this embodiment is configured such that the compressor device 100 operates in a dual-action manner, that is to say that each stroke of the compression piston 3a, 3b performs work. Accordingly, the compression chambers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f have in each case one inlet and one outlet.
[0082] A further advantage of the compressor device 100 is derived from the hydraulically coupled drive cylinders 12a, 12b. On account of the fact that the two compression pistons 3a, 3b are in each case driven by a dedicated drive cylinder 12a, 12b, the stroke of a first cylinder can be varied independently of the second drive cylinder during the operation by way of the construction of a suitable hydraulic circuit. An embodiment to this end is illustrated in
[0083] This decoupling is above all highly advantageous when compressing gases to a constant output pressure at a sinking input pressure (for example when emptying bottles). In a dual-stage plant the intermediate pressure likewise sinks on account of the sinking input pressure since the two stages are designed with a view to only one specific type of application (tight range). A deviation from this design point is tolerated only to a minor extent, for example by way of an indicated pressure range at the gas input. Any excessive deviation leads to non-uniform and unfavorable compression ratios in one of the two stages, depending on whether the permissible range has been exceeded or undershot. This results in an excessive and unforeseen generation of heat which can cause damage to components. This principle in analogous manner also applies to filling containers, in which the output pressure varies and in particular increases.
[0084] On account of the possibility of operating a variable stroke in one of the two drive cylinders 12a, 12b, the two stages can be adapted to variable operating conditions during the operation. Any unnecessary generation of heat on account of highly dissimilar compression ratios in the two stages is avoided on account thereof, and the input pressure can be operated in an optimal manner in a larger range (above all in low pressure ranges).
[0085] This adjustment of stroke is achieved by a variation in the hydraulic management in the drive cylinders 12a, 12b.
[0086] The hydraulic output 50 of the first drive cylinder 12a is blocked when the desired stroke is reached while the first drive piston 13a moves downward, while the hydraulic fluid (oil) of the upward moving second drive piston 13b is simultaneously discharged by way of an additional hydraulic fluid output 51.
[0087] In this way, one of the drive pistons is stationary during the stroke; the drive piston coupled thereto can fully complete the stroke on account of the oil being diverted. The strokes of the two drive pistons 13a, 13b can thus be mutually decoupled by way of a suitable valve device 52.
[0088] A pressure compensation line 16a, 16b is disposed at an end of the third and the fourth drive chamber 11c, 11d, where a reversal of the movement of the respective drive piston 13a, 13b takes place. The pressure compensation line 16a, 16b, in a position of the drive piston 13a, 13b at which the reversal of the movement takes place, bypasses the drive piston 13a, 13b such that the two drive chambers 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d of a drive cylinder 12a, 12b are able to be connected by way of the pressure compensation line 16a, 16b. The pressure compensation line 16a, 16b has a check valve 161a, 161b for controlling the connection between the drive chambers 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d.
[0089] A modification of the embodiment according to
[0090] Implemented here is a four-stage compression in which the first compression chamber 1a forms the first stage. The compressed gas is supplied to a second stage in the compression chamber 1b by way of the gas outlet 5b and the gas inlet 6a. The gas is then supplied to a third stage by way of the gas outlet 6b of this compression chamber 1b, said third stage being implemented in a third compensation chamber 1c. The gas is subsequently supplied back to the first compression cylinder in which a fourth compression stage is implemented in the compression chamber 1d. The flow of gas between the two compression cylinders is illustrated by arrows in
[0091] In an alternative embodiment according to
[0092] According to
[0093] According to
[0094] The compressor devices of
[0095] In
[0096] Alternatively, the gas can likewise be compressed in more than two stages. A four-stage compressor device is illustrated in
[0097] Alternative guiding of the gas through the compressor device is illustrated in
[0098] Alternatively, the gas, proceeding from the third stage, can be provided for further processing by the fifth compression chamber 1e, as is illustrated in
[0099] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be set forth that, for a person skilled in the art, improvements and modifications may be made, with such improvements and modifications being deemed to be within the protection and scope of the present disclosure without departing away from the principles of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0100] 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f Compression chamber [0101] 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Compression cylinder [0102] 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Compression piston [0103] 5a, 6a, 5a′, 6a′, 7a, 7a′ Gas inlet [0104] 5b, 6b, 5b′, 6b′, 7b, 7b′ Gas outlet [0105] 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Cooling device [0106] 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Drive chamber [0107] 12a, 12b Drive cylinder [0108] 13a, 13b Drive piston [0109] 15 Connection piece [0110] 16a, 16b Pressure compensation line [0111] 161a, 161b Check valve [0112] 17 Measuring device [0113] 18a, 18b Hydraulic fluid infeed lines [0114] 20a, 20b Mechanical connection means [0115] 30a, 30b Connection chamber [0116] 40a, 40b Connection housing [0117] 50 Hydraulic output [0118] 51 Additional hydraulic fluid output [0119] 52 Valve device [0120] 100 Compressor device [0121] Ba, Bb Movement axis [0122] Da, Db Spacing