METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMPRESSOR, AND COMPRESSOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a compressor (100), wherein an ionic liquid (a) is used as an operating liquid, and wherein two different materials (c, d) of the compressor (100) are brought in contact with the ionic liquid (b) and form an electrochemical element. In order to partially balance a voltage (U) of the electrochemical element at the compressor (110), a counter voltage (U.sub.G) is applied. The invention further relates to such a compressor (100).

Claims

1. Method for operating a compressor (100) in which an ionic liquid (a) is used as the operating fluid, and in which two different materials (c, d) of the compressor (100) are brought into contact with the ionic liquid (b) and form an electrochemical element, characterized in that a counter-voltage (U.sub.G) is applied to the compressor (110) at least for partially equalizing a voltage (U) of the electrochemical element.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage (U) of the electrochemical element is measured, and the counter-voltage (U.sub.G) is set based thereon.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the counter-voltage (U.sub.G) is set as part of a regulation.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein a reciprocating compressor, a screw compressor, a scroll compressor, a rotary compressor, a compressor in which a two-phase mixture can be used, and/or a multi-stage compressor is used as the compressor (100).

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein a gas (b), in particular hydrogen, or a gas mixture is compressed by means of the compressor.

6. Compressor (110) in which an ionic liquid (a) is provided as the operating fluid, and in which two different materials (c, d) of the compressor (100) are in contact with the ionic liquid (a) and form an electrochemical element, characterized by a voltage source (170) with which a counter-voltage (U.sub.G) can be applied to the compressor (U) at least for partially equalizing a voltage (U) of the electrochemical element.

7. Compressor (100) according to claim 6, comprising a measuring device (160) for measuring the voltage (U) of the electrochemical element, wherein the voltage source (170) is configured to set the counter-voltage (U.sub.G) based on the measured voltage (U).

8. Compressor (100) according to claim 6, comprising a control and/or regulating unit for setting and/or regulating the counter-voltage (U.sub.G).

9. Compressor (100) according to claim 6, which is configured as a reciprocating compressor, a screw compressor, a scroll compressor, a rotary compressor, a compressor in which a two-phase mixture can be used, and/or with multiple stages.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows a compressor according to the invention in a preferred embodiment, which is suitable for carrying out a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a compressor 100 according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. In this case, the compressor has five cylinders 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 and an additional chamber 150. The cylinder 110 has a movable piston 120 as well as an inlet valve 140 and an outlet valve 141, wherein these two valves are each arranged in a cylinder head 130.

[0028] The additional four cylinders are of similar design, but for the sake of clarity no reference numerals are shown here. It should also be noted that the additional cylinders 111 to 114 are smaller than the cylinder 110 in order to allow a corresponding stage-like compression. The respective pistons can be moved, for example, via a suitable drive according to the prior art (not shown here).

[0029] A gas b, for example hydrogen, can now be introduced into the cylinder 110 via an inlet 121. Gas compressed within the cylinder 110 can then be directed into the next cylinder 111 via a pipeline 120 (or another suitable connection). Via additional such pipelines, the still further compressed gas can finally be guided into the chamber 150 and from there out of the compressor 100 via an outlet 122. In addition, a sealable connecting line 123 is provided from the inlet 121 to the chamber 150. The chamber 150 serves to separate the ionic liquid from the gas stream; the connecting line 123 permits a flow of liquid due to the pressure difference between the first and last compressor stages, as a result of which a targeted injection of ionic liquid into the gas stream is possible.

[0030] In each of the cylinders 110 to 114 as well as in the chamber 150, an ionic liquid a, as mentioned at the outset, is now provided as the operating fluid. In addition to a cooling and/or lubricating effect on the compressor, a property of this ionic liquid that no residue remains in the gas during the compression of the gas b. As already mentioned at the outset, this is due to the fact that an ionic liquid has no or at least no measurable vapor pressure.

[0031] Furthermore, a measuring device 160 is now provided, by means of which, for example, a voltage U between the piston 120 and the cylinder 110 or its wall is measured in this case. If the piston 120 and the cylinder 110 or its wall are made of different materials, these two materials form an electrochemical cell with a measurablehere by means of the measuring device 160voltage U. For example, the cylinder 110 or its wall can be made of steel (denoted by c), whereas the piston 120 can be made of aluminum (denoted by d). As has likewise already been mentioned, this results in one of the materials dissolving in the ionic liquid b and in particular depositing on the other material.

[0032] Furthermore, a voltage source 170, which can in particular also be part of a control and/or regulating unit, is now provided. By means of this voltage source 170, it is now possible to apply a counter-voltage U.sub.G to the compressor, in this case between the piston 120 and the cylinder 110 or its wall, so that a current I.sub.G flows. The counter-voltage can now be matched as precisely as possible to the measured voltage so that, as a result, there is no or at least a significantly lower voltage between the corresponding components or parts of the compressor, thus preventing or at least reducing a dissolution of the one material in the ionic liquid. This correspondingly increases the service life of the compressor 110.

[0033] It goes without saying that additional such measuring devices and voltage sources (or control and/or regulating units) can also be provided, namely in each case between two other components or parts with different materials. In particular, the aforementioned components or parts are suitable here. Overall, the service life of the compressor 110 can be significantly increased in this way.