COMPRESSOR SYSTEM FOR GENERATING COMPRESSED AIR, AS WELL AS METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMPRESSOR SYSTEM THAT GENERATES COMPRESSED AIR

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor system for generating compressed air. It comprises a drive, a driven compressor, a lubricant cooler, a compressed air cooler and a blower unit. The blower unit has at least two blowers that can be controlled independent of one another, which convey cooling air to first and second cooling chambers that are separated from one another, wherein the first cooling chamber conveys the cooling air to the lubricant cooler, and the second cooling chamber conveys the cooling air to the compressed air cooler. The lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler have an arrangement that is offset to one another in such a way that the axes of their inflow and outflow flanges, arranged on their lateral walls, are located in different planes. The invention also relates to a method for operating a compressor system that generates compressed air, wherein at least two control signals that are independent of one another are provided for two blowers.

Claims

1. A compressor system for generating compressed air, comprising: a drive; a compressor powered by the drive; a lubricant cooler connected to the compressor for cooling a lubricant; a compressed air cooler connected to the compressor for cooling compressed air generated by the compressor; a blower unit connected to the lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler for supplying cooled air thereto; characterized in that the blower unit has at least two blowers that can be controlled independently, which convey cooled air into separate first and second cooling chamber; the first cooling chamber conveys the cooled air to the lubricant cooler and the second cooling chamber conveys the cooled air to the compressed air cooler; and the lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler are offset to one another such that the axes of their inflow and outflow flanges disposed on their lateral walls lie in different planes.

2. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the blower wheel axes of the at least two blowers are perpendicular to the main planes of extension of the coolers dedicated thereto, wherein the blowers are preferably configured as radial or tangential ventilators.

3. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler are offset in their main planes of extension, such that at least one connecting line is connected to the cooler disposed further inward in the compressor system runs in a straight line past the cooler disposed further outward, and outside thereof.

4. The compressor system according to one claim 1, characterized in that it has a base plate and a rack, wherein housing parts can be attached to outer braces of the rack.

5. The compressor system according to claim 4, characterized in that the blowers, the first and second cooling chambers, and the lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler are combined to form a self-contained cooling module, which is attached to the rack and/or the base plate.

6. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that a compressed air discharge line runs in a straight line from the outflow flange of the compressed air cooler to a compressed air discharge flange opening onto the outside of the compressor system, and is parallel in sections to the main planes of extension of the lubricant cooler.

7. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressor is a compressor with a liquid injection, and in that the lubricant is the liquid that is injected into a compression chamber of the compressor.

8. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive is an electric motor.

9. The compressor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricant is oil.

10. A method for operating a compressor system that generates compressed air, wherein at least two independent control signals are provided for the two blowers; the first control signal is a function of the temperature of a lubricant and activates a first blower, which supplies a lubricant cooler with cooled air, in order to cool the lubricant to a predetermined operating temperature; and the second control signal is a function of the temperature of the compressed air that is generated, and activates a second blower, which supplies a compressed air cooler with cooled air, in order to cool the compressed air to a predetermined service temperature.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first control signal controls the cooled air volume flow of the first blower, and the second control signal controls the cooled air volume flow of the second blower.

Description

[0015] Further advantages, details and developments of the present invention can be derived from the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings. Therein:

[0016] FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a compressor system according to the invention; and

[0017] FIG. 2: shows a view of the compressor system from above.

[0018] The following description of the details of the embodiment shown by way of example of a compressor system according to the invention refers to both of the FIGS. 1 and 2. The fundamental components of the compressor system are known to the person skilled in the art, such that they need only be described insofar as their details, or their interactions are necessary for an understanding of the invention.

[0019] The compressor system has a drive 01, preferably configured as an electric motor. The drive 01 interacts with a compressor 02, in which ambient air is condensed and provided as compressed air. The compressor 02 is preferably a liquid injected compressor, and comprises a pressure reservoir 03, which serves as a buffer for the compressed air that has been generated. These units are attached to a base plate 05.

[0020] Furthermore, the compressor system comprises a cooling module 04, which is preferably constructed as an self-contained module, and contains the components explained below. A blower is a component of the cooling module 04, which comprises a first blower 06 and a second blower 07 in the depicted example. The first blower 06 conveys cooled air via a first cooling chamber 08 to a lubricant cooler 09, such that the cooled air flows through the lubricant cooler 09. The cooling module 04 is attached to an outer rack 10, for example.

[0021] A second cooling chamber 11 is formed separately, in terms of flow, from the first cooling chamber 08, via which the second blower 07 conveys cooled air to a compressed air cooler 12. The main planes of extension of the lubricant cooler 09 and the compressed air cooler 12 are oriented parallel to a lateral wall of the compressor system, running parallel to one another, but with a predetermined offset, such that the lubricant cooler 09 lies further out, and the compressed air cooler 12 lies further in, in the compressor system. The courses of flow through the two coolers 09, 12, the dedicated cooling chambers 08, 11, and the associated blowers 06, 07 are thus parallel but independent of one another. As a result, it is possible to activate the first blower 06 independently of the second blower 07, and to adjust the respective cooled air volume flow to the specific needs of the lubricant cooler 09 and the compressed air cooler 12.

[0022] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the lubricant cooler 09 has two inflow and outflow flanges 13 on its upper surface and its lower surface, via which the lubricant that is to be cooled, in particular oil, is supplied to the lubricant cooler 09, or discharged therefrom in the cooled state. The lubricant lines 14 leading to the lubricant cooler 09 run in a straight line in the region of the cooling module 04, in the plane of the lubricant cooler 09, and require no deflections, angle pieces, or suchlike. Flexible hoses 16 can be connected to the lubricant lines 14, which conduct the lubricant to the other units of the compressor system.

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the compressed air cooler 12 in the depicted example is disposed such that it is offset in relation to the lubricant cooler 09 by approximately the thickness of the lubricant cooler 09. The compressed air cooler 12 likewise has inflow and outflow flanges 13 on its left-hand and right-hand lateral surfaces, to which compressed air lines 17 are connected. The compressed air line 17 leading from the compressed air cooler 12 to the outer surface of the compressor system can pass in a straight line, and without constrictions, along the inward facing side of the lubricant cooler 09 due to this offset. This provides for a simple assembly, the use of inexpensive compressed air lines, and the shortening of the line paths. By avoiding constrictions and deflections in the compressed air line 17, undesired noises can also be prevented in the removal of the compressed air. Furthermore, in many cases it is desirable when the compressed air line is available on a lateral surface of the compressor system for connection to the units to be supplied with compressed air.

[0024] It is clear that in modified embodiments, the offsetting of the lubricant cooler and compressed air cooler can also take place in the reversed sequence, such that the compressed air cooler lies further outward, and the lubricant cooler lies further inward. The compressed air cooler is normally smaller, such that it is convenient to place it in the manner described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0025] 01drive [0026] 02compressor [0027] 03pressure reservoir [0028] 04cooling module [0029] 05base plate [0030] 06blower [0031] 07blower [0032] 08cooling chamber [0033] 09lubricant cooler [0034] 10rack [0035] 11cooling chamber [0036] 12compressed air cooler [0037] 13outflow flange [0038] 14lubricant line [0039] 15 [0040] 16hose [0041] 17compressed air line