METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN OIL-INJECTED COMPRESSOR DEVICE

Abstract

A method for controlling a compressor device (1) with a compressor element (2) and oil circuit (14) with oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) by a fan (19) via a cooler (18), with a bypass pipe (20) across the cooler (18), whereby when the temperature (T) of the compressor element (2) is less than a value (T.sub.set), the method including the following steps: switching the fan (19) off; when the temperature (T) is still less than T.sub.set, driving the oil (15) via the bypass pipe (20); when the temperature (T) is still less than T.sub.set, decreasing the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) until the temperature (T) is equal to T.sub.set

Claims

1. A method for controlling an oil-injected compressor device (1) with at least one compressor element (2) with an inlet (7) for gas to be compressed and an outlet (9) for compressed gas and with a variable speed controller (5), whereby the compressor device (1) is provided with an oil circuit (14) with an oil separator (12) with an input that is connected to the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) and an output to which a compressed gas consumer network can be connected, whereby this oil separator (12) comprises a pressure vessel (11) in which the oil (15) separated from the compressed gas is received and from which oil (15) can be guided to a cooler (18) and can then be injected into the compressor element (2), whereby this cooler (18) is cooled by a coolant that is guided through the cooler by means of a fan (19) or pump, wherein a bypass pipe (20) for oil (15) is provided across the cooler (18), wherein the method comprises determining the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (12) and when this determined temperature (T) is less than a preset value (T.sub.set), the following steps are taken successively: first the fan (19) or pump is switched off or its speed is decreased for as long as the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is less than the preset value (T.sub.set) and the minimum speed of the fan (19) or pump is not reached; then the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is determined again and, when this temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is still less than the preset value (T.sub.set), the oil (15) is driven through the bypass pipe (20) to the compressor element (2) or an increasing proportion of the oil (15) is driven through the bypass pipe (20) to the compressor element (2) for as long as the maximum quantity of oil (15) has not been reached; then, when the maximum quantity of oil that is driven through the bypass pipe (20) to the compressor element (2) is reached, the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is determined again, and when this temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is less than the preset value (T.sub.set), the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) is reduced until the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is at least equal to the preset value (T.sub.set) or the minimum quantity of oil is reached.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after each of the aforementioned successive steps a subsequent step is only implemented after the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) has stabilised or after expiry of a set period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compressor element (2) comprises a controllable inlet throttle valve (24) and that at least when the inlet throttle valve (24) throttles the inlet (7) of the compressor element (2), the aforementioned steps are implemented.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is higher than a set value (T.sub.max), the following successive steps are taken: first the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) is increased for as long as the set value (T.sub.max) of the temperature and the maximum quantity of injected oil have not been reached; then, when the maximum quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) has been reached, the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is determined again and, when this temperature (T) is still higher than the set value (T.sub.max), the oil (15) is driven through the cooler (18) to the compressor element (2); then the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is determined again and, when this temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is still higher than the set value (T.sub.max), the fan (19) or pump is switched on or its speed is increased.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after each of the aforementioned successive steps a subsequent step is only implemented after the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) has stabilised or after expiry of a set period of time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fan (19) or pump is a controllable fan (19) or pump whose speed can be controlled, whereby for the step of the switching of the fan (19) or pump, the speed of the fan (19) or pump is gradually decreased, whereby then, when the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) remains below the preset value (T.sub.set), the fan (19) or pump is switched off and/or whereby in the step of switching on the fan (19) or pump, the speed is gradually increased until the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is, at a maximum, equal to the set value (T.sub.max).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oil circuit (14) is constructed such that the oil (15) can be partly guided through the bypass pipe (20) and partly through the cooler (18), whereby during the step of driving the oil (15) through the bypass pipe (20), the following substeps are taken: at least a proportion of the oil flow is driven through the bypass pipe (20); then, when the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is still less than the preset value (T.sub.set), a larger proportion of the oil flow is gradually driven through the bypass pipe (20); and/or whereby during the step of driving the oil (15) to the compressor element (2) via the cooler (18), the following substeps are taken: at least a proportion of the oil flow is driven through the cooler (18); then, when the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is still higher than the set value (T.sub.max), a larger proportion of the oil flow is gradually driven through the cooler (18).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the preset value (T.sub.set) is above the condensation temperature (T.sub.c) by a certain value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the preset value (T.sub.set) is at least 0° C., more preferably at least 1° C., even more preferably at least 5° C. or at least 10° C.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the set value (T.sub.max) is, at a maximum, is equal to the degradation temperature (T.sub.d) of the oil (15) or a value that is imposed by an ISO standard.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method comprises the step of determining the pressure (p) downstream from the outlet of the oil separator (12), whereby one of the following steps is taken: when the pressure (p) downstream from the outlet of the oil separator (12) is higher than a desired value (p.sub.set), the speed of the compressor element (2) is gradually decreased and if applicable the inlet throttle valve (24) is also gradually closed until the aforementioned pressure (p) is equal to the set value (p.sub.set); when the pressure (p) downstream from the outlet of the oil separator (12) is less than the desired value (p.sub.set), the inlet throttle valve (24) is gradually opened and if applicable the speed of the compressor element (2) is increased until the aforementioned pressure (p) is equal to the set value (p.sub.set).

12. The method according to 3, wherein for the inlet throttle valve (24) use is made of an inlet valve that comprises a housing that contains an aperture (25) in the form of a number of strips (26) that are movably affixed in the housing, whereby the strips (26) are movable between a closed position whereby the strips (26) close off the inlet (7) of the compressor element (2) and an open position whereby the strips (26) are turned away from the inlet (7).

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compressor element (2) is a screw compressor element.

14. The method for controlling an oil-injected compressor device (1) with at least one compressor element (2) with an inlet (7) for gas to be compressed and an outlet (9) for compressed gas and with a variable speed controller (5), whereby the compressor device (1) is provided with an oil circuit (14) with an oil separator (12) with an input that is connected to the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) and an output to which a compressed gas consumer network can be connected, whereby this oil separator (12) comprises a pressure vessel (11) in which the oil (15) separated from the compressed gas is received and from which oil (15) can be guided to a cooler (18) and then can be injected into the compressor element (2), whereby this cooler (18) is cooled by a coolant that is guided through the cooler by means of a fan (19) or pump, wherein a bypass pipe (20) for oil (15) is provided across the cooler (18), wherein the method comprises determining the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) and when this determined temperature (T) is higher than a preset value (T.sub.max), the following successive steps are taken: first the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) is increased for as long as the set value (T.sub.max) of the temperature and the maximum quantity of injected oil has not been reached; then, when the maximum quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) has been reached, the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is determined again and, when this temperature (T) is still higher than the set value (T.sub.max), the oil (15) is driven through the cooler (18) to the compressor element (2); then, the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) is determined again and, when this temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is still higher than the set value (T.sub.max), the fan (19) or pump is switched on or its speed is increased.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein after each of the aforementioned successive steps a subsequent step is only implemented after the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) has stabilised or after expiry of a set period of time.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the set value (T.sub.max) is, at a maximum, equal to the degradation temperature (T.sub.d) of the oil (15) or is a value is that is imposed by an ISO standard.

17. The method for controlling an oil-injected compressor device (1) with at least one compressor element (2) with an inlet (7) for gas to be compressed and an outlet (9) for compressed gas and with a variable speed controller (5), whereby the compressor device (1) is provided with an oil circuit (14) with an oil separator (12) with an input that is connected to the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) and an output to which a compressed gas consumer network can be connected, whereby this oil separator (12) comprises a pressure vessel (11) in which the oil (15) separated from the compressed gas is received and from which oil (15) can be guided to a cooler (18) and then can be injected into the compressor element (2), whereby this cooler (18) is cooled by a coolant that is guided through the cooler by means of a fan (19) or pump, wherein a bypass pipe (20) for oil (15) is provided across the cooler (18), wherein the method comprises determining the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) of the compressor element (2) and when this determined temperature (T) is lower than a preset value (T.sub.set), one or more of the following steps are implemented: the fan (19) or pump is switched off; then, when the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is still less than the preset value (T.sub.set), the oil (15) is driven through the bypass pipe (20) to the compressor element (2); then, when the temperature (T) at the outlet is still less than the preset value (T.sub.set), the quantity of oil (15) that is injected into the compressor element (2) is decreased until the temperature (T) at the outlet (9) is at least equal to the preset value (T.sub.set).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred applications of the method according to the invention for controlling an oil-injected compressor device are described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically shows an oil-injected compressor device for application in a method according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 schematically shows a possible embodiment of the inlet throttle valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The oil-injected compressor device 1 shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises a compressor element 2, in this case of the known screw type with a housing 3 in which two enmeshed helical rotors 4 are driven by means of a variable speed controller 5.

[0040] It is clear that the compressor element 2 can also be of a different type, such as a turbocompressor element, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0041] In this case this variable speed controller 5 is a motor 6 whose speed is variable.

[0042] The housing 3 is provided with an inlet 7 that is connected to an inlet pipe 8 for the supply of gas to be compressed, such as air or another gas or mixture of gases.

[0043] The housing 3 is provided with an outlet 9 that is connected to an outlet pipe 10.

[0044] The outlet pipe 10 is connected, via a pressure vessel 11 of an oil separator 12 and a pressure pipe 13 connected thereto, to a downstream consumer network for the supply of various pneumatic tools or similar that are not shown here.

[0045] The compressor installation 1 is provided with an oil circuit 14 to inject oil 15 from the pressure vessel 11, via a feed pipe 16 and injection pipe 17, into the compressor element 2 for the cooling and if applicable the lubrication and/or seal between the rotors 4 mutually and the rotors 4 and the housing 3.

[0046] The oil 15 that is injected can hereby pass through a cooler 18 to cool the oil 15 from the pressure vessel 11.

[0047] In this case the cooler 18 is provided with a fan 19 to ensure the cooling, although it is not excluded that instead of using cooling air for the cooling, a liquid coolant is used that is guided through the cooler by means of a pump. In this case, but not necessarily, the fan 19 is a controllable fan, i.e. the speed of the fan 19 can be controlled.

[0048] According to the invention the oil 15 can also be guided to the compressor element 2 through a bypass pipe 20, whereby in this case the oil 15 does not pass via the cooler 18.

[0049] In this case a three-way valve 22 is provided at the branch 21 of the bypass pipe 20, upstream from the cooler 18, in order to control the quantity of oil 15 that can flow through the bypass pipe 20 and through the cooler 18.

[0050] It is clear that this can also be controlled in a different way than with a three-way valve 22.

[0051] Furthermore means are provided to be able to adjust the quantity of oil 15 that is injected into the compressor element 2, for example in the form of an injection valve 23 in the injection pipe 17, or by a suitable choice of diameter of injection pipe from a series of available diameters.

[0052] In this example an inlet throttle valve 24 is provided in the inlet pipe 8.

[0053] In this case use is made of an inlet valve for the inlet throttle valve 24 that comprises a housing that contains an aperture 25 in the form of a number of strips 26 that are movably affixed in the housing, whereby the strips 26 are movable between a closed position whereby strips 26 close off the inlet pipe 8 and an open position whereby the strips 26 are turned away from the inlet pipe 8. A possible embodiment of such an inlet valve with an aperture 25 is shown in FIG. 2. It is clear that such an inlet valve can be constructed in many different ways.

[0054] An advantage of such an inlet valve is that the strips 26 can be completely turned away from the inlet pipe 8, and thus the inlet 7, such that in the open state the aperture 25 does not form an impediment for the supply of air to be compressed.

[0055] This is in contrast to a butterfly valve for example, which even in a fully open state will partially block the passage of the inlet pipe 8.

[0056] The oil-injected compressor device 1 is also provided with means 27a to determine the temperature T at the outlet 9 of the compressor element 2 and with means 27b to determine the pressure p in the pressure pipe 13. These means 27a and 27b respectively can be a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor for example.

[0057] Furthermore, in this case a controller 28 is also provided that ensures the control of the motor 6, the fan 19, the three-way valve 22, the injection valve 23 in the injection pipe 17 and the inlet throttle valve 24. The controller 28 is also connected to the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor.

[0058] The operation of the compressor device 1 and the method according to the invention for the control thereof is very simple and as follows.

[0059] During the operation of the compressor device 1 the compressor element 2 will compress gas that is supplied via the inlet pipe 8.

[0060] In order to guarantee the good operation of the compressor element 2, oil 15 will be injected into the compressor element 2. This oil 15 is injected into the compressor element 2 via the feed pipe 16 and the injection pipe 17 under the influence of the pressure in the pressure vessel 12.

[0061] The compressed gas is guided to the pressure vessel 11 from the oil separator 12 via the outlet pipe 10.

[0062] The oil 15 that is present in the compressed gas is separated in the oil separator 12 and received in the pressure vessel 11.

[0063] The compressed gas that is now free of oil 15 is brought to a consumer network via the pressure pipe 13.

[0064] In order to ensure that the demand for compressed gas by the consumer network is satisfied, the pressure p downstream from the outlet 29 of the oil separator 12 is determined by the pressure sensor.

[0065] The signal from the pressure sensor is read by the controller 28.

[0066] The controller 28 will control the compressor device 1, more specifically the motor 6 and the inlet throttle valve 24, such that the required flow rate is delivered by the compressor element 2 to maintain the pressure p downstream from the outlet 29 of the oil separator 12 at a desired value p.sub.set.

[0067] In this case this is done according to the following control of the motor 6 and the inlet throttle valve 24.

[0068] When the pressure p is less than the desired value p.sub.set, in other words when the consumption of compressed gas is greater than the flow rate delivered by the compressor device 1, the controller 28 will ensure that the delivered flow rate becomes greater by gradually opening the inlet throttle valve 24 in the first instance, if it is throttling the inlet 9 at that time, until the pressure p is again equal to the desired value p.sub.set.

[0069] When the pressure p is still less than the desired value p.sub.set, when the inlet throttle valve 24 is fully open, the controller 28 will gradually increase the speed of the compressor element 2 so that the flow rate delivered by the compressor element will rise until the pressure p downstream from the outlet 29 of the oil separator 21 is equal to the desired value p.sub.set.

[0070] This means that at this time the demand for compressed gas is equal to the flow rate delivered.

[0071] When the pressure p is greater than a desired value p.sub.set, in other words when the consumption of compressed gas is less than the flow rate delivered by the compressor device 1, the controller 28 will ensure that the delivered flow rate becomes smaller by gradually reducing the speed of the compressor element 2 in the first instance so that the flow rate delivered by the compressor element 2 will fall until the pressure p is again equal to the desired value p.sub.set.

[0072] When the pressure p is still higher than the desired value p.sub.set when the minimum speed has been reached, the controller 28 will gradually close the inlet throttle valve 24 until the pressure p downstream from the outlet 29 of the oil separator 12 is equal to the desired value p.sub.set.

[0073] The inlet throttle valve 24 will be closed to a minimum opening. When the pressure p is still too high, the controller 28 will stop the compressor element. The inlet throttle valve 24 will then also fully close to prevent an air and oil flow in the opposite direction.

[0074] When the compressor device 1 is started up again, the compressor element 2 will operate at a minimum speed and the inlet throttle valve 24 will be open to a minimum.

[0075] The controller 28 will then gradually open the inlet throttle valve 24 in order to limit the starting torque for the motor 6. Only if the inlet throttle valve 24 has been fully opened will the speed of the compressor element be increased.

[0076] An advantage of such a control of the pressure p at the outlet 29 is that it will lead to the inlet throttle valve 24 being kept open as much as possible. After all, when the flow rate must be reduced, the speed of the compressor element 2 will first be reduced before adjusting the inlet throttle valve 24, and when the flow rate must be increased the inlet throttle valve 24 will first be opened if it is still not fully open.

[0077] Due to the use of the inlet throttle valve 24 in combination with the variable speed control, it is possible for the temperature T at the outlet 9 of the compressor element 2 to fall when the compressor element 2 is driven at a minimum speed and the inlet 7 is throttled.

[0078] As long as there is a high demand for compressed gas, the inlet throttle valve 24 will be fully open and the compressor element 2 will operate at its maximum speed. In this case the controller 28 will control the oil circuit 14 such that the cooling capacity is a maximum, i.e.: [0079] the injection valve 23 is fully open so that the entire oil flow is injected; [0080] all oil 15 will flow through the cooler 18; [0081] the fan 19 will operate at a maximum speed.

[0082] However, if the demanded flow rate falls sharply, the speed of the compressor element 2 will fall to the minimum speed and additionally the inlet throttle valve 24 will throttle the inlet 7 of the compressor element 2 to attune the delivered flow rate to the demanded flow rate.

[0083] As a result the power absorbed by the compressor element 2 will fall and consequently also the temperature T.

[0084] In order to resolve the problems that are coupled to this temperature drop, such as condensate formation for example, the controller 28 according to the invention will control the compressor installation 1 according to the following control:

[0085] When the temperature T falls below a preset value T.sub.set, in the first instance the speed of the van 19 is gradually reduced. If this is not sufficient because the temperature T, after stabilisation or after expiry of a set time, remains too low, the fan 19 will finally be switched off.

[0086] If an ‘on/off’ fan 19 is used, the fan is switched off immediately.

[0087] The aforementioned preset value T.sub.set is of course preferably at least equal to the condensation temperature T.sub.c, preferably increased by a certain value, whereby T.sub.c can have a fixed value or can be a value that is calculated on the basis of the measured ambient temperature, relative humidity and operating pressure or which can be estimated subject to a few assumptions.

[0088] This will ensure extra safety to prevent condensation. This specific value can be at least 1° C. or at least 5° C. or at least 10° C., or in extremis also 0° C. if it is to be operated at the safety limit.

[0089] This will depend on the level of extra safety that is desired to prevent the formation of condensate in the compressor device 1.

[0090] Then, when the temperature T at the outlet 9, after stabilisation or after expiry of a set time, is still below the preset value T.sub.set, the controller 28 will control the three-way valve 22 such that at least a proportion of the oil flow is driven through the bypass pipe 20 instead of through the cooler 18. The oil 15 that flows through the bypass pipe 20 will not be cooled so that the cooling capacity of the oil circuit 14 will decrease.

[0091] If necessary, the controller 28 will ensure that an increasing proportion of the oil flow will be driven through the bypass pipe 20, in order to let the cooling capacity decrease and the temperature T increase to above the preset value T.sub.set.

[0092] When all the oil is driven through the bypass pipe 20 and the temperature T, after stabilisation or after expiry of a set time, is still too low, the controller 28 will let the cooling capacity decrease by controlling the injection valve 23 in the injection pipe 17, so that the quantity of oil 15 that is injected is reduced.

[0093] The quantity of oil 15 will be reduced until the temperature T is at least equal to the preset value T.sub.set, so that condensate formation is prevented.

[0094] Using the controllable fan 19, or if applicable using a controllable pump, and the oil circuit 14 whereby the oil 15 can be driven through the bypass pipe 20 and partially through the cooler 18, the cooling capacity can be continuously controlled, without the quantity of oil 15 that is injected having to be changed for this purpose.

[0095] Moreover, only in the last instance is the quantity of injected oil 15 reduced, so that the lubrication and seal between the rotors 4 and/or the rotors 4 and the housing 3 by the oil 15 does not decrease.

[0096] It is clear that the method described above is not only applicable when the inlet throttle valve 24 throttles the inlet 7 of the compressor element 2, but also at any other time when the temperature T is lower than the preset value T.sub.set, even if the inlet throttle valve 24 does not throttle the inlet 7 or even if there is no throttle valve in the case of a variable controlled compressor device.

[0097] An analogous control can also be used to ensure that the temperature T at the outlet 9 does not become higher than a set value T.sub.max. This control can be used alone or in combination with the control of the temperature described above relating to T.sub.set.

[0098] This set value Tmax is limited by an ISO standard and its maximum is equal to the degradation temperature T.sub.d of the oil 15 for example. If applicable the set value T.sub.max can be a few degrees less than this degradation temperature T.sub.d to build in a certain safety, for example 1° C., 5° C. or 10° C., depending on the level of extra safety that is desired or required.

[0099] To this end the controller 28 will determine the temperature T at the outlet 9 and if it is higher than the set value T.sub.max, the controller 28 will control the injection valve 23 to increase the quantity of oil 15 that is injected until the temperature T at the outlet 9 falls to the set value T.sub.max.

[0100] If the maximum quantity of oil 15 is already being injected or if the temperature T at the outlet 9, after stabilisation or after expiry of a set time, is still too high when the maximum quantity of oil 15 is being injected, the controller 28 will take a subsequent step to increase the cooling capacity.

[0101] This next step involves controlling the three-way valve 22 so that at least a proportion of the oil flow is driven through the cooler 18.

[0102] If this was already the case or if it is insufficient, the controller 28 will gradually drive a greater proportion of the oil flow through the cooler 18 until the temperature T falls sufficiently.

[0103] When it turns out to be necessary to drive the entire oil flow through the cooler 18 and the cooling capacity is still insufficient to make the temperature T fall to the set value T.sub.max, after stabilisation or after expiry of a set time, the following control by the controller 28 will come into effect.

[0104] The controller 28 will switch on the fan 19 or pump if applicable, whereby the speed is increased.

[0105] As a result the oil 15 in the cooler 18 will be cooled more.

[0106] The speed of the fan 19 is increased until the temperature T at the outlet 9 is, at a maximum, equal to the set value T.sub.max.

[0107] Due to a combination of both methods to control the temperature T, it can be ensured that the temperature T is kept within certain limits in order to increase the lifetime of the oil 15 and the compressor installation 1.

[0108] Moreover such a method will ensure that the fan 19 or pump is always the first to be switched off or the last to be switched on when the cooling capacity of the oil circuit 14 has to be decreased or increased, which will ensure an energy saving.

[0109] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but such a method according to the invention for controlling an oil-injected compressor device can be realised according to different variants without departing from the scope of the invention.