Compressor and method for compressing working medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor (1) and a method for compressing a working medium, comprising: a compressor piston (2) for compressing the working medium; a seal (4) for sealing the compressor piston (2); a cartridge (7) containing a plurality of replacement seals (8); a replacement device (11) for exchanging the seal (4) with a replacement seal (8) in the cartridge (7) wherein the central axis (10) of the replacement seal (8) is arranged substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cartridge (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor, comprising:

[0002] The compressor piston compresses the working medium,

[0003] Seals for sealing compressor pistons,

[0004] A cassette containing multiple replacement seals,

[0005] A replacement device for replacing the seal with a replacement seal in a cassette.

[0006] The invention also relates to a method for compressing a working medium, comprising the following steps:

[0007] a compressor piston that moves the compressed working medium, wherein the compressor piston is sealed with a seal,

[0008] A cassette is provided with a plurality of replacement seals,

[0009] Replace the seal with one of the replacement seals in the cassette. Background Art

[0010] As described in EP3514380A1, the replacement of seals in traditional high-pressure compressors is very complicated and time-consuming. In contrast, EP3514380A1 proposes a compressor that automates the replacement of seals. If the high-pressure seal can no longer guarantee the sealing of the high-pressure piston due to wear or damage, a replacement device is started to replace the high-pressure seal with a replacement high-pressure seal. If all (replacement) high-pressure seals are worn, the entire cassette can be replaced with a corresponding cassette with an unused replacement high-pressure seal, or a new replacement high-pressure seal can be inserted into the cassette. In this prior art, various cassette designs have been disclosed, and with these cassette designs, each replacement high-pressure seal can be kept in inventory. According to the design, the cassette can rotate or move.

[0011] This prior art is a significant improvement over conventional high pressure compressors, for example, for providing high pressure compressors. However, disadvantageously, the number of replacement seals in a rotating cassette is limited due to space restrictions. Positioning accuracy can also be improved. These disadvantages also exist in sliding cassettes, where the replacement high pressure seals are arranged in the same plane as the high pressure seal.

[0012] JP H08177749A, EP2721297B1 and DE8224258U1 describe further general prior art. Summary of the invention

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate or eliminate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the present invention aims to further reduce the number of maintenance operations required to replace seals.

[0014] In a compressor having a replacement device for replacing a seal according to the invention, the central axis of the replacement seal is arranged to be substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cassette.

[0015] For purposes of this disclosure, indications of position and direction, such as "up," "down," "horizontal," "vertical," refer to the intended use state of the compressor.

[0016] Thus, the replacement seals (with unused sealing elements) are arranged in a stock position along the longitudinal axis of the magazine with their center axes aligned, i.e. in a line. This design makes it possible to store a large number of replacement seals in a magazine ("new magazine") in a space-saving manner. This means that the intervals between service calls can be further increased.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the seal comprises an in particular annular seal carrier to which at least one annular sealing element is attached. During operation of the compressor, when the working medium is compressed, the annular sealing element is in sealing contact with the jacket of the compressor piston. Furthermore, the seal may comprise an axial sealing element for sealing in the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. Preferably, the replacement seal is identical to the seal.

[0018] Preferably, the compressor piston is a cylindrical piston which can move back and forth along the cylinder. The compressor piston can be driven in various ways, for example using a hydraulic pump. The compressor can include one or more compressor stages.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the cassette includes a longitudinal guide for guiding the replacement seal substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cassette. The longitudinal guide is preferably arranged to hold the replacement seal substantially without gaps, laterally (i.e., in any direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cassette). Thus, in the inventory position, the replacement seal is arranged to move within the cassette only along the longitudinal axis of the cassette. The longitudinal guide may, for example, comprise a guide rod extending in the longitudinal axis of the cassette.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the replacement seals are stacked one above the other along the cassette in a substantially horizontal position (i.e., the main plane of the replacement seals is substantially horizontal). Thus, in this embodiment, the replacement seals are arranged in a substantially vertical stack along the cassette. In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the cassette extends substantially in a vertical direction. Advantageously, a large number of replacement seals can thus be stored in a space-saving manner. The uppermost replacement seal can be moved upwards from the stock position in the cassette to the exchange position so that it can be exchanged.

[0021] In order to replace a seal with a replacement seal, it is advantageous if the replacement device comprises a feed drive for displacing the replacement seals (preferably together) essentially in the longitudinal direction of the cassette. By actuating the feed drive, the arrangement of the replacement seals can be displaced along the cassette, in particular raised or lowered in the vertical direction according to the design, so that one of the replacement seals, in particular the uppermost replacement seal, is transferred from the stock position to the exchange position. The feed drive can be, for example, an electric motor, a spindle drive, a hydraulic drive or a pneumatic drive.

[0022] In order to raise and lower the replacement seals together, it is advantageous if the replacement device comprises a platform for the (top side) arrangement of the replacement seals, whereby the feed drive is arranged to move the platform together with the replacement seals. By activating the feed drive, the stack of replacement seals on the platform can be raised so that the uppermost replacement seal is arranged in the exchange position.

[0023] In addition, the replacement device is preferably arranged to guide the seal away from the compressor piston or to guide the replacement seal towards the compressor piston. To this end, the replacement device comprises a slider in a preferred embodiment. On the one hand, the slider can be designed to move the seal from a working position aligned with the compressor piston to a replacement position aligned with the replacement seal, in particular to move substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. In addition, the slider can be designed to move one of the replacement seals from an exchange position aligned with the other replacement seals to a working position aligned with the compressor piston, in particular to move substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cassette. Preferably, the slider is connected to an actuator, such as another electric motor, another spindle drive, a hydraulic drive or a pneumatic drive.

[0024] In order to reliably displace the seal between the working position and the replacement position, or to reliably displace the replacement seal between the replacement position and the working position, it is advantageous for the slide to include a mounting ring for holding the seal and / or the replacement seal. Preferably, the (replacement) seal is arranged substantially without play in the mounting ring.

[0025] In order to place the seal after replacement, it is advantageous if an additional cassette ("old cassette") is provided in which to store the replaced seal.

[0026] A used seal can be placed particularly easily in the additional magazine if the longitudinal axis of the additional magazine is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the magazine, ie is in line therewith.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, a feed drive is also provided for moving the replacement seal so that the seal arranged in the replacement position is moved into the additional magazine. Thus, a single actuation of the feed drive can move the replacement seal from the stock position to the exchange position, and move the seal from the exchange position to the pick-up position in the additional magazine. In an embodiment with a slide, the feed drive can be used to move the seal from the exchange position in the slide to the pick-up position in the additional magazine, and move the replacement seal from the stock position in the magazine to the exchange position in the slide.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, a cover plate is arranged between every two replacement seals. The cover plate is preferably not connected to the replacement seal. This means that the replacement seal can remain transferred from the exchange position to the working position without taking away the adjacent cover plate. Therefore, the cover plate can be used to close the opening in the cassette between switching operations. In addition, when the next replacement seal moves to the exchange position, the cover plate can be brought into the additional cassette at the opening of the cassette. This also allows another opening of the additional cassette to be closed between replacement operations. It is also advantageous that the cover plate protects the individual (replacement) seals in the (additional) cassette.

[0029] In this embodiment, it is advantageous if the cassette has a first retaining claw for holding the cover in place and / or the additional cassette has a second retaining claw for holding the cover in place. The first or second retaining claw may comprise an elastically deflectable retaining element for engaging the cover.

[0030] In order to release the seal from the circumference of the compressor piston, it is advantageous if the compressor piston can be displaced against one of the replacement seals of the cassette into a retracted position beyond the operating stop point. During operation, the compressor piston moves between two operating stop points. To replace the seal, the compressor piston is moved into a retracted position beyond one of the stop points, thereby pulling the compressor piston out of the seal. The seal can then be transferred from the operating position to the replacement position, preferably by means of a slide.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor, the compressor piston is connected to an additional compressor piston via a transfer chamber.The additional compressor piston is preferably arranged substantially parallel to the compressor piston.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, a portion, in particular the lower portion, of the compressor piston is arranged in the receiving cylinder, so that in the first end position of the compressor an annular gap can be formed between the compressor piston and the wall of the receiving cylinder. Thus, a portion, in particular the lower portion, of the additional compressor piston can be arranged in the additional receiving cylinder, so that an additional annular gap can be formed between the additional compressor piston and the wall of the additional receiving cylinder.

[0033] The annular gap is preferably connected to the engine, such as a high-pressure pump, via a chamber, and the additional annular gap is preferably connected to the engine, such as a high-pressure pump, via an additional chamber. In a first position, the chamber is connected to the pressure side of the engine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the additional chamber is connected to the suction side of the engine via another valve, in particular a slide valve. The transfer chamber is preferably filled with hydraulic fluid so as to redirect the movement of the compressor piston to the additional compressor piston, in particular at 180°, so that the additional compressor piston moves in a direction opposite to the direction of the compressor piston. In the second position, the additional chamber is connected to the pressure side and the chamber is connected to the suction side of the engine. This reverses the direction of movement of the additional compressor piston, so that the movement is transmitted to the compressor piston via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber.

[0034] The compressor piston and the additional compressor piston can be driven by an engine, in particular hydraulically or pneumatically. A pressure converter can be provided on the compressor piston, by means of which the annular gap is isolated from the transfer chamber. Thus, an additional pressure converter can be provided on the additional compressor piston, by means of which the additional annular gap is isolated from the transfer chamber. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) drive pressure is transmitted to the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber via the pressure converter or the additional pressure converter.

[0035] The method for compressing a working medium according to the present invention comprises at least the following steps:

[0036] a compressor piston that moves a compressed working medium, wherein the compressor piston seals the first volume relative to the second volume with a seal,

[0037] A cassette is provided with a plurality of replacement seals,

[0038] The seal is replaced with one of the replacement seals in the cassette, wherein the central axis of the replacement seal is arranged to be substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cassette.

[0039] Replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals in the cassette preferably comprises one or more, in particular all, of the following steps:

[0040] Move the compressor piston to a retracted position beyond the operating stop, and / or

[0041] Moving the seal, in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston, from a working position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston to an exchange position arranged in alignment with the replacement seal, and / or

[0042] Moving the sealing element arranged in the replacement position, in particular substantially in the longitudinal direction of the cassette, into a storage position in the additional cassette, and / or

[0043] moving one of the replacement seals, in particular substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cassette, into an exchange position corresponding to the replacement position of the seal,

[0044] moving the replacement seal arranged in the exchange position, in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the cassette, into an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston, and / or

[0045] Push the compressor piston into the replacement seal arranged in the working position.

[0046] Preferred working media are gaseous working media, in particular molecular hydrogen, natural gas, nitrogen, argon, helium, or mixtures of several of the above media. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to preferred embodiments. According to the accompanying drawings:

[0048] Figure 1 A compressor according to the invention is shown having a replacement device for replacing a used seal with a new replacement seal.

[0049] Figure 2 An embodiment of a compressor according to the invention is shown in which one compressor piston is connected to an additional compressor piston via a transfer chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 A compressor 1 is shown, which may include one compressor stage (as shown) or several compressor stages (not shown). The compressor 1 includes at least one high-pressure compressor piston 2 having a longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction A1. The compressor piston 2 moves back and forth in the cylinder 3 between a first operating dead point and a second operating dead point. The compressor piston 2 seals a first volume 3A from a second volume 3B in the cylinder 3 by a (high-pressure) sealing device (hereinafter referred to as the seal 4). The seal 4 includes a seal carrier 4A, on which an annular sealing element 5 with a central axis 6 (i.e. an axis passing through the center of the annular sealing element 5 in the axial direction) and an axial seal 4B are arranged. In the working position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2, i.e. in a straight line. When the working medium is compressed, the annular sealing element 5 is sealingly located on the jacket of the compressor piston 2.

[0051] from Figure 1It can also be seen that the cassette 7 is provided with several, in particular at least 5, preferably more than 10 replacement (high pressure) seals 8, which are designed identically to the seals 4. Thus, each replacement seal 8 comprises a replacement seal carrier 9A, an annular circumferential replacement seal element 9B having a central axis 10 (i.e. an axis passing through the center of the annular replacement seal element 9B in the axial direction) and a replacement axial seal 9C. By means of a replacement device 11, a seal 4 can be replaced with one of the replacement seals 8 of the cassette 7.

[0052] from Figure 1 It can also be seen that in the illustrated stock position, the central axes 10 of the replacement seals 8 are arranged aligned with one another, i.e. in a line, along the central longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7. If the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7 extends in a vertical direction, as in the illustrated example, the replacement seals 8 are all stacked one above the other in a substantially horizontal position (i.e. with the central axes 10 aligned vertically) along the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7. The cassette 7 comprises longitudinal guides 12, in this case individual guide rods, which hold the replacement seals 6 in position transversely (i.e. in any direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2).

[0053] from Figure 1 It can also be seen that the replacement device 11 comprises a feed drive 13 for displacing the replacement seal 8 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7. In addition, the replacement device 11 comprises a platform 14, which is connected to the feed drive 13, for example, via a drive rod or directly. The replacement seal 8 is arranged on the platform 14. By activating the feed drive 13, the platform 14 together with the replacement seal 8 can be moved up or down as required.

[0054] Also like Figure 1 As shown, the replacement device 11 includes a slider 15. The slider 15 can be used to move the seal 4 from the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2 to the longitudinal direction A2 of the compressor piston 2. Figure 1 The working position shown is moved to a replacement position adjacent to the cassette 7 (in this case above the cassette 7). In the working position, the center axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A1 of the compressor piston 2. In the replacement position, the center axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7. In addition, the slide 15 can be used to move one of the replacement seals 8 from the exchange position arranged concentrically with the cassette to the working position in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7 (and therefore also parallel to the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2 in the illustrated embodiment). In the exchange position, the center axis 10 of the replacement seal 8 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7. In the working position, the center axis 10 of the replacement seal 8 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A1 of the compressor piston 2.

[0055] from Figure 1It can also be seen that the slide 15 in the embodiment shown comprises a mounting ring 16, which (depending on the process step) receives the seal 4 or the replacement seal 8 inside. The slide 15 is slidably mounted in a base 15A of the compressor. In order to move the slide 15, the slide 15 is connected to an actuator 15B, such as a hydraulic cylinder piston drive. The sliding ring 15C serves as an upper limit for the slide 15.

[0056] from Figure 1 It can also be seen that the compressor 1 also includes an additional cassette 17, in which the replaced seal 4 and the used replacement seal 8 can be stored. For ease of explanation, Figure 1 The used seals 23 are arranged in the additional cassette 17 in the additional cassette 17. The longitudinal axis of the additional cassette 17 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the cassette 7, i.e., on a line. In the illustrated embodiment, the additional cassette 17 is arranged near the cassette 7, in this case above the cassette 7. Corresponding to the cassette 7, the additional cassette 17 is designed to store the seals 4 and the used replacement seals 8, whose center axes are aligned with each other. The above-mentioned feed drive 13 is designed to move the seals 4 that have been moved to the replacement position from the slide 15 to the storage position in the additional cassette 17, and to move the frontmost (in this case, the topmost) replacement seal 8 from the inventory position in the cassette 7 to the exchange position in the slide 15.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, the cover plates 18 are each arranged between two replacement seals 8. The cassette 7 comprises a first (lower) retaining claw 19 for retaining one of the cover plates 18. The additional cassette 17 comprises a second (upper) retaining claw 20 for retaining one of the cover plates 18. The first retaining claw 19 and the second retaining claw 20 each comprise an elastically deflectable retaining element.

[0058] from Figure 1 It can be seen that the compressor piston 2 can move to Figure 1 The retracted position beyond the first operating dead center is shown in preparation for seal replacement, so that the annular sealing element 5 of the seal 4 is released from the jacket of the cylinder piston 2 in the axial direction.

[0059] from Figure 1 It can also be seen that a pretensioning device 21 is provided, which is actuated in particular by hydraulic or gas type. The pretensioning device 21 presses the seal 4 against one end face of the cylinder barrel 3. The axial seal 4B seals the cylinder barrel 3 relative to the seal carrier 4A.

[0060] The process of replacing seal 4 with replacement seal 8 is as follows.

[0061] Any leakage of the working medium from the first volume 3A formed at the seal 4 is transferred to the second volume 3B. The second volume 3B is fluidically connected to a leakage detection device. This device is known in the prior art, so there is no need to discuss the device 20 in more detail here. If a leakage at the seal 4 is detected (using a device known per se in the prior art) exceeding the permitted level, an automatic seal replacement is initiated at the next possible point in time.

[0062] In a first step of seal replacement, for example, the first volume 3A in the high-pressure cylinder 3 is released and discharged into the chimney. The compressor piston 2 is moved along the first longitudinal axis A1 (lowered in this case) until a first operating dead center (bottom dead center in this case), for example 260 mm, is exceeded. In preparation for replacing the seal, the stroke of the compressor piston 2 can reach, for example, 300 mm.

[0063] In a next step, the pretensioning device 21 is transferred into a relaxed state, thereby releasing the seal 4 .

[0064] In the next step, the actuator 15B for the slide 15 is activated. This moves the slide 15 with the seal 4 from the working position to the replacement position. The seal 4 is placed on a cover or a separating plate 18 which closes the opening of the cassette 7.

[0065] The feed drive 13 is then actuated to advance the platform 14 together with the replacement seal 8. The stack of replacement seals 8 is raised until another cover plate 18 with the replacement seal 8 thereon engages in the first positioning claw 19. The cover plate 18 closing the magazine 7 and engaging in the first positioning claw 19 is raised together with the used seal 4 until it engages in the second positioning claw 20. Thus, the seal 4 is stored in the additional magazine 17 (i.e., in the old magazine).

[0066] The platform 14 can then be lowered again by the feed drive 13. The actuator 15b moves the replacement seal 8 arranged in the slide 15 into the working position.

[0067] Finally, the compressor piston 2 is transferred to the operating stroke position. To this end, the compressor piston 2 is pushed along the first longitudinal axis A1 into the replacement seal 8 arranged in the working position. Then, the preload device 21 is actuated to press the replacement seal 8 against the cylinder barrel 3. As a result, the first space 3A is sealed relative to the environment and the second space 3B by the axial sealing element and the annular sealing element of the replacement seal 8.

[0068] In one embodiment, the compressor 1 is used to supply hydrogen with a maximum outlet pressure of 1050 bar. The compressor piston 2 may be driven, for example, by a hydraulic fluid.

[0069] Figure 2A preferred embodiment of a compressor 1 is shown, in which the compressor piston 2 is connected to an additional compressor piston 25 via a transfer chamber 24. The additional compressor piston 25 is arranged substantially parallel to the compressor piston 2. A portion of the compressor piston 2 is arranged in a receiving cylinder 26, in a first end position of the compressor 1 (e.g. Figure 2 2), an annular gap 27 is formed between the compressor piston 2 and the wall of the receiving cylinder 26. Thus, a part of the additional compressor piston 25 is arranged in the additional receiving cylinder 28, whereby an additional annular gap 33 is formed between the additional compressor piston 25 and the wall of the additional receiving cylinder 28. The annular gap 27 is connected to the engine, for example a high-pressure pump, via the chamber 29, and the additional annular gap 33 is connected to the engine, for example a high-pressure pump, via the additional chamber 30. In the position shown, the chamber 29 is connected to the pressure side of the engine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the additional chamber 30 is connected to the suction side of the engine via an additional valve, in particular a slide valve. In the design shown, the transfer chamber 24 is filled with hydraulic fluid in order to redirect the movement of the compressor piston 2 by 180° to the additional compressor piston 25, so that the additional compressor piston 25 moves in the opposite direction to the compressor piston 2. When an end position is reached, the valve switches, connecting the additional chamber 30 to the pressure side and connecting the chamber 29 to the suction side of the engine. This reverses the direction of movement of the additional compressor piston 25 , thereby transferring the movement to the compressor piston 2 via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24 .

[0070] The compressor piston 2 and the additional compressor piston 25 can be driven hydraulically or pneumatically by the engine. A pressure converter 31 is provided on the compressor piston 2, by means of which the annular gap 27 is isolated from the transfer chamber 24. Correspondingly, an additional pressure converter 32 is provided on the additional compressor piston 25, by means of which the additional annular gap 33 is isolated from the transfer chamber 24. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) driving pressure is transmitted to the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24 via the pressure converter 31 or the additional pressure converter 32.

[0071] List of reference numerals:

[0072] 1 compressor

[0073] 2 Compressor piston

[0074] 3 Cylinder barrel

[0075] 3A First Volume

[0076] 3B Second volume

[0077] 4 Seals

[0078] 4A Seal Carrier

[0079] 4B axial seal

[0080] 5 Sealing elements

[0081] 6Center axis of seal

[0082] 7 boxes

[0083] 8Replacement seals

[0084] 9A Replacement Seal Carrier 9A

[0085] 9B Annular Circumferential Replacement Seal Element 9B

[0086] 9C Replacement axial seal

[0087] 10Replace the center axis of the seal

[0088] 11 Replacement Device

[0089] 12 Guides

[0090] 13 Feed drive

[0091] 14 Platform

[0092] 15 Sliders

[0093] 15A base

[0094] 15B Actuator for slider

[0095] 16 Mounting ring

[0096] 17 Additional boxes

[0097] 18 Cover

[0098] 19 Lower positioning claw

[0099] 20 Upper positioning claw

[0100] 21 Preload device

[0101] 22 Leak detection device

[0102] 23 Used seals in old cassettes

[0103] 24Transfer chamber

[0104] 25 Additional compressor piston

[0105] 26 receiving cylinder

[0106] 27 Annular gap

[0107] 28 Additional receiving cylinder

[0108] 29 chambers

[0109] 30 additional chambers

[0110] 31 Pressure converter

[0111] 32 Additional pressure converter

Claims

1. A compressor (1), comprising: a compressor piston (2) for compressing the working medium, a seal (4) for sealing the compressor piston (2), a cassette (7) comprising a plurality of replacement seals (8), a replacement device (11) for replacing the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) in the cassette (7), Features: The central axis (10) of the replacement seal (8) is arranged to be substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (7).

2. The compressor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The replacement seals (8) are stacked substantially horizontally one above the other along the cassette (7).

3. The compressor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The replacement device (11) comprises a feed drive (13) for displacing the replacement seal (8) substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (7).

4. The compressor (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The replacement device (11) comprises a platform (14) for arranging the replacement seal (8), wherein the feed drive (13) is arranged for displacing the platform (14) together with the replacement seal (8).

5. The compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The replacement device (11) comprises a slider (15) for shifting the seal (4), in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (A1) of the compressor piston (2), from a working position aligned with the compressor piston (2) to a replacement position aligned with the replacement seal (8), and / or for shifting one of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (17), from an exchange position aligned with other replacement seals of the replacement seals (8) to a working position aligned with the compressor piston (2).

6. The compressor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The slide (15) comprises a mounting ring (16) for receiving the seal (4) and / or the replacement seal (8).

7. The compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An additional cassette (17) for receiving a replaced seal (23).

8. The compressor (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The longitudinal axis of the additional cassette (17) is arranged to be substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (7).

9. The compressor (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that The feed drive (13) is arranged to displace the seal (4) arranged in the replacement position into the additional magazine (17).

10. The compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that In each case, a cover plate (18) is arranged between two replacement seals.

11. The compressor (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that The magazine (7) comprises a first positioning claw (19) for holding the cover plate (18), and / or the additional magazine (17) comprises a second positioning claw (20) for holding the additional cover plate (18).

12. The compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that The compressor piston (2) can be displaced into a retracted position beyond an operating dead center in order to replace the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) of the cassette (7).

13. A method for compressing a working medium, comprising the following steps: moving a compressor piston (2) which compresses the working medium, wherein the compressor piston (2) is sealed with a seal (4), providing a cassette (17) having a plurality of replacement seals (8), replacing said seal (4) with one of said replacement seals (8) of said cassette (7), Features The central axis (10) of the replacement seal (8) is arranged to be substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (17).

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Replacing the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) in the cassette (17) comprises at least one of the following steps: Displacing the compressor piston (2) to a retracted position beyond the operating dead center, and / or Displacing the seal (4), in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (A1) of the compressor piston (2), from a working position aligned with the compressor piston (2) to a replacement position aligned with the replacement seal (8), and / or Displacing the seal (4) arranged in the replacement position, in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (7), into a storage position in the additional cassette (17), and / or displacing one of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (7), into an exchange position corresponding to the replacement position of the seal (4), and / or Displacing the replacement seal (8) arranged in the exchange position, in particular substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the cassette (17), into a working position aligned with the compressor piston (2), and / or The compressor piston (2) is pushed into the replacement seal (8) arranged in the working position.

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