Compressor unit and method for operating compressor unit

Abstract

A compressor unit, comprising a screw compressor (10) having a compressor housing (12) and a screw rotor chamber arranged in the compressor housing (12); two screw rotors (26, 26) which are arranged in the screw rotor chamber and are mounted on the compressor housing so as to be rotatable about a screw rotor axis; and at least one control slide (52, 54) arranged in a slide channel (56) of the compressor housing and adjoining the screw rotor, the at least one control slide being movable in a movement direction parallel to the screw rotor axis and being configured in such a way as to influence the final volume and / or the initial volume, a compressor operation control unit (240) is provided on the screw compressor, which is configured to carry out at least one compressor operation function that supports the operation of the compressor unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor unit, which comprises a screw compressor having a compressor housing and a screw rotor chamber arranged in the compressor housing; at least one screw rotor arranged in the screw rotor chamber and supported on the compressor housing in a manner that can rotate around a screw rotor axis, the screw rotor receiving a gaseous medium with an initial volume delivered via a low-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing and outputting the gaseous medium in a manner compressed to a final volume in the region of a high-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing; and at least one control slide arranged in a slide channel of the compressor housing and adjacent to the screw rotor, the at least one control slide being movable in a displacement direction parallel to the screw rotor axis and being constructed in a manner that influences the final volume and / or the initial volume. Background Art

[0002] Such compressor units are known from the prior art, wherein compressor units having a screw compressor require considerable expertise for their use due to the complexity of the functional relationships in the screw compressor. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a compressor unit of the type mentioned in the introduction such that it can be used with as little special technology as possible in relation to the functions of the screw compressor.

[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved in a compressor unit of the type mentioned in the introduction in that a compressor operation control unit is provided on the screw compressor and is designed such that it performs at least one compressor operation function which supports the operation of the compressor unit.

[0005] The advantage of the solution according to the invention is therefore that the compressor operation control unit provides the possibility of implementing the following compressor operation functions: these compressor operation functions support the operation of the compressor, that is, they take over the various functions that are important for the operation of the compressor, so that the compressor unit can be used in the unit with little external expenditure.

[0006] In particular, such compressor units are provided for compressing a refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of a refrigeration unit, wherein such refrigeration units are usually provided with a complex control system.

[0007] By means of the solution according to the invention, the installation of such a refrigeration unit becomes simple and / or easy, because when the compressor unit has already realized the overall complex functional associations for such a compressor unit by means of the compressor operation control unit, the manufacturer of the refrigeration unit no longer has to manufacture a unit control unit to realize these functional associations.

[0008] That is, the refrigeration unit manufacturer can in particular reduce the control part of the refrigeration unit to transmitting one or more request signals for the operation of the compressor unit to the compressor operation control unit and then the compressor operation control unit executes these request signals according to the compressor operation function to be realized.

[0009] With regard to the compressor operation functions to be assumed by the compressor operation control unit, various possibilities are conceivable.

[0010] An advantageous solution provides that at least one compressor operating function is a parameter detection function and that, in particular, at least one of the following function parameters is detected for carrying out the parameter detection function:

[0011] Pressure of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor, temperature of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor, pressure of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor, temperature of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor, positioning of at least one control slide, positioning of all control slides, lubricant temperature, lubricant flow, lubricant pressure difference at the lubricant filter, lubricant level in at least one lubricant delivery section, rotational speed of the drive motor, phase position of the drive motor, temperature of the drive motor, voltage on the drive motor, current consumption of the drive motor.

[0012] The advantage of this solution is that by detecting at least one or more of these functional parameters it is possible to obtain sufficient information about the respective operating state of the screw compressor, so that complex functional relationships in the screw compressor can be detected in a simple manner.

[0013] It is particularly advantageous if the further compressor operating function is a protection function, for the implementation of which at least one parameter detection function is implemented and at least one functional parameter is compared with at least one reference parameter, and when at least one reference parameter is exceeded or fallen below, an alarm is issued and / or the screw compressor is shut down.

[0014] Such a protection function has the advantage that the operation of the compressor unit can thus be carried out safely without requiring external units or external functional modules, for example in the unit control, for ensuring safe operation of the screw compressor.

[0015] In particular, in such a protective function, all functional parameters relevant for the respective operating state can be checked and compared with reference parameters.

[0016] For example, it is conceivable to compare parameters such as the pressure and / or temperature of the medium on the inlet side and the pressure and / or temperature of the medium on the discharge side with a usage diagram for the screw compressor, wherein the usage limits of the usage diagram are simultaneously represented as reference values ​​for the pressure and / or temperature on the inlet side and on the discharge side, thereby, for example, ensuring that the screw compressor is operating within its operating limits.

[0017] It is also conceivable within the scope of the protective function to detect the lubricant temperature and, in particular, compare it with a reference value or an upper reference value and a lower reference value in order to ensure adequate lubrication.

[0018] It is also conceivable within the scope of the solution according to the invention to detect the lubricant level in the at least one lubricant supply and to switch off the screw compressor when no lubricant is present in the at least one lubricant supply in order to avoid damage to the screw compressor.

[0019] Finally, for example, within the scope of the protection function it is also provided that the temperature of the drive motor is monitored in order to avoid damage to the drive motor.

[0020] This also applies, for example, to the voltage and current consumption of the drive motor.

[0021] Furthermore, according to another advantageous embodiment of the compressor unit according to the invention, it is provided that at least one compressor operating function is a control function and, in particular, for the implementation of the control function, at least one of the following units is controlled: a control slide drive for a control slide, a motor control, a lubricant cooling unit and an injection element for a compressed medium for additional cooling.

[0022] The advantage of constructing the compressor operation function as a control function is that the compressor operation control unit can, for example, operate the screw compressor in a set operating state based on one or more settings, in particular by adjusting the volume ratio corresponding to the operating state and the compressor performance corresponding to the operating state by driving the control slider.

[0023] Furthermore, it is advantageous, for example, if the motor control can be controlled in order to be able to predetermine the rotational speed, in particular, of the screw rotor.

[0024] In principle, the control function can be implemented independently of the request signal and / or the function parameters, for example only as a function of one or more settings.

[0025] However, a particularly advantageous solution provides that at least one compressor operating function is an operating state presetting function, in which the control function is carried out on the basis of at least one request signal and / or at least one functional parameter.

[0026] A further advantageous solution provides that the compressor operating function is an operating state monitoring function and in particular for carrying out the operating state monitoring function the carrying out of at least one parameter detection function and / or the carrying out of at least one protection function and / or the carrying out of at least one control function is recorded.

[0027] This recording of the compressor operating functions makes it possible to monitor the operating state of the compressor unit according to the invention during its entire operation and to detect even momentary exceeding of the respective permissible operating state or even exceeding of the respective limit in the utilization diagram.

[0028] Furthermore, the operating state monitoring function has the advantage that in the event of a fault there is a simple possibility of ascertaining the cause of the fault based on the recorded operating function of the compressor.

[0029] It is particularly advantageous here that the recording of at least one functional parameter and / or the implementation of at least one protection function and / or the implementation of at least one control function are carried out over time, so that a time-resolved analysis of past operating states can be achieved, which facilitates the search for faults in particular when faults occur.

[0030] In order to communicate with the compressor operation control unit in a simple manner, it is preferably provided that the compressor operation control unit is provided with a communication unit for exchanging data with an external device.

[0031] Such data exchange with external devices is, for example, data exchange with a unit control unit or data exchange with a visualization unit and / or an operating unit, which can monitor various functions of the compressor operation control unit and / or analyze the operating state of the screw compressor.

[0032] Preferably, the communication unit is designed in such a way that it exchanges data in a wired manner and / or wirelessly, thereby simplifying data communication with the compressor operation control unit.

[0033] It is particularly advantageous here if the compressor operation control unit is provided with a visualization unit which displays at least one execution state of at least one compressor operating function or its result, so that the compressor operating function can thus be monitored in a simple manner.

[0034] A further advantageous solution provides that the screw compressor has a control housing, in which a compressor operation control unit is arranged.

[0035] A great advantage of this solution is that it is possible to connect the compressor operation control unit to sensors or units for detecting functional parameters and to units provided for controlling functions at the manufacturer, so that when the compressor unit is used, this connection is already implemented by the manufacturer and, for example, only communication with the compressor operation control unit needs to be established.

[0036] It is particularly advantageous here if the control housing is arranged on the compressor housing.

[0037] The structure of the screw compressor has not been described in detail above.

[0038] In particular, the screw compressor comprises: a compressor housing having a screw rotor chamber arranged therein; two screw rotors arranged in the screw rotor chamber and respectively supported on the compressor housing in a manner that allows rotation around a screw rotor axis, the screw rotors interlocking with each other with their screw profiles and respectively cooperating with compression walls adjacent thereto and partially surrounding them, so as to receive a gaseous medium conveyed via a low-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing and discharge it in the region of a high-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing, wherein the gaseous medium is enclosed in a compression chamber formed between the screw profile and the compression walls adjacent thereto at an initial volume under low pressure and is pressurized to a final volume under high pressure; and at least one control slide arranged in a slide channel of the compressor housing and adjacent to the two screw rotors with a slide compression wall, the control slide being movable in a displacement direction parallel to the screw rotor axis and being constructed in a manner that influences the final volume and / or the initial volume.

[0039] In particular, it is advantageously provided that, in order to detect the precise positioning of at least one control slide, the screw compressor is constructed to be provided with a positioning detection device for at least one control slide, the positioning detection device having a positioning indicating element coupled to the at least one control slide, the at least one positioning indicating element cooperating with a detector element, the detector element extending parallel to the movement direction of the control slide, and the positioning indicating element being able to move along the detector element when the at least one control slide moves, and the detector element being coupled to an evaluation device, the evaluation device detecting the respective positioning of the positioning indicating elements along the detector element.

[0040] The advantage of this solution is in particular that it allows a very precise determination of the position of the control slide with a simple design.

[0041] In particular, the screw compressor has two control slides, wherein the first control slide is constructed in a manner that at least affects the final volume, and the second control slide is constructed in a manner that at least affects the initial volume. In the screw compressor, a positioning detection device is provided for the two control slides, the positioning detection device includes a first positioning indicating element coupled to the first control slide and a second positioning indicating element coupled to the second control slide, the two positioning indicating elements cooperate with a common detector element, the detector element extends parallel to the movement direction of the control slide and the positioning indicating element can move along the detector element when the control slide moves, and the detector element is coupled to an evaluation device, which detects the respective positioning of the first positioning indicating element and the second positioning indicating element along the detector element.

[0042] A great advantage of this solution is that it provides the possibility, even in the case of two control slides, of detecting the positioning of both control slides precisely and in particular simultaneously with a single detector element.

[0043] The arrangement of the detector elements has not been described in detail so far.

[0044] An advantageous solution therefore provides that the detector element is arranged in a detector channel extending parallel to the displacement direction within the compressor housing, so that the detector element is optimally protected by the detector channel within the compressor housing against external influences.

[0045] It is particularly advantageous if the detector channel is closed by a cover, so that the detector channel can be easily accessed via the cover.

[0046] The construction of the detector channel has not been described in detail so far.

[0047] An advantageous solution therefore provides that the detector channel is formed by a groove-like recess in the housing base body, which recess is bridged by the cover.

[0048] Another advantageous solution is that the cover itself has a groove-like depression providing the passage of the detector.

[0049] In order to enable a simple assembly of the detector element with the cover, an advantageous solution provides that the detector element extends in a depression in the cover, so that the detector element together with the cover can be removed and optionally replaced.

[0050] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that at least one position indicating element is arranged in the detector channel and is movable therein in the displacement direction.

[0051] The coupling of the at least one position indicating element to the at least one control slide has not been described in detail so far.

[0052] In theory, the coupling between the position indicating element and the control slide can therefore be realized without contact.

[0053] However, for reliable position indication of the at least one control slide, it is advantageous if the at least one position indication element is mechanically coupled to the respective control slide via a connecting body and thus is rigidly guided together with the respective control slide.

[0054] In order to produce a connection between the respective position indicating element movable in the detector channel and the control slide, it is preferably provided that the respective connecting body penetrates an elongated lead-through between the detector channel and the slide channel accommodating the at least one control slide.

[0055] It is particularly advantageous if the respective connecting body together with the lead-through guides the respective control slide in a rotationally fixed manner in the displacement direction, thereby simultaneously enabling a rotationally fixed guidance of the control slide without requiring separate guidance via a groove in the control slide and a tongue in the compressor housing.

[0056] The cooperation between at least one position indicating element and a detector element has not been listed so far.

[0057] A particularly advantageous solution therefore provides that the respective position indicating element cooperates with the detector element without contact, so that a position detection of the position indicating element can be achieved without wear.

[0058] Preferably, the detector element is made of a magnetostrictive material and the position-indicating element generates a local magnetic throughflow to the detector element at its location, which magnetic throughflow can then be detected via an evaluation circuit in the detector element.

[0059] A particularly advantageous solution provides for a compressor operation control unit which actuates a control slide drive for the respective control slide and detects the movement of the respective control slide by means of a position detection unit.

[0060] The compressor operation control unit can therefore not only move the respective control slide by means of the control slide drive but can also accurately track the movement carried out.

[0061] This is particularly advantageous when the control slide drive is embodied as a cylinder system which can be acted upon by a medium.

[0062] The compressor operation control unit can then be used particularly advantageously if it positions the respective control slide in a position-controlled manner.

[0063] That is, on the one hand, the compressor operation control unit drives the control slide drive, and on the other hand, by detecting the positioning of the respective control slide, it can be detected whether the desired positioning is reached, and then the positioning can be accurately approached and, for example, permanently maintained by further driving the control slide drive.

[0064] Therefore, there is the possibility of presetting the individual positions of the respective control slide or, if necessary, a plurality of control slides by means of a compressor control program of the compressor operation control unit, and then using the compressor operation control unit to bring the control slide close to this position and maintain this position, so that any intermediate position between the extreme positions can be achieved in order to optimally operate the screw compressor.

[0065] It is particularly advantageous if the compressor operation control unit learns the positioning of at least one control slide taking into account at least one or more of the following parameters: the pressure level on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, the pressure level on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, the temperature of the gaseous medium on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, the temperature of the gaseous medium on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, the rotational speed of the screw rotor, the power consumption of the drive motor, parameters of the gaseous medium, in particular parameters of the refrigerant, and usage limit values ​​of the screw compressor.

[0066] The arrangement of the two control slides relative to one another has not yet been described in detail.

[0067] It is therefore advantageously provided that the first control slide and the second control slide are arranged one behind the other in their displacement direction.

[0068] In the case of two control slides arranged one behind the other, it is provided in particular that the first control slide and the second control slide have the same outer contour.

[0069] Preferably, two control slides placed one behind the other can be inserted in such a way that the first control slide and the second control slide can be positioned directly adjacent to one another in the connecting position and can be moved together in the displacement direction.

[0070] As an alternative to this, in the case of two control slides placed one behind the other, it is possible for the first and the second control slide to be positionable at a distance from one another in the separated position, with a gap being formed.

[0071] As an alternative to providing two control slides placed one behind the other, another advantageous solution provides that the first control slide has slide compression walls directly adjacent to one another, each of which faces one of the screw rotors, and the second control slide has compression wall areas arranged at a distance from one another, each of which adjoins one of the screw rotors and is positioned between the slide compressor walls of the first control slide.

[0072] In such an arrangement with two control slides, it is possible to influence the final volume preferably with the first control slide and to influence the initial volume with the second control slide via the slide compression walls arranged at a distance from one another.

[0073] Preferably, it is provided here that the first control slide is supported on the second control slide.

[0074] Preferably, the first control slide is mounted in this case in a slide channel of the second control slide.

[0075] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the slide compression wall surface of the first control slide and the slide compression wall surface of the second control slide are in contact with each other.

[0076] In particular, in the case of two control slides arranged one behind the other, it is provided that the first control slide and the second control slide have the same outer contour.

[0077] This solution allows the two control slides to be guided in a particularly simple manner in a common slide channel.

[0078] Furthermore, the two control slides arranged one behind the other are advantageously inserted in such a way that the first control slide and the second control slide can be positioned directly adjacent to one another in the connecting position and can be moved together in the displacement direction.

[0079] Furthermore, in the case of two control slides placed one behind the other, it is provided that the first and the second control slide can be positioned spaced apart from one another in the separated position, forming a gap.

[0080] In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for operating a compressor unit, which includes a screw compressor having a compressor housing and a screw rotor chamber arranged in the compressor housing; at least one screw rotor arranged in the screw rotor chamber and supported on the compressor housing in a manner that can rotate about a screw rotor axis, which receives a gaseous medium with an initial volume delivered via a low-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing and outputs the gaseous medium in a manner compressed to a final volume in the area of ​​a high-pressure chamber arranged in the compressor housing; and at least one control slide arranged in a slide channel of the compressor housing and adjacent to the screw rotor, the at least one control slide moving along a movement direction parallel to the screw rotor axis and influencing the final volume and / or the initial volume, wherein, according to the present invention, a compressor operation control unit is provided on the screw compressor, by means of which at least one compressor operation function that supports the operation of the compressor unit is implemented.

[0081] An advantageous variant of the method provides that at least one compressor operating function is a parameter detection function and that, in particular, at least one of the following function parameters is detected for carrying out the parameter detection function:

[0082] The pressure of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor,

[0083] The temperature of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor,

[0084] The pressure of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor,

[0085] The temperature of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor,

[0086] at least one control slider positioning,

[0087] Positioning of all control sliders,

[0088] Lubricant temperature,

[0089] Lubricant flow,

[0090] Lubricant pressure difference at the lubricant filter,

[0091] a lubricant level in at least one lubricant delivery section,

[0092] The speed of the drive motor,

[0093] The temperature of the drive motor,

[0094] The phase of the drive motor,

[0095] The voltage at the drive motor,

[0096] Current consumption of the drive motor.

[0097] Another advantageous variant of the method provides that the other compressor operating function is a protection function, in order to implement the protection function, at least one parameter detection function is implemented and at least one functional parameter is compared with at least one reference parameter, and when at least one reference parameter is exceeded or fallen below, an alarm is issued and / or the screw compressor is shut down.

[0098] An expedient variant of the method provides that at least one compressor operating function is a control function and, in particular, at least one of the following units is activated for the implementation of the control function:

[0099] Control slide drive,

[0100] Motor control unit,

[0101] Lubricant cooling unit,

[0102] injection element for compressed medium for additional cooling,

[0103] A slider control unit for controlling the slider.

[0104] In particular, in a variant of the method it is advantageous if at least one compressor operating function is an operating state presetting function, in which a control function is carried out based on at least one request signal and / or at least one functional parameter.

[0105] Furthermore, in a variant of the method it is provided that the compressor operating function is an operating state monitoring function and in particular for the implementation of the operating state monitoring function the implementation of at least one parameter detection function and / or the implementation of at least one protection function and / or the implementation of at least one control function is recorded.

[0106] For monitoring purposes, a variant of the method is designed such that at least one functional parameter is recorded and / or at least one protective function is executed and / or at least one control function is executed over time.

[0107] For communication, in a variant of the method, it is provided that the compressor operation control unit is provided with a communication unit which exchanges data with external devices, wherein the communication unit exchanges data in particular in a wired and / or wireless manner.

[0108] Furthermore, in a variant of the method it is advantageous if the compressor operation control unit displays at least one execution state of at least one compressor operating function or its result by means of at least one visualization unit.

[0109] Further variants of the method according to the invention result from the features explained above in conjunction with the compressor unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0110] Further characteristics and advantages according to the invention are the subject of the following description of some exemplary embodiments and of the accompanying drawings.

[0111] in:

[0112] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a first embodiment of a screw compressor according to the present invention;

[0113] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 The section of line 2-2 in;

[0114] Figure 3 shows a cross section along line 3-3 in the region where the detection device is located;

[0115] Figure 4The maximum performance and minimum volume ratio are shown in the area of ​​the positioning detection device and the control slide similar to Figure 2 A magnified cross section of

[0116] Figure 5 shows that the maximum transport volume and maximum volume ratio are similar to Figure 4 pictorial diagram;

[0117] Figure 6 shows similar performance at about three quarters Figure 4 pictorial diagram;

[0118] Figure 7 shows similarity at about half the performance Figure 4 pictorial diagram;

[0119] Figure 8 shows similar performance at about one quarter Figure 4 pictorial diagram;

[0120] Fig. 9 An enlarged view showing the combination of the positioning detection unit and the positioning indicating element with the control slider;

[0121] Fig.10 An enlarged perspective view showing a position indicating element of a position detection device;

[0122] Fig.11 A similar diagram is shown through a second embodiment of a control slide with a nested arrangement through a screw compressor according to the invention. Figure 3 The cross section of

[0123] Fig.12 A similar diagram showing a second embodiment of a screw compressor according to the invention with a nested arrangement of control slides at maximum volume ratio and maximum performance Figure 4 Schematic diagram of

[0124] Fig.13 Shows the maximum volume ratio and minimum performance similar to Fig.12 pictorial diagram;

[0125] Fig.14 Shows minimum volume ratio and maximum performance similar to Fig.12 pictorial diagram;

[0126] Fig.15 A schematic diagram showing a compressor unit of a first embodiment, which includes a screw compressor according to the first or second embodiment, the screw compressor being operated using a compressor operation control unit;

[0127] Fig.16 A second embodiment of the compressor unit is shown similar to Fig.15 and

[0128] Fig.17 A third embodiment of the compressor unit is shown similar to Fig.15 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0129] Figure 1 The first embodiment of the screw compressor 10 according to the present invention shown in the figure includes a compressor housing indicated as a whole by 12, which has a suction interface 14 and a discharge interface 16, through which the gaseous medium to be sucked, especially the refrigerant, is sucked, and the gaseous medium compressed into high pressure, especially the refrigerant, is discharged through the discharge interface.

[0130] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in the figure, two screw rotors 26, 28 that can rotate around screw rotor axes 22, 24 are arranged in the screw rotor chamber 18 of the compressor housing 12. These screw rotors are staggered with their screw profiles 32 and 34 and cooperate with compression walls 36 or 38 adjacent to these screw profiles on the peripheral side to receive gaseous medium delivered to the low-pressure chamber 42 adjacent to the screw profiles 32, 34 on the suction side, compress it, and output it under high pressure to the high-pressure chamber 44 in the compressor housing 12.

[0131] In this case, a gaseous medium, in particular a refrigerant, is enclosed at low pressure in a suction volume in a compression chamber formed between the screw profiles 32 , 34 and the compression walls 36 , 38 adjoining these screw profiles and is compressed to a final volume at high pressure.

[0132] In order to adapt the screw compressor 10 to the operating conditions required, for example, in a refrigerant circuit, an adaptation to the operating state of the screw compressor 10 is carried out on the one hand with respect to the volume ratio, which indicates the relationship between the maximum suction volume enclosed and the final volume removed, and on the other hand with respect to the compressor performance, which indicates the proportion of the volume flow actually compressed by the screw compressor relative to the maximum volume flow that can be compressed by the screw compressor 10.

[0133] exist Figures 2 to 8 In the first embodiment shown in , in order to match the operating state, a first control slide 52 and a second control slide 54 are arranged in sequence in a slide channel 56 provided in the compressor housing 12, wherein the slide channel 56 extends parallel to the screw rotor axes 22, 24 and guides the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 in the area of ​​a guide circumferential surface 58 that is not adjacent to the screw rotors 26, 28.

[0134] The first control slide 52 faces the high-pressure chamber 44 and is therefore arranged on the high-pressure side, whereas the second control slide 54 is arranged on the low-pressure side relative to the first control slide 52 .

[0135] Each of the two control slides 52 and 54 also has a slide compression wall 62 adjacent to the screw rotor 26 and a slide compression wall 64 adjacent to the screw rotor 28, which appear as sub-surfaces of the compression walls 36 and 38 and are supplemented by housing compression walls 66 and 68 formed by the compressor housing 12, which also appear as sub-surfaces of the compression walls 36 and 38, and which together with the screw profiles 32 and 34 form a compression chamber.

[0136] like Figure 2 as well as Figures 4 to 8 As shown in the figure, the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 are constructed as follows, that is, they are identical to the extent that they form the slide compression walls 62 and 64 and the guide circumferential surface 58, and can therefore be guided in the slide channel 56 of the compressor housing 12 in a manner that allows them to move along a movement direction 72 extending parallel to the screw rotor axes 22, 24.

[0137] Here, the first control slide 52 forms an outlet edge 82 that determines the final volume of the compression chamber toward the high-pressure chamber 44. The outlet edge can be moved along the movement direction 72 by moving the first control slide 52, and through its position relative to the closing surface 84 on the high-pressure side of the screw rotor chamber 18, it jointly determines the final volume of the compression chamber formed and thus the volume ratio.

[0138] This principle of a slide system is known and is described, for example, in WO 93 / 18307, to which reference is made for the description of the functional principle.

[0139] like Figure 2 and 4 As shown in FIG. 8 , the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 have end surfaces 86 and 88 facing each other, for example Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the control slides can be brought into contact with one another with the end faces, so that the slide compression walls 62 and 64 of the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 merge into one another.

[0140] Furthermore, the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 are guided relative to one another in addition to the slide channel 56 by a telescopic guide 92 which has an internal guide body 94 and a guide receptacle 96 , wherein the guide receptacle 96 is arranged in the first control slide 52 , while the guide body 94 is held on the second control slide 54 and protrudes beyond the end face 88 of the second control slide so that the guide body can be embedded in the guide receptacle 96 in the first control slide 52 .

[0141] Furthermore, a compression spring 104 is preferably provided in an interior 102 of the second control slide 54 surrounding the guide body 94 , which serves to load the first control slide relative to the second control slide 54 in such a way that the end faces 86 and 88 can be moved away from each other.

[0142] like Figure 2 As shown in , in order to move the first control slide 52, a control slide drive is provided, for example, constructed as a cylinder system 112, wherein the cylinder system 112 includes a cylinder chamber 114 and a piston 116, and wherein the piston 116 is connected to a piston rod 118, which establishes a connection with the first control slide 52, specifically, for example, a connection with an extension 122 of the first control slide 52, which is arranged, for example, on the side of the first control slide opposite to the end face 86.

[0143] In addition, the cylinder system 112 is particularly arranged on the side of the first control slide 52 away from the second control slide 54, preferably in a housing section 124 on the high-pressure side of the compressor housing 12, which is arranged adjacent to the slide channel 56 and adjacent to the high-pressure chamber 44 and is therefore arranged on the side of the compressor housing 12 opposite to the low-pressure chamber 42.

[0144] The second control slide 54 can be moved by a control slide drive, which is constructed, for example, as a cylinder system 132, wherein the cylinder system 132 includes a piston 136 that can move in a cylinder chamber 134, and wherein the cylinder chamber 134 extends, in particular, in an extension of the slide channel 56 in a housing section 142 on the low-pressure side, in which drive-side bearing units for the screw rotors 26 and 28 are arranged, which can be driven, for example, via a drive shaft 144.

[0145] In particular, the piston 136 is integrally formed onto the second control slide 54 and has a piston surface which corresponds at least to the cross section of the second control slide 54 .

[0146] The low-pressure-side housing section 142 , which accommodates the cylinder chamber 134 of the cylinder system 132 for moving the second control slide 54 , is disposed in the region of the compressor housing 12 which is arranged opposite the high-pressure-side housing section 124 for accommodating the cylinder chamber 114 for the cylinder system 112 .

[0147] By means of the cylinder systems 112 and 132, the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54 can be slid towards each other to such an extent that the end faces 86 and 88 abut against each other in the connection position, and the two control slides 52, 54 can also be moved together in the connection position like a single control slide, which extends from the closing surface 126 on the suction side in the direction of the closing surface 84 on the discharge side and whose outlet edge 82 contributes to determining the volume ratio, wherein, as Figure 4 As shown in , the screw compressor 10 always delivers a maximum volume flow in this connection position.

[0148] Depending on the position of the outlet edge 82 relative to the closing surface 84, a volume ratio can be adapted which increases as the distance between the outlet edge 82 and the closing surface 84 becomes smaller and reaches its maximum value when the outlet edge 82 and the closing surface 84 have the minimum distance necessary to minimize the final volume, e.g. Figure 5 As shown in .

[0149] If now the compressor performance, ie the volume flow actually delivered, is additionally changed, then Figure 6 As shown in , the end faces 86 and 88 are separated by moving the control slides 52 and 54 away from each other into the separation position. In this separation position, the second control slide 54 is inactive, and therefore the position of the end face 86 of the first control slide 52 in this separation position determines the initial volume.

[0150] However, the relationship between the initial volume predetermined by the end face 86 and the final volume predetermined by the outlet edge 82 remains unchanged as long as the outlet edge 82 is not in its position in which the smallest possible final volume is predetermined.

[0151] However, when the first control slider 52, such as Figure 7 As shown in the figure, when the movement in the direction of the high-pressure chamber 44 is such that the outlet edge 82 has a minimum distance from the closing surface 84 or even moves beyond the closing surface into the entry chamber 146 for the first control slide 52 and is included in the high-pressure chamber 44, it becomes possible to change the initial volume 86, while the final volume does not change, because the final volume always remains at a minimum.

[0152] In order to eliminate the effect of the second control slide 54 in the separated position, the second control slide is moved into the housing section 142, in particular by means of the cylinder system 132, wherein the cylinder chamber 134 is dimensioned in such a way that it simultaneously includes an entry chamber 148 for the second control slide 54 and thus provides the possibility of moving the second control slide 54 away from the first control slide 52 to such an extent that the end face 88 no longer influences the initial volume.

[0153] Therefore, the second control slide 54 allows the initial volume to be influenced in the following manner, that is, either the second control slide can be placed with its end face 88 against the end face 86 of the first control slide 52 in order to form the connection point of the control slides 52, 54 and thus maximize the initial volume, or the second control slide can be moved with its end face 88 away from the end face 86 of the first control slide 52 to such an extent that the initial volume is absolutely no longer influenced by the second control slide 54.

[0154] In order to detect the positioning of the first control slide 52 and the second control slide 54, a positioning detection device indicated as a whole by 152 is provided, which includes a detector element 154 extending parallel to the movement direction 72 of the control slides 52, 54 and therefore parallel to the screw rotor axes 22, 24, which can detect the positioning of the positioning indicating elements 156 and 158.

[0155] Here, the position indicating element 156 is firmly coupled to the first control slide 52, specifically to the end region 162 of the first control slide 52 adjacent to the end face 86, and the position indicating element 158 ​​is coupled to the second control slide 54, specifically to the end region 164 adjacent to the end face 88 of the second control slide, as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 as shown in .

[0156] like Fig.10 As shown in the figure, each of these position indicating elements 156 or 158 comprises a fork-shaped body, which is generally designated by 174, and which defines a gap 182 disposed between them with its two fork-shaped legs 176 and 178, through which the elongated detector element 154 extends. Each of these fork-shaped bodies 174 is coupled to the corresponding control slide 52, 54 via a connecting body 172 connected to the respective end region 162 or 164.

[0157] Preferably, the fork legs 176 and 178 carry magnets 184 and 186 , respectively, whose magnetic fields flow through the detector element 154 at the location of the magnets 184 , 186 .

[0158] The detector element 154 is formed here by a magnetostrictive material, so that the respective locations 188 where magnetic flow through the detector element 154 caused by the magnets 184, 186 occurs can be known with the aid of an evaluation device indicated as a whole by 192, wherein the evaluation device 192, for example, generates sound waves in the magnetostrictive detector element 154, which are reflected at the locations 188 through which the magnetic field of the magnets 184, 186 flows, so that the evaluation device 192 can know the position of the location 188 of the magnetostrictive detector element 154 where the magnetic flow occurs based on the propagation time of the reflected sound waves.

[0159] The evaluation device 192 can therefore determine the position POS1 of the first control slide 52 and the position POS2 of the second control slide 54 in the slide channel 56 in the displacement direction 72 .

[0160] The connecting body 172 held at the respective end region 162, 164 of the control slides 52, 54 passes through an elongated slot-shaped lead-through 194 which is formed into a housing wall 196 forming the slide channel 56 and has a length that allows the second control slide 54 to be fully inserted into the insertion chamber 148 in the separated position and allows the first control slide 52 to be positioned at the minimum initial volume, i.e., corresponding to Figure 8 and allows the positioning of the first slide 52 at the minimum volume ratio, i.e., the maximum distance between the outlet edge 82 and the closing surface 84 on the discharge side, and also allows the positioning of the second control slide 54 and the first control slide 52 at the maximum volume ratio and the minimum volume ratio in the connection position.

[0161] Each connecting body 172 connected to the respective end region 162 and 164 of the respective control slide 52 or 54, together with the slot-shaped guide portion 194, forms an anti-rotation portion for the respective control slide 52, 54 similar to a guide portion formed by a slot key and a groove, thereby eliminating the need for a groove in the control slide 52, 54 that cooperates with a slot key extending into the slide channel 56.

[0162] The guide portion 194 always maintains the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 42 and is therefore also used to keep the control slides 52, 54 with their guide circumferential surfaces 58 against the slide channel 56, so that the control slides 52, 54 are not pressed against the screw rotors 26, 28 with the slide compression walls 62, 64 due to the high pressure formed between the slide channel 56 and the guide circumferential surface 58.

[0163] The passage 194 is sealed against relatively high pressures, in particular high pressures, by means of a play between the slide channel 56 and the guide circumferential surface 58 of the control slide 52 , which can have very small tolerances.

[0164] In order to accommodate the fork 174 and the detector element 154, a recess 204 is provided on the side of the wall 196 of the housing base 198 opposite the slide channel 56, which is covered by a cover 212, which itself has a recess 214 facing the recess 204, so that the recesses 204 and 214 complement each other and, for example, form an elongated detector channel 216 extending parallel to the movement direction 72, in which the detector element 154 extends on the one hand and the fork 174 can move on the other hand, the fork surrounds the detector element 154 on both sides with its fork legs 176, 178, and positions the magnets 184, 186 in such a way that the magnetic fields of the magnets flow through the detector element 154 at specific locations 188 respectively.

[0165] Preferably, the cover 212 is constructed in such a way that the detector element 154 is placed in the recess 214 of the cover, so that the detector element 154 together with the evaluation device 192 is only held on the cover 212 and can be removed together with the cover, while the fork 174 extends in the detector channel 216, in particular both in the recess 214 and in the recess 204.

[0166] In a second embodiment of the screw compressor according to the present invention, Figures 11 to 14 As shown, the control slides 52 and 54 are configured in other ways.

[0167] In this embodiment, the second control slide 54' is located in the slide channel 56 and is guided in the slide channel by its guide circumferential surface 58'. In addition, the second control slide 54' is formed with outer slide compression walls 62'2 and 64'2, which are directly connected to the housing compression walls 66 and 68, wherein the slide compression wall 62'2 is adjacent to the screw rotor 26, and the slide compression wall 64'2 is adjacent to the screw rotor 28.

[0168] The second control slide 54 ′ is designed in this case to be crescent-shaped in cross section, so that it itself forms a slide channel 236 in which the first control slide 52 ′ is guided with a guide circumferential surface 238 .

[0169] The first control slider 52' ​​itself is formed with slider compression walls 62'1 and 64'1, which are placed between and directly follow the slider compression walls 62'2 and 64'2, so that the slider compression wall 62'1 is adjacent to the screw rotor 26 and the slider compression wall 64'1 is adjacent to the screw rotor 28.

[0170] The slide compression walls 62 ′ 2 and 64 ′ 2 of the second control slide 54 ′ and the slide compression walls 62 ′ 1 and 64 ′ 1 of the first control slide 52 ′ thus supplement the housing compression walls 66 and 68 to form the compression walls 36 and 38 arranged around the screw profile 32 or 34 .

[0171] The first control slide 52 ′ furthermore forms an outlet edge 82 ′ which is arranged facing the high-pressure chamber 44 and which determines the final volume via its distance from the closing surface 84 in a manner similar to that in the first exemplary embodiment.

[0172] The second control slide 54 ′ influences the initial volume by the slide compressing the positioning of the inlet edge 242 of the walls 62 ′ 2 and 64 ′ 2 and in particular by the spacing thereof from the low-pressure-side closing surface 126 .

[0173] In the present embodiment, the first control slide 52' can be controlled by a cylinder system 132', which is particularly arranged on the suction side, wherein the piston 136' is integrally formed on the first control slide 52' and can move in the cylinder chamber 134', and the second control slide 54' can be controlled by a cylinder system 112', which is particularly arranged on the discharge side.

[0174] Such a slide system is known and is described, for example, in DE 32 21 849 A1, to which reference is made for the description of the functional principle.

[0175] In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the positioning of the first control slide 52' and the second control slide 54' can be detected by the positioning detection device 152, wherein the positioning indication elements 156 and 158 are also coupled to the first control slide 52' and the second control slide 54', specifically, they are coupled via a connector 172 fixedly connected to these control slides 52' and 54', and these connectors pass through the conducting portion 194 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, so that the positioning indication elements 156 and 158 can move along the detector element 154 in the detector channel 216, and the positioning of the positioning indication elements 156 and 158 can be detected via the evaluation device 192 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0176] In this case, the position indicating elements 156 and 158 are preferably designed as forks 174 in the same manner as in the first exemplary embodiment and are provided with magnets 184 and 186 .

[0177] Furthermore, in the second exemplary embodiment, all elements which are identical to elements of the first exemplary embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is hereby made in full to the relevant description of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0178] like Fig.15As shown in the first embodiment of the compressor unit in the embodiment, the screw compressor according to the aforementioned embodiment also includes a lubricant supply system 260, which separates lubricant from the flow of medium MH compressed to high pressure discharged from the screw compressor 10 by means of a lubricant separator 262, cools the lubricant in a lubricant cooler 264, filters the lubricant in a lubricant filter 266 and then supplies the lubricant to the lubricant filter 266. Fig.15 Lubricant is supplied via a lubricant connection 268 , which is schematically shown in FIG. 2 , on the compressor housing 12 .

[0179] The lubricant supply can be controlled by a controllable valve 272 assigned to the lubricant supply system 260 .

[0180] The lubricant supply line 274 leads from the lubricant interface 268 to multiple lubricant delivery parts 282, 284, 286, and 288 to supply lubrication parts of the screw compressor 10, such as the shaft seal part 292 for the drive shaft of the screw rotor 26, 28, the bearing 294 on the low-pressure side of the screw rotor 26, 28, the lubricant injection end 296 for the screw rotor 26, 28, and the bearing 298 on the high-pressure side.

[0181] Furthermore, lubricant for operating the cylinder systems 112 and 132 can be branched off from the lubricant supply line 274 since the lubricant is under high pressure.

[0182] Lubricant supply system 260 is also monitored by a lubricant sensor SS, which is assigned, for example, to one of the lubricant feeds 282 , 284 , 286 , 288 , here to lubricant feed 282 .

[0183] The lubricant sensor SS is preferably designed as an optical lubricant status sensor and detects the status of the lubricant, for example, typically in the lubricant supply 282 and also for the other lubricant supplies 284 , 286 , 288 .

[0184] In order to ensure safe and reliable operation of the above-mentioned embodiment of the screw compressor 10, according to Fig.15 In the first embodiment of the compressor unit shown in FIG. 1 , an electronic compressor operation control unit 240 is provided in a control housing 230 arranged on the compressor housing 12 , which can thus perform a plurality of compressor operation functions.

[0185] The compressor operating function is a parameter detection function according to which the following functional parameters are detected, for example, by means of sensors and devices provided for this purpose.

[0186] The compressor operation control unit 240 detects the pressure PN of the gaseous medium to be compressed on the inlet side or low-pressure side of the screw compressor 10 or the temperature TN of the gaseous medium to be compressed on the inlet side or low-pressure side of the screw compressor 10 with the help of sensors SPN and STN arranged on the inlet side or low-pressure side.

[0187] In addition, the compressor operation control unit 240 detects the pressure PH of the compressed gaseous medium or the temperature TH of the compressed gaseous medium on the discharge side or the high-pressure side of the screw compressor 10 by means of sensors SPH and STH arranged on the discharge side or the high-pressure side.

[0188] Within the scope of the parameter detection function, by Fig.15 The connection of the compressor operation control unit 240 shown in FIG. 2 to the evaluation device 192 enables the detection of the positions POS1 and POS2 of the control slides 52 and 54 in the slide channel 56 along the displacement direction 72 .

[0189] In accordance with Fig.15 In the first embodiment, in order to detect the rotational speed of the screw rotors 26 and 28, a vibration sensor SSW connected to the compressor operation control unit 240 is arranged on the compressor housing 12. The vibration sensor generates a signal DS proportional to the rotational speed of the screw rotors 26 and 28, which is detected by the compressor operation control unit 240.

[0190] In addition, within the scope of the parameter detection function, the lubricant status signal transmitted by the lubricant sensor SS to the compressor operation control unit 240 is used to detect the lubricant status, and the lubricant status signal is a sign that the lubricant supply is operating normally.

[0191] Within the scope of the compressor's operating function being implemented as a protection function, the compressor operation control unit 240 compares the functional parameters detected within the scope of the parameter detection function with the reference parameters preset for the compressor operation control unit 240 in order to identify whether an excess or fall below at least one of the reference parameters occurs, and if necessary, this will result in the screw compressor having to be shut down.

[0192] For example, the compressor operation control unit 240 compares the pressure PN and temperature TN on the inlet side or low-pressure side and the pressure PH and temperature TH on the discharge side or high-pressure side with preset reference parameters, such as reference parameters defined by the usage limit of the screw compressor, and determines whether the screw compressor is operating within the system's usage limit.

[0193] Furthermore, within the scope of the protection function, the compressor operation control unit 240 checks whether a lubricant status signal SP is present and therefore whether the screw compressor 10 is being adequately supplied with lubricant.

[0194] As part of the implementation of the compressor operating function as a control function, the control slides 52 , 54 are moved in order to operate the screw compressor 10 in a specific operating state, in particular at a specific volume ratio and with a specific performance.

[0195] In order to move the control slides 52 and 54 to the positions set for them, the compressor operation control unit 240 starts from the actual positions POS1 and POS2 of the control slides 52 and 54 detected within the scope of the parameter detection function through the connection with the positioning detection device 152 and the evaluation device 192, so as to move the control slides 52 and 54 to the positions defined by the desired operating states and maintain them in these positions based on the knowledge of these positions POS1 and POS2.

[0196] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15 , the cylinder systems 112 and 132 can be driven by the control function of the compressor operation control unit 240 to position the control slides 52 and 54 .

[0197] For this purpose, solenoid valves ML1 and ML2 are provided, which can be actuated, for example, by the compressor operation control unit 240 in order to actuate the cylinder system 112 , and solenoid valves MV1 and MV2 are provided, which can be actuated in order to actuate the cylinder system 132 .

[0198] It is therefore possible to position the control slides 52 , 54 in a position-controlled manner using the compressor operation control unit 240 , ie to approach and maintain a position of the control slides 52 , 54 that corresponds to a specific desired operating state of the screw compressor 10 , for example.

[0199] As part of the control function as a compressor function, the compressor operation control unit 240 also controls the lubricant supply via the lubricant supply system 260 by means of a controllable valve 272 .

[0200] The compressor operation control unit 240 is also constructed in such a way that it can be connected to a control unit of a drive motor 300, in particular an electric motor, in order to drive the screw compressor 10 according to the present invention, wherein the drive motor 300 is controlled, for example, by a motor control unit 302 including, in particular, a frequency converter, so that the drive motor 300 can not only be switched on and off, but also can be operated in a speed-regulated manner by the motor control unit 302.

[0201] This makes it possible for the drive motor 300 to also be operated by the compressor operation control unit 240 depending on the operating state of the screw compressor 10 .

[0202] Preferably, the compressor unit according to the present invention is operated by a unit control unit 310, which transmits a performance request for the screw compressor 10 to the compressor operation control unit 240 via a communication unit 312, especially when the screw compressor 10 according to the present invention is used in a cooling circuit or a refrigeration circuit.

[0203] The performance request is defined in the unit control 310 itself by the state variables of the flow of the medium MN at low pressure to the screw compressor 10 and the state variables of the flow of the medium MH at high pressure leading away from the screw compressor 10, wherein, for example, Fig.15 In the embodiment of the compressor unit shown in , the unit control section 310 detects the pressure of the flow of the medium MN under low pressure by means of the pressure sensor ASPN and detects the temperature of the flow of the medium MN under low pressure by means of the temperature sensor ASTN.

[0204] Furthermore, the unit control unit 310 detects the pressure of the medium MH under high pressure by means of the pressure sensor ASPH and detects the temperature of the medium MN under high pressure by means of the temperature sensor ASTH.

[0205] Based on these sensor data or parameters or, if necessary, further sensor data or parameters, the unit control 310 receives a request signal AS to be transmitted to the compressor operation control 240 via the communication unit 312 .

[0206] In this case, the compressor operation control unit 240 operates with an additional compressor operation function as an operation state preset function.

[0207] In the operating state presetting function, the request variable AS and / or one or more functional parameters detected within the scope of the parameter detection function are used to determine the operating state and the operating state is achieved and maintained by executing at least one of the control functions.

[0208] Here, the positions POS1 and POS2 of the control slides 52, 54 and the rotational speed of the drive motor 300 are taken into account as functional parameters, and starting from the operating states thus achieved by the control function, the functional parameters are again detected using the parameter detection function, and further starting from these operating states, a protection function is implemented with monitoring of the individual functional parameters and comparison of the functional parameters with reference parameters, as already described.

[0209] In order to display, for example, detected functional parameters to an operator of the compressor unit, the compressor operation control unit 240 communicates with a visualization unit 322 which can, for example, display the functional parameters either as functional parameters themselves or via graphical elements, such as bar charts or pie charts.

[0210] Furthermore, in particular, visualization unit 322 can also display further compressor operating functions, in particular their execution states.

[0211] A further compressor function is an operating status monitoring function, in which the compressor operation control unit 240 records the implementation of one or more compressor functions over time, so that, for example, in the event of a fault, the detected functional parameters and / or the implemented protection functions and / or the implemented control functions and / or the operating status can be traced back.

[0212] In a second embodiment of the compressor unit according to the invention, Fig.16 As shown, all elements that are identical to those of the first exemplary embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is hereby made entirely to the relevant description of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0213] Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the vibration sensor SSW is not provided, but instead, the rotation speed signal DS is obtained from the frequency, and the inverter drives the motor control unit 302 of the electric motor 300 at the frequency.

[0214] Furthermore, a temperature sensor STM is also assigned to the drive motor 300 , which generates a temperature signal TM, via which the compressor operation control unit 240 ′ can detect the temperature of the drive motor 300 .

[0215] In addition, in the driving motor 300, its phase, that is, its rotation direction, is still detected by the compressor operation control unit 240'.

[0216] Furthermore, a sensor STSM is associated with the lubricant delivery device 260 ′, which detects the temperature TSM of the lubricant delivered in the lubricant delivery device 260 ′, so that the compressor operation control unit 240 ′ can also detect the temperature TSM of the lubricant.

[0217] In the lubricant delivery device 260 ′, a flow sensor SSSM is also arranged, which detects the flow of the lubricant and generates a signal for the lubricant flow SSM, by means of which the compressor operation control unit 240 ′ can detect the lubricant flow in the lubricant delivery device 260 ′.

[0218] The sensor SSSM for the lubricant flow can also be designed as a differential pressure sensor.

[0219] Furthermore, the lubricant filter 266 is assigned pressure sensors SPSM1 and SPSM2 , by means of which a differential pressure ΔPSM occurring across the lubricant filter 266 can be determined, wherein the compressor operation control unit detection 240 ′ also detects this differential pressure ΔPSM.

[0220] Preferably, in the lubricant supply system 260 ′, the lubricant cooling portion 264 can also be controlled by a valve 332 , which is also connected to the compressor operation control unit 240 ′.

[0221] Finally, the screw rotors 26 , 28 are also assigned an injection port 334 for compressed medium under high pressure, which can be controlled by means of a valve 336 , wherein the injection of compressed medium under high pressure into the compressor volume enclosed by the screw rotors allows additional cooling of the screw rotors.

[0222] Within the scope of the parameter detection function, the compressor operation control unit 240 detects the speed DS of the inverter of the motor control unit 302 , the phase PL of the drive motor 300 , and the temperature TM of the drive motor 300 in addition to the parameters described in connection with the first embodiment.

[0223] Additionally, within the scope of the parameter detection function, the compressor operation control 240 ′ detects in particular the temperature TSM of the lubricant in the lubricant delivery device 260 ′, the lubricant flow SSM and the pressure drop ΔPSM across the lubricant filter 266 of the lubricant delivery device 260 ′.

[0224] Within the scope of the protection function, for example, the phase of the drive motor 300 is compared with a preset phase, that is to say the set direction of rotation, and the temperature TM of the drive motor 300 is compared with a reference value, and for example when the phase PL deviates from the preset phase and / or when the temperature TM exceeds the reference value, the drive motor 300 is switched off by the motor control unit 302.

[0225] Furthermore, within the scope of the protective function, the temperature TSM of the lubricant is monitored and compared with a reference value in order to be able to detect an excessively high temperature of the lubricant.

[0226] Furthermore, within the scope of the protection function, the lubricant flow SSM and / or the pressure difference ΔPSM across the lubricant filter 266 is detected and compared with reference values, so that it can be identified, for example, whether the lubricant flow SSM is sufficient or too small and, for example, whether the lubricant filter 266 is severely contaminated, so that in this case an alarm is output, for example, by showing the alarm on the visualization unit 322.

[0227] Within the scope of the control functions, in addition to the functions of the previous compressor operation control unit 240', the speed of the drive motor is also controlled via the frequency converter of the motor control unit 302 and the valve 332 of the lubricant cooling unit 264 is controlled if necessary to prevent the temperature TSM of the lubricant in the lubricant delivery device 260' from becoming too high or too low.

[0228] Additionally, within the scope of the control function, valve 336 can also be controlled to inject refrigerant into the compressor volume of the screw rotors 26 , 28 in order to be able to additionally cool the screw rotors if necessary.

[0229] exist Fig.17 In the third embodiment of the compressor unit shown in FIG. , all elements that are identical to elements of the second embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is hereby made in its entirety to the relevant description of the second embodiment.

[0230] Compared to the first and second embodiments, in the third embodiment of the compressor unit, a drive motor 300' is integrated into the compressor housing 12' and flows around it, for example in order to cool the flow of medium MN at low pressure on the input side before it is compressed by the screw rotors 26, 28.

[0231] The frequency converter together with the motor control 302 ′ can be arranged on the compressor housing 12 ′ in any desired manner.

[0232] In a certain case, for example, the frequency converter together with the motor controller 302' is integrated into the compressor housing 12' and is therefore permanently connected to the compressor operation control unit 240', so that the compressor operation control unit 240" can permanently communicate with the frequency converter and, for example, not only obtain from the frequency converter the rotational speed DS of the drive motor 300, the phase position PL of the drive motor, but also in particular the voltage UM on the drive motor 300 and the current consumption IM of the drive motor 300.

[0233] In other respects, the compressor operation control unit 240" operates in the same manner as described in connection with the above embodiments, especially the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A compressor unit, comprising a screw compressor (10), the screw compressor having a compressor housing (12) and a screw rotor chamber (18) arranged in the compressor housing (12); at least one screw rotor (26, 28) arranged in the screw rotor chamber (18) and supported on the compressor housing (12) in a manner that allows rotation about a screw rotor axis (22, 24), the screw rotor receiving a gaseous medium having an initial volume delivered via a low-pressure chamber (42) arranged in the compressor housing (12) and discharging the gaseous medium in a compressed manner to a final volume in the region of a high-pressure chamber (44) arranged in the compressor housing (12); and at least one control slide (52, 54) arranged in a slide channel (56) of the compressor housing (12) and adjacent to the screw rotor (26, 28), the at least one control slide being movable in a displacement direction (72) parallel to the screw rotor axis (22, 24) and being constructed in a manner that influences the final volume and / or the initial volume, characterized in that A compressor operation control unit (240) is arranged on the screw compressor (10), and is configured to implement at least one compressor operation function for supporting the operation of the compressor unit.

2. The compressor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one compressor operating function is a parameter detection function, and the parameter detection function detects at least one of the following function parameters in particular for the purpose of implementing the parameter detection function: the pressure (PN) of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor (10), the temperature (TN) of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor (10), the pressure (PH) of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor (10), the temperature (TH) of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor (10), at least one control slide (52, 54) for positioning (POS1; POS2), Positioning (POS1; POS2) of all control slides (52, 54), Lubricant temperature (TSM), Lubricant flow (SSM), lubricant pressure difference (ΔPSM) at the lubricant filter (266), a lubricant level (SP) in at least one lubricant delivery section (282, 284, 286, 288), The speed (DS) of the driving motor (300), The temperature (TM) of the drive motor (300), The phase (PL) of the driving motor (300), The voltage (UM) on the drive motor (300), The current consumption (IM) of the drive motor (300).

3. The compressor unit according to claim 2, characterized in that Another compressor operating function is a protection function. In order to implement the protection function, at least one parameter detection function is implemented and the at least one functional parameter is compared with at least one reference parameter. When the at least one reference parameter is exceeded or fallen below, an alarm is issued and / or the screw compressor (10) is shut down.

4. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least one compressor operating function is a control function and, in particular, at least one of the following units is actuated in order to implement the control function: Control slide drive, Motor control unit (302), Lubricant Cooling Unit(264) an injection element (334) for a compressed medium for additional cooling, A slider control unit for the control slider.

5. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least one compressor operating function is an operating state presetting function in which the control function is implemented based on at least one request signal (AS) and / or at least one functional parameter.

6. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operating function is an operating state monitoring function and, in particular, for the implementation of the operating state monitoring function, the implementation of at least one parameter detection function and / or the implementation of at least one protection function and / or the implementation of at least one control function is recorded.

7. The compressor unit according to claim 6, characterized in that The recording of at least one functional parameter and / or the execution of at least one protective function and / or the execution of at least one control function takes place over time.

8. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operation control unit (240) is provided with a communication unit (312) for exchanging data with external devices (310, 322).

9. The compressor unit according to claim 8, characterized in that The communication unit (312) exchanges data via a wired connection and / or a wireless connection.

10. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operation control unit (240) is provided with at least one visualization unit (322) which displays at least one implementation state of at least one compressor operation function or a result of at least one compressor operation function.

11. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The screw compressor (10) has a control housing (230), and the compressor operation control unit (240) is arranged in the control housing.

12. The compressor unit according to claim 11, characterized in that The control unit housing (230) is arranged on the compressor housing (12).

13. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The screw compressor (10) comprises: two screw rotors (26, 28) arranged in the screw rotor chamber (18) and supported on the compressor housing (12) in a manner that they can rotate around the screw rotor axis (22, 24), the screw rotors interlockingly engage with each other with their screw profiles (32, 34) and respectively cooperate with compression walls (36, 38) adjacent thereto and partially surrounding the screw profiles, so as to receive a gaseous medium having an initial volume delivered via a low-pressure chamber (42) arranged in the compressor housing (12) and to discharge the gaseous medium in the region of a high-pressure chamber (44) arranged in the compressor housing (12) The invention discloses a compressor comprising: a compressor housing (12) and a compressor body (12) comprising a plurality of control slides (52, 54) arranged in a slide channel (56) of the compressor housing (12) and adjacent to two screw rotors (26, 28) with a slide compression wall (62, 64), wherein the at least one control slide is movable in a movement direction (72) parallel to the screw rotor axis (22, 24) and is constructed in a manner that affects the final volume and / or the initial volume.

14. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that A positioning detection device (152) for the at least one control slide (52, 54) is provided, the positioning detection device (152) having a positioning indication element (156, 158) coupled to the at least one control slide (52, 54), the at least one positioning indication element (156, 158) cooperating with a detector element (154), the detector element extending parallel to the moving direction (72) of the at least one control slide (52, 54), the positioning indication element (156, 158) being movable along the detector element, and the detector element (154) being coupled to an evaluation device (192), the evaluation device detecting the respective positioning (POS1, POS2) of the positioning indication element (156, 158) along the detector element (154).

15. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The screw compressor (10) has two control slides (52, 54), wherein the first control slide (52) is constructed in a manner that affects the final volume, and the second control slide (54) is constructed in a manner that affects the initial volume. A positioning detection device (152) for the two control slides (52, 54) is provided, wherein the positioning detection device includes a first positioning indicating element (156) coupled to the first control slide (52) and a second positioning indicating element (158) coupled to the second control slide (54), wherein the two positioning indicating elements (156, 158) cooperate with a common detector element (154), which extends parallel to the movement direction (72) of the control slide (52, 54) and the positioning indicating elements (156, 158) can move along the detector element when the control slide (52, 54) moves, and the detector element (154) is coupled to an evaluation device (192), which detects the respective positions (POS1, POS2) of the positioning indicating elements (156, 158) along the detector element.

16. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The detector element (154) is arranged within the compressor housing (12) in a detector channel (216) extending parallel to the displacement direction (72).

17. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that Respective position indicating elements (156, 158) are arranged in the detector channel (216).

18. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that The respective position indicating elements (156, 158) are mechanically coupled to the respective control slides (52, 54) via a connecting body (172).

19. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that The respective position indicating elements (156, 158) cooperate with the detector element (154) without contact.

20. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operation control unit (240) drives the control slide drive (112, 132) for the respective control slide (52, 54) and detects the movement of the respective control slide (52, 54) by means of the positioning detection unit (152).

21. The compressor unit according to claim 20, characterized in that The compressor operation control unit (240) positions the respective control slides (52, 54) in a position-regulated manner.

22. A compressor unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operation control unit (240) determines the positioning (POS1, POS2) of the at least one control slide (52, 54) by taking into account at least one or more of the following parameters: a pressure level (PN) on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, a pressure level (PH) on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, a temperature (TN) of the gaseous medium on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, a temperature (TH) of the gaseous medium on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, a rotational speed (DS) of the screw rotor, a power consumption of the drive motor, parameters of the gaseous medium, in particular parameters of the refrigerant, and usage limit values ​​of the screw compressor.

23. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterised in that The first control slide (52) and the second control slide (54) are arranged one behind the other in their moving direction (72).

24. The compressor unit according to claim 23, characterized in that The first control slide block (52) and the second control slide block (54) have the same outer profile.

25. A compressor unit according to claim 23 or 24, characterised in that The first control slide (52) and the second control slide (54) can be positioned directly adjacent to one another in a connection position and can be moved together in a displacement direction (72).

26. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterised in that The first control slide and the second control slide (52, 54) can be positioned spaced apart from one another in a separated position with a gap formed.

27. A compressor unit according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterised in that The first control slide (52') has slide compression walls (62'1, 64'1) directly adjacent to each other, each of which is adjacent to one of the screw rotors (26, 28), and the second control slide (54') has slide compression walls (62'2, 64'2) arranged at a distance from each other, each of which is adjacent to one of the screw rotors.

28. The compressor unit according to claim 27, characterized in that The first control slide (52') is supported on the second control slide (54').

29. A compressor unit according to claim 27 or 28, characterised in that The slider compression wall surface of the first control slider (52') and the slider compression wall surface (62, 64) of the second control slider (54') are connected to each other.

30. A method for operating a compressor unit, the compressor unit comprising a screw compressor (10) having a compressor housing (12) and a screw rotor chamber (18) arranged in the compressor housing (12); at least one screw rotor (26, 28) arranged in the screw rotor chamber (18) and supported on the compressor housing (12) in a manner rotatable about a screw rotor axis (22, 24), the screw rotor receiving a gaseous medium having an initial volume delivered via a low-pressure chamber (42) arranged in the compressor housing (12) and discharging the gaseous medium in a compressed manner to a final volume in the region of a high-pressure chamber (44) arranged in the compressor housing (12); and at least one control slide (52, 54) arranged in a slide channel (56) of the compressor housing (12) and adjacent to the screw rotor (26, 28), the at least one control slide moving in a displacement direction (72) parallel to the screw rotor axis (22, 24) and influencing the final volume and / or the initial volume, characterized in that A compressor operation control unit (240) is provided on the screw compressor (10), and at least one compressor operation function supporting the operation of the compressor unit is implemented by means of the compressor operation control unit.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that The at least one compressor operating function is a parameter detection function and in particular at least one of the following function parameters is detected in order to implement the parameter detection function: the pressure (PN) of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor (10), the temperature (TN) of the medium on the inlet side of the screw compressor (10), the pressure (PH) of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor (10), the temperature (TH) of the medium on the discharge side of the screw compressor (10), at least one control slide (52, 54) for positioning (POS1; POS2), Positioning (POS1; POS2) of all control slides (52, 54), Lubricant temperature (TSM), Lubricant flow (SSM), lubricant pressure difference (ΔPSM) at the lubricant filter (266), a lubricant level (SP) in at least one lubricant delivery section (282, 284, 286, 288), The speed (DS) of the driving motor (300), The temperature (TM) of the drive motor (300), The phase (PL) of the driving motor (300), The voltage (UM) on the drive motor (300), The current consumption (IM) of the drive motor (300).

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that Another compressor operating function is a protection function. In order to implement the protection function, at least one parameter detection function is implemented and the at least one functional parameter is compared with at least one reference parameter. When the at least one reference parameter is exceeded or fallen below, an alarm is issued and / or the screw compressor (10) is shut down.

33. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 32, characterized in that The at least one compressor operating function is a control function and, in particular, at least one of the following units is actuated in order to implement the control function: Control slide drive, Motor control unit (302), Lubricant cooling unit (264), an injection element (334) for a compressed medium for additional cooling, A slider control unit for the control slider.

34. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 33, characterized in that The at least one compressor operating function is an operating state presetting function in which the control function is implemented based on at least one request signal (AS) and / or at least one functional parameter.

35. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 34, characterized in that The compressor operating function is an operating state monitoring function and, in particular, for the implementation of the operating state monitoring function, the implementation of at least one parameter detection function and / or the implementation of at least one protection function and / or the implementation of at least one control function is recorded.

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that The recording of at least one functional parameter and / or the execution of at least one protective function and / or the execution of at least one control function takes place over time.

37. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 36, characterized in that The compressor operation control unit (240) is provided with a communication unit (312), and the communication unit exchanges data with external devices (310, 322).

38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that The communication unit (312) exchanges data via a wired connection and / or a wireless connection.

39. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, characterized in that The compressor operation control unit (240) uses at least one visualization unit (322) to display at least one implementation state of at least one compressor operation function or a result of at least one compressor operation function.

40. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 39, characterized in that A positioning detection device (152) for the at least one control slide (52, 54) has a positioning indication element (156, 158) coupled to the at least one control slide (52, 54), the at least one positioning indication element (156, 158) cooperating with a detector element (154), the detector element extending parallel to the movement direction (72) of the at least one control slide (52, 54) and causing the positioning indication element (156, 158) to move along the detector element, and the detector element (154) detecting the respective positioning (POS1, POS2) of the positioning indication element (156, 158) along the detector element (154) using an evaluation device (192).

41. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 40, characterized in that The screw compressor (10) has two control slides (52, 54), wherein a first control slide (52) is constructed in a manner to influence a final volume and a second control slide (54) is constructed in a manner to influence an initial volume, a positioning detection device (152) comprises a first positioning indication element (156) coupled to the first control slide (52) and a second positioning indication element (158) coupled to the second control slide (54), the two positioning indication elements (156, 158) cooperating with a common detector element (154), the detector element extending parallel to a movement direction (72) of the control slides (52, 54) and causing the positioning indication elements (156, 158) to move along the detector element when the control slides (52, 54) move, and the detector element (154) detects the respective positioning (POS1, POS2) of the positioning indication elements (156, 158) along the detector element using an evaluation device (192).

42. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 41, characterized in that The compressor operation control unit (240) drives the control slide drive (112, 132) for the respective control slide (52, 54) and detects the movement of the respective control slide (52, 54) by means of the positioning detection unit (152).

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that The compressor operation control unit (240) positions the respective control slides (52, 54) in a position-regulated manner.

44. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The compressor operation control unit (240) determines the positioning (POS1, POS2) of the at least one control slide (52, 54) by taking into account at least one or more of the following parameters: a pressure level (PN) on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, a pressure level (PH) on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, a temperature (TN) of the gaseous medium on the inlet side, in particular at low pressure, a temperature (TH) of the gaseous medium on the discharge side, in particular at high pressure, a rotational speed (DS) of the screw rotor, a power consumption of the drive motor, parameters of the gaseous medium, in particular parameters of the refrigerant, and usage limit values ​​of the screw compressor.

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