Process gas separation from lubricating oil in a turbomachine arrangement

Abstract

Turbomachine arrangement (10), with at least one compressor (11, 12) for compressing a process gas, wherein the at least one compressor (11, 12) has a rotatably mounted shaft (13) and oil seals (14), with a sealing oil tank (15), from which oil can be supplied to the oil seals (14) and into which the oil can be returned from the oil seals (14), with a vacuum degassing system (21), wherein oil can be supplied to the vacuum degassing system (21) from the sealing oil tank (15) in order to separate the oil from the process gas contained in the oil in the vacuum degassing system (21), with a jet pump (26), to which compressed process gas can be supplied as a propellant from the or one of the compressors (11, 12) and process gas separated from the oil can be supplied from the vacuum degassing system (21), wherein the process gas separated from the oil is supplied via the process gas serving as propellant can be sucked in,and wherein the jet pump (26) provides the process gas to the one or more of the compressors (11, 12) for compression.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a turbomachine arrangement.

[0002] Turbomachinery arrangements used to compress a process gas have at least one compressor. A compressor has a shaft rotatably mounted in a housing. Oil seals are used to seal the compressor, particularly in the shaft area between the compressor stages or compressor sections.

[0003] Oil can be supplied to the oil seals of a compressor in a turbomachine arrangement from a seal oil tank. From the oil seals, the oil can be returned to the seal oil tank. Process gas can enter the oil in the area of ​​the oil seals and be returned to the seal oil tank together with the oil. From the seal oil tank, the process gas can escape into the environment in an uncontrolled manner. This is particularly problematic if the process gas is harmful to the climate and / or flammable and / or harmful to health. DE 10 2008 025 058 A1 discloses an exhaust gas turbocharger with an oil seal.

[0004] US 2006 / 0 254 274 A1, JP S57 - 191 403 A and SU 1 366 716 A1 each disclose a turbomachine arrangement with jet pumps.

[0005] There is a need for a turbomachine arrangement in which the risk of process gas escaping into the environment via the oil returned from the oil seals to the barrier oil tank is reduced.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a novel turbomachine arrangement. This object is achieved by a turbomachine arrangement according to claim 1.

[0007] The turbomachine arrangement according to the invention has at least one compressor for compressing a process gas, wherein the at least one compressor has a rotatably mounted shaft and oil seals.

[0008] The turbomachine arrangement according to the invention further comprises a barrier oil tank from which oil can be supplied to the oil seals and into which the oil can be returned from the oil seals.

[0009] The turbomachine arrangement according to the invention further comprises a vacuum degassing system, wherein oil can be supplied to the vacuum degassing system from the sealing oil tank in order to separate the oil from process gas contained in the oil returned from the oil seal in the vacuum degassing system.

[0010] The turbomachine arrangement according to the invention further comprises a jet pump to which compressed process gas from the or one of the compressors can be supplied as a propellant and process gas separated from the oil from the vacuum degassing system, wherein the process gas separated from the oil can be sucked in via the process gas serving as a propellant, and wherein the jet pump provides the process gas to the or one of the compressors for compression.

[0011] Because the turbomachine arrangement according to the invention comprises the vacuum degassing system and the jet pump, the risk of process gas, which is returned from the oil seals together with the oil into the barrier oil tank, escaping into the environment in an uncontrolled manner is reduced.

[0012] In the degassing tank, to which oil can be fed from the sealing oil tank, the process gas can be separated from the oil. The jet pump draws in the process gas separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system and mixes it with the process gas to be compressed upstream of the compressor or one of the compressors. This reduces the risk of uncontrolled release of process gas into the environment.

[0013] The turbomachine arrangement preferably has a suction line leading from the vacuum degassing system to the jet pump for conveying process gas from the vacuum degassing system, which can be drawn in by the jet pump via the suction line. This is particularly preferred for supplying process gas separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system to the jet pump or for drawing it in via the jet pump.

[0014] The turbomachine assembly preferably has an emergency degassing line leading away from the vacuum degassing system, through which the seal oil tank can be discharged during standstill. This is particularly preferred for a standstill function of the turbomachine assembly, i.e., when the at least one compressor is at a standstill, in order to prevent an unacceptably high pressure from building up in the seal oil tank during standstill.

[0015] Preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Herein: Fig. 1 shows a turbomachine arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 a further development of the turbomachine arrangement according to the invention of Fig. 1.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a turbomachine arrangement 10 according to the invention, which serves to compress a process gas PG. The turbomachine arrangement 10 of the Fig. 1 has several compressors, namely a low-pressure compressor 11 and a high-pressure compressor 12, with the low-pressure compressor 11 comprising one compressor section and the high-pressure compressor 12 comprising two compressor sections 12a, 12b. Each compressor section has at least one compressor stage.

[0017] Process gas PG to be compressed is therefore Fig. 1 is fed to the low-pressure compressor 11 via a supply line, compressed step by step in the low-pressure compressor 11 and the high-pressure compressor 12 and discharged from the high-pressure compressor 12 via a discharge line.

[0018] In Fig. 1, the rotating assemblies of the individual compressors 11, 12 are arranged on a common shaft 13 and supported by the shaft 13 in a housing (not shown). Different shafts 13 may also be present for the individual compressors 11, 12.

[0019] Fig. 1 further shows oil seals 14 in the area of ​​the shaft 13, which serve to seal the compressor or compressor sections or the shaft 13. Oil can be supplied to the oil seals 14, namely from a sealing oil tank 15. From the oil seals 14, oil can be returned to the sealing oil tank 15. In Fig. 1 shows only a return line 16, through which the oil can be returned from the oil seals 14 into the sealing oil tank 15. The supply line, through which oil can be led from the sealing oil tank 15 towards the oil seals 14, is shown for the sake of simplicity in Fig. 1 not shown.

[0020] In the area of ​​the oil seals 14, process gas PG can enter the oil and flow together with the oil via the return line 16 towards the barrier oil tank 15. Fig. 1 shows a separator 17 integrated into the oil line 16 to separate the process gas from the oil and thus reduce the amount of process gas entering the sealing oil tank 15. According to the dashed lines, the process gas separated from the oil in the area of ​​the separator 17 can be guided via a line 19 toward another separator 18 to further separate the process gas and oil in the area of ​​the additional separator 18. It is possible to assign an individual separator 17 to each oil seal 14.

[0021] Starting from this separator 18, process gas can then be fed via a line 20 to the process gas upstream of the low-pressure compressor 11, namely the supply line 50, when a valve 52 integrated in line 20 is open.

[0022] The turbomachine arrangement 10 according to the invention has, in addition to the sealing oil tank 15, a degassing tank 21. The degassing tank 21 is coupled to the sealing oil tank 15 via a supply line 22 in order to conduct oil from the sealing oil tank 15 into the vacuum degassing system 21. In the vacuum degassing system 21, oil and process gas are separated. Starting from the vacuum degassing system 21, the oil can be returned to the sealing oil tank 15 via a return line 23. Process gas, which was separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21, can be discharged from the vacuum degassing system 21 via a line 24. The sealing oil tank 15 is, in particular, an atmospheric pressure tank. The vacuum degassing system 21 is, in particular, a negative pressure tank.

[0023] In Fig. 1, a pump 53 is integrated into the return line 23, which is driven by a motor 25. In Fig. 1, the pump 53 serves to return the oil from the vacuum degassing system 21 to the sealing oil tank 15. Although not shown, a pump can also be integrated into the supply line 22.

[0024] The turbomachine arrangement 10 according to the invention further comprises a jet pump 26. The jet pump 26 is connected to a compressor, Fig. 1 starting from the low-pressure compressor 11, via a line 27 in the compressor, i.e. in Fig. 1 in the low-pressure compressor 11, compressed process gas can be supplied as a propellant. Starting from the vacuum degassing system 21, process gas, which has been separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21, can be supplied to the jet pump 26 via line 24. The separator 18 can be connected to line 27 via a line 54 with the valve 55 open.

[0025] Via the process gas serving as propellant, which is conveyed via line 27 from the low-pressure compressor 11 in the direction of the jet pump 26, the jet pump 26 can draw in process gas, which has been separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21, via line 24, which is a suction line, in order to subsequently provide the process gas, via a line 28 from the jet pump 26, to the process gas to be compressed upstream of the low-pressure compressor 11 and to mix it with the same. The jet pump 26 introduces the process gas into the supply line 50. According to Fig. 1, both a check valve 29 and a control valve 30 are integrated into the line 28.

[0026] According to Fig. 1, the process gas separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21 can be extracted from the vacuum degassing system 21 using a vacuum pump 31, particularly designed as a vacuum pump, which is driven by a motor 32. The process gas conveyed into the suction line 24 via the vacuum pump 31 is then sucked in via the jet pump 26.

[0027] It is therefore within the scope of the present invention that the turbomachine assembly 10 comprises, in addition to the sealing oil tank 15, which is preferably an atmospheric pressure tank, the vacuum degassing system 21 and the jet pump 26. Starting from the sealing oil tank 15, oil, which also includes process gas, can be fed into the vacuum degassing system 21, wherein the process gas is separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21, which is preferably a vacuum tank.

[0028] The process gas separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21 can be sucked in by the jet pump 26 via the suction line 24, whereby compressed process gas serves as the propellant for the jet pump 26, which is compressed in a compressor, in Fig. 1 in the low-pressure compressor 11.

[0029] In the turbomachine arrangement according to the invention, process gas, which from oil seals 14 enters the barrier oil tank 15 together with the oil, can be effectively separated from the oil and added to the process gas upstream of the compressor, in Fig. 1 upstream of the low-pressure compressor 11, so that the risk of process gas escaping into the environment in an uncontrolled manner is reduced.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a further development of the turbomachine arrangement 10 of the Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, a valve 33 is integrated into the suction line 24, into which process gas separated from the oil can be sucked via the jet pump 26 in the vacuum degassing system 21. The valve 33 can be opened and closed via an actuator 34. In particular, it is provided that the valve 33, which is integrated into the suction line 24, is closed when the compressors 11, 12 of the turbomachine arrangement 10 are at a standstill.

[0031] In particular, the valve 33 can be opened and closed by means of the actuator 34 depending on pressures measured by pressure sensors 35, 36, 37 and 38. Thus, according to Fig. 2, the pressure sensor 35 is assigned to the line 27 upstream of the jet pump 26, and the pressure sensor 37 is assigned to the suction line 24 upstream of the jet pump 26. The pressure sensor 36 is assigned to the line 28 downstream of the jet pump 26.

[0032] Depending on the pressures measured by these pressure sensors 35, 36 and 37, the valve 39 can be opened and closed by means of the actuator 34.

[0033] Likewise, depending on the pressures measured by the pressure sensors 35, 36 and 37, a valve 39 can be opened and closed by means of an actuator 40 which is integrated into the line 27.

[0034] Fig. 2 further shows an emergency degassing line 41, via which process gas, which has been separated from the oil in the vacuum degassing system 21, can be discharged from the vacuum degassing system 21, in particular when the turbomachine arrangement 10 is at a standstill, i.e., when the compressors 11, 12 of the turbomachine arrangement 10 are at a standstill. Via the emergency degassing line 41, the process gas can be fed to a degassing line 42 for process gas branching off from the sealing oil tank 15 in order to discharge process gas toward a safety vessel (not shown). The emergency degassing line 41, into which a check valve 43 is integrated, is coupled to the suction line 24, into which a check valve 44 is also integrated, via a control valve arrangement 45 comprising a valve 45a and a parallel-connected check valve 45b.

[0035] Furthermore, Fig.2 an inert gas supply device 46, via which inert gas can be supplied to the sealing oil tank 15 via a line 47. The amount of inert gas supplied to the sealing oil tank 15 from the inert gas supply device 46 can be adjusted via a valve 48 integrated into the line 47 and / or via an orifice 49 integrated into the line 47. The inert gas supplied to the sealing oil tank 15 from the inert gas supply device 46, which in particular is nitrogen gas, can be mixed with the process gas present in the region of the oil tank 15 in order to discharge a mixture of process gas and inert gas via the degassing line 42 in the direction of a containment vessel. List of reference symbols 10 Turbomachine arrangement 11 compressors 12 compressors 12a Compressor section 12b Compressor section 13 Wave 14 Oil seal 15 Sealing oil tank 16 Return line 17 separators 18 separators 19 Management 20 Line 21 Vacuum degassing system 22 Supply line 23 Return line 24 Suction line 25 engine 26 jet pump 27 Line 28 Line 29 Check valve 30 control valve 31 Vacuum pump 32 engine 33 Valve 34 Actuator 35 Pressure sensor 36 Pressure sensor 37 Pressure sensor 38 pressure sensor 39 Valve 40 Actuator 41 Emergency degassing line 42 Degassing line 43 Check valve 44 Check valve 45 Control valve arrangement 45a valve 45b Check valve 46 inert gas supply device 47 Line 48 Valve 49 aperture 50 supply line 51 Derivation 52 Valve 53 Pump 54 Line 55 Valve

Claims

[1] Turbomachine arrangement (10), with at least one compressor (11, 12) for compressing a process gas, wherein the at least one compressor (11, 12) has a rotatably mounted shaft (13) and oil seals (14), with a sealing oil tank (15) from which oil can be supplied to the oil seals (14) and into which the oil can be returned from the oil seals (14), with a vacuum degassing system (21), wherein oil can be supplied to the vacuum degassing system (21) from the sealing oil tank (15) in order to separate the oil from the process gas contained in the oil in the vacuum degassing system (21), with a jet pump (26), wherein compressed process gas can be supplied to the jet pump (26) as a propellant from the or one of the compressors (11, 12) and process gas separated from the oil can be supplied from the vacuum degassing system (21), wherein the process gas separated from the oil can be sucked in via the process gas serving as a propellant, and wherein the jet pump (26) provides the process gas to the or one of the compressors (11, 12) for compression. [2] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized by a suction line (24) leading from the vacuum degassing system (21) to the jet pump (26), via which the process gas separated from the oil can be sucked in. [3] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to claim 2, characterized by a vacuum pump (31) to convey process gas from the vacuum degassing system (21), which can be sucked in by the jet pump (26) via the suction line (24). [4] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the sealing oil tank (15) is an atmospheric pressure tank, and / or that the vacuum degassing system (21) is a negative pressure tank. [5] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that oil separated from the process gas can be fed to the sealing oil tank (15) from the vacuum degassing system (21). [6] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by an emergency degassing line (41) leading away from the vacuum degassing system (21), via which process gas can be discharged from the vacuum degassing system (21) when the at least one compressor (11, 12) is at a standstill. [7] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to claims 2 and 6, characterized by that the emergency degassing line (41) is coupled to the suction line (24). [8] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the emergency degassing line (41) is coupled to a degassing line (42) of the oil tank (15). [9] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized by Pressure sensors (35, 36, 37, 38) by means of which pressures can be measured at least upstream of the jet pump (26) in order to open or close, depending thereon, at least one valve (33) arranged in the suction line (24) leading from the vacuum degassing system (21) to the jet pump (26). [10] Turbomachine arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by an inert gas supply device (46) for the sealing oil tank (15).

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