Compressor and method for compressing a working medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor (1) and to a method for compressing a working medium, having: a compressor piston (2) that compresses a working medium, a seal (4) for sealing off the compressor piston (2), a magazine (7) which contains a plurality of replacement seals (8), a changing device (11) for exchanging the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) in the magazine (7), wherein the central axes (10) of the replacement seals (8) are arranged so as to be substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a compressor comprising: a compressor piston compressing a working medium, a seal for sealing the compressor piston, a magazine containing several replacement seals, a changing device for exchanging the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for compressing a working medium, comprising the steps: Moving a compressor piston that compresses the working medium, whereby the compressor piston is sealed with a seal, providing a magazine with several spare seals, exchanging the seal with one of the spare seals in the magazine.

[0003] As described in EP 3 514 380 A1, replacing seals in conventional high-pressure compressors is very complicated and time-consuming. In contrast, EP 3 514 380 A1 proposes a compressor in which seal replacement is automated. If the high-pressure seal can no longer ensure the sealing of the high-pressure piston due to wear or damage, a replacement device is activated, with which the high-pressure seal is replaced with a replacement high-pressure seal. If all (replacement) high-pressure seals are worn out, the magazine as a whole can be replaced with a corresponding magazine containing unused replacement high-pressure seals, or new replacement high-pressure seals can be inserted into the magazine. In this prior art, various designs of magazines have already been disclosed with which the individual replacement high-pressure seals can be stored.Depending on the version, the magazine can be rotated or moved.

[0004] This state-of-the-art technology represents a significant improvement over conventional high-pressure compressors, which are used, for example, to supply high-pressure compressors. However, the number of replacement seals in the rotary magazine is limited due to space constraints. Positioning accuracy could also be improved. These disadvantages also exist in the movable magazine design, in which the replacement high-pressure seal is arranged in the same plane as the high-pressure seal.

[0005] The further general state of the art is illustrated by JP H08 177749 A, EP 2 721 297 Bl and DE 82 24 258 Ul.

[0006] Accordingly, the object of the invention is to mitigate or eliminate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention particularly aims to further reduce the number of service calls required to replace the seal.

[0007] In the compressor according to the invention with a changing device for replacing the seal, the center axes of the replacement seals are arranged substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.

[0008] For the purposes of this disclosure, the location and direction specifications, such as "top", "bottom", "horizontal", "vertical", refer to the intended use of the compressor.

[0009] Thus, the replacement seals (with the unused sealing elements) are arranged in a storage position with aligned center axes along the magazine's longitudinal axis. This design allows for a significantly larger number of replacement seals to be stored in the magazine ("new magazine") in a space-saving manner. This allows for further extension of service intervals.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the seal comprises a particularly annular seal carrier, to which at least one annular sealing element is attached. During compressor operation, when compressing the working medium, the annular sealing element rests sealingly against the casing of the compressor piston. Furthermore, the seal can comprise an axial sealing element for sealing in the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. The replacement seals are preferably constructed identically to the seal.

[0011] The compressor piston is preferably a plunger piston that can move back and forth along a cylinder. The compressor piston can be driven in various ways, for example, with a hydraulic pump. The compressor can have one or more compression stages.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the magazine has a longitudinal guide for guiding the replacement seals substantially in the direction of the magazine's longitudinal axis. The longitudinal guide is preferably configured to hold the replacement seals substantially free of play laterally, i.e., in any direction perpendicular to the magazine's longitudinal axis. Thus, in the storage position within the magazine, the replacement seals are arranged so that they can move exclusively in the direction of the magazine's longitudinal axis. The longitudinal guide can, for example, comprise guide rods that extend in the direction of the magazine's longitudinal axis.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the replacement seals are each stacked one above the other along the magazine in a substantially horizontal position (i.e., with the main plane of the replacement seal oriented substantially horizontally). Thus, in this embodiment, the replacement seals are arranged as a substantially vertical stack along the magazine. The longitudinal axis of the magazine extends substantially vertically in this embodiment. Advantageously, a large number of replacement seals can be stored in a space-saving manner. The topmost replacement seal can be moved upwards from the storage position within the magazine into a replacement position to allow the replacement seal to be inserted.

[0014] To replace the seal with the replacement seal, it is advantageous if the changing device has a feed drive for displacing the replacement seals, preferably together, essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine. By actuating the feed drive, the arrangement of replacement seals can be displaced along the magazine, and depending on the design, can be raised or lowered in a vertical direction, in order to transfer one of the replacement seals, in particular the topmost replacement seal, from a storage position to a replacement position. The feed drive can be, for example, an electric motor, a spindle drive, a hydraulic drive, or a pneumatic drive.

[0015] To ensure the replacement seals are lifted and lowered together, it is advantageous if the changing device has a platform for the (top-side) arrangement of the replacement seals. The feed drive is configured to move the platform along with the replacement seals. By activating the feed drive, the stack of replacement seals on the platform can be lifted to position the topmost replacement seal in the change position.

[0016] Furthermore, the changing device is preferably designed to guide the seal away from the compressor piston or to guide the replacement seal towards the compressor piston. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, the changing device has a slide. The slide can be designed, on the one hand, to move the seal, in particular substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston, from an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston to a changing position arranged in alignment with the replacement seals. Furthermore, the slide can be designed to move one of the replacement seals, in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine, from a changing position arranged in alignment with the other replacement seals to an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston.Preferably, the slide is connected to an actuator, for example another electric motor, another spindle, hydraulic or pneumatic drive.

[0017] To reliably move the seal between the operating and replacement positions, or the replacement seal between the replacement and operating positions, it is advantageous for the slide valve to have a retaining ring for accommodating the seal and / or the replacement seal. Preferably, the (replacement) seal is arranged within the retaining ring with essentially no play.

[0018] To dispose of the seal after replacement, it is advisable to have another magazine ("old magazine") to hold the replaced seal.

[0019] If the longitudinal axis of the additional magazine is arranged essentially flush with, i.e. in line with, the longitudinal axis of the magazine, the used seal can be disposed of particularly easily in the additional magazine.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the feed drive for moving the replacement seals is further configured to move the seal arranged in the change position into the additional magazine. Thus, by a single actuation of the feed drive, the replacement seal can be moved from the storage position to the change position, and the seal can be moved from the change position to a receiving position within the additional magazine. In a design with the slide, the feed drive can be used to move the seal from the change position within the slide to the receiving position within the additional magazine, and the replacement seal from the storage position within the magazine to the changing position within the slide.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, a cover plate is arranged between each two of the replacement seals. The cover plate is preferably not connected to the replacement seal. This allows the replacement seal to remain transferred from the change position to the operating position without taking the adjacent cover plate with it. With the help of this cover plate, an opening in the magazine can be closed between change processes. Furthermore, the cover plate at the magazine opening can be taken along into the additional magazine when the next replacement seal moves into the change position. This also allows another opening in the additional magazine to be closed between change processes. It is also advantageous that the cover plates protect the individual (replacement) seals within the (additional) magazine.

[0022] In this embodiment, it is advantageous if the magazine has a first positioning claw for holding the cover plate and / or the additional magazine has a second positioning claw for holding the cover plate. The first and second positioning claws can have elastically deflectable retaining elements for locking the cover plate into place.

[0023] To release the seal from the circumference of the compressor piston, it is advantageous if the compressor piston can be moved against one of the spare seals in the magazine into a retracted position beyond an operational dead center. During operation, the compressor piston moves between two operational dead centers. To replace the seal, the compressor piston is moved beyond one of the dead centers into the retracted position, which pulls the compressor piston out of the seal. The seal can then be moved from the operating position to the replacement position, preferably via the slide.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor, the compressor piston is connected to another compressor piston via a transfer chamber. The other compressor piston is preferably arranged substantially parallel to the compressor piston.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, a part, in particular the lower part, of the compressor piston is arranged in a receiving cylinder, wherein, in the first end position of the compressor, an annular gap can be formed between the compressor piston and the wall of the receiving cylinder. Correspondingly, a part, in particular the lower part, of the further compressor piston can be arranged in a further receiving cylinder, wherein a further annular gap can be formed between the further compressor piston and the wall of the further receiving cylinder.

[0026] The annular gap is preferably connected to a drive machine, for example a high-pressure pump, via one chamber, and the further annular gap is preferably connected to a further chamber. In a first position, the chamber is connected to the pressure side of the drive machine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the further chamber is connected to a suction side of the drive machine via a further valve, in particular a slide valve. The transfer chamber is preferably filled with a hydraulic fluid in order to redirect the movement of the compressor piston, in particular by 180°, onto the further compressor piston, so that the further compressor piston is moved opposite to the direction of the compressor piston. In a second position, the further chamber is connected to the pressure side of the drive machine and the chamber is connected to the suction side of the drive machine.This reverses the direction of movement of the other compressor piston, with the movement being transferred to the compressor piston via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber.

[0027] The compressor piston and the additional compressor piston can be driven by the drive motor, particularly hydraulically or pneumatically. A pressure converter can be provided on the compressor piston, which seals off the annular gap from the transfer chamber. Similarly, a further pressure converter can be provided on the additional compressor piston, which seals off the additional annular gap from the transfer chamber. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) drive pressure is transferred to the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber via the pressure converter or the additional pressure converter.

[0028] The method according to the invention for compressing a working medium comprises at least the following steps: Moving a compressor piston compressing the working medium, wherein the compressor piston seals a first volume against a second volume with a seal, providing a magazine with a plurality of replacement seals, exchanging the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine, wherein the center axes of the replacement seals are arranged substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.

[0029] Replacing the seal with one of the magazine's replacement seals preferably comprises one or more, in particular all, of the following steps: Moving the compressor piston into a retracted position beyond an operational dead center, and / or moving the seal, in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston, from an operating position aligned with the compressor piston into a replacement position aligned with the replacement seals, and / or moving the seal arranged in the replacement position, in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine, into a storage position in another magazine, and / or moving one of the replacement seals, in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine, into a replacement position corresponding to the replacement position of the seal, moving the replacement seal arranged in the replacement position, in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine, into an operating position aligned with the compressor piston,and / or inserting the compressor piston into the replacement seal arranged in the operating position.

[0030] The working medium is preferably a gaseous working medium, in particular molecular hydrogen, natural gas, nitrogen, argon, helium, or a mixture of several of the media mentioned.

[0031] The invention is further explained below using a preferred embodiment. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a compressor according to the invention with a changing device for replacing a used seal with a new replacement seal. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the compressor according to the invention, in which a compressor piston is connected to another compressor piston via a transfer chamber.

[0032] Fig. 1 a compressor 1, which (as shown) can have one compressor stage or several compressor stages (not shown). The compressor 1 has at least one high-pressure compressor piston 2 with a longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction A1. The compressor piston 2 moves back and forth within a cylinder 3 between a first and a second operational dead center. With a (high-pressure) sealing device, hereinafter referred to as seal 4, the compressor piston 2 seals a first volume 3A within the cylinder 3 from a second volume 3B. The seal 4 has a seal carrier 4A, on which an annular circumferential sealing element 5 with a central axis 6 (i.e., an axis passing through the center of the annular sealing element 5 in the axial direction) and an axial seal 4B are provided. In the operating position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned, i.e.in line with the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2. When the working medium is compressed, the annular sealing element 5 sits sealingly on the casing of the compressor piston 2.

[0033] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, a magazine 7 is provided with several, in particular at least 5, preferably more than 10, replacement (high-pressure) seals 8, which are designed identically to the seal 4. Thus, the replacement seals 8 each have a replacement seal carrier 9A, an annular, circumferential replacement sealing element 9B with a central axis 10 (i.e., an axis passing through the center of the annular replacement sealing element 9B in the axial direction), and a replacement axial seal 9C. With the aid of a changing device 11, the seal 4 can be exchanged for one of the replacement seals 8 of the magazine 7.

[0034] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, the central axes 10 of the replacement seals 8 are aligned with one another in the storage position shown, i.e. arranged in a line along a central longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. If the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7 extends in the vertical direction, as in the example shown, the replacement seals 8 are each stacked essentially horizontally, i.e. with vertically aligned central axes 10, one above the other along the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. The magazine 7 has a longitudinal guide 12, here with individual guide rods, which hold the replacement seals 6 in position laterally, i.e. in every direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2.

[0035] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, the changing device 11 has a feed drive 13 for moving the replacement seals 8 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. Furthermore, the changing device 11 has a platform 14, which is connected, for example, via drive rods or directly, to the feed drive 13. The replacement seals 8 are arranged on the platform 14. By activating the feed drive 13, the platform 14, together with the replacement seals 8, can be moved either upwards or downwards.

[0036] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, the changing device 11 has a slide 15. With the slide 15, the seal 4 can be changed into a seal running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2 from the Fig. 1 shown operating position into a change position adjacent to, here above, the magazine 7. In the operating position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A1 of the compressor piston 2. In the change position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. In addition, one of the replacement seals 8 can be moved with the slide 15 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7 (and thus also to the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2, which runs parallel in the embodiment shown) from a change position arranged concentrically to the magazine into an operating position. In the change position, the central axis 10 of the replacement seal 8 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. In the operating position, the central axis 10 of the replacement seal 8 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A1 of the compressor piston 2.

[0037] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, the slide 15 in the illustrated embodiment has a receiving ring 16, which (depending on the process step) accommodates the seal 4 or the replacement seal 8 inside. The slide 15 is slidably mounted in a base body 15A of the compressor. To move the slide 15, the slide 15 is connected to an actuator 15B, for example, a hydraulic cylinder-piston drive. A sliding ring 15C serves as the upper limit for the slide 15.

[0038] As from Fig. 1 As can be seen further, the compressor 1 also has a further magazine 17 in which the replaced seal 4 and further used replacement seals 8 can be accommodated. For illustration, Fig. 1 a used seal 23 is arranged in the further magazine 17. The longitudinal axis of the further magazine 17 is aligned, i.e. in a line, with the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. In the embodiment shown, the further magazine 17 is arranged adjacent to, here above, the magazine 7. The further magazine 17 is designed, corresponding to the magazine 7, to accommodate the seal 4 and used replacement seals 8 with mutually aligned central axes. The feed drive 13 described above is set up to move the seal 4, which has been moved into the change position, from the slide 15 into the storage position in the further magazine 17 and to move the foremost, here the uppermost, replacement seal 8 from the supply position in the magazine 7 into the change position in the slide 15.

[0039] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, cover plates 18 are each arranged between two replacement seals 8. The magazine 7 has a first (lower) positioning claw 19 for holding one of the cover plates 18. The further magazine 17 has a second (upper) positioning claw 20 for holding one of the cover plates 18. The first 19 and the second positioning claw 20 each have elastically deflectable holding elements.

[0040] As from Fig. 1 As can be seen, the compressor piston 2 can be moved into a position in preparation for the seal change Fig. 1 shown, retracted position beyond the operational first dead center, so that the annular sealing element 5 of the seal 4 is released in the axial direction from the jacket of the cylinder piston 2.

[0041] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, a preloading device 21 is provided, which is actuated, in particular, hydraulically or with a gas. The preloading device 21 presses the seal 4 against an end face of the cylinder tube 3. The axial seal 4B seals the cylinder tube 3 against the seal carrier 4A.

[0042] The procedure for replacing the seal 4 with the replacement seal 8 is as follows.

[0043] A leak of the working medium from the first volume 3A at the seal 4 is transferred to the second volume 3B. The second volume 3B is fluidly connected to a leak detection device. This device is known per se in the prior art, so the device 20 will not be discussed in detail here. If a leak at the seal 4 that exceeds a permissible level is detected (with a device known per se in the prior art), an automatic seal replacement is initiated at the earliest possible time.

[0044] In the first step of the seal change, the first volume 3A in the high-pressure cylinder 3 is relieved and directed, for example, into a stack line. The compressor piston 2 is moved along the first longitudinal axis A1, in this case lowered, until the operational first dead center, in this case the bottom dead center, for example, 260 mm, is exceeded. In preparation for the seal change, the stroke of the compressor piston 2 can reach, for example, 300 mm.

[0045] In the next step, the pretensioning device 21 is transferred to a relaxed state, whereby the seal 4 is released.

[0046] In the next step, the actuator 15B for the slide 15 is actuated. This moves the slide 15 with the seal 4 from the operating position to the change position. The seal 4 is placed on the cover or separating plate 18, which closes the opening of the magazine 7.

[0047] The feed drive 13 is then actuated, pushing the platform 14 forward along with the replacement seals 8. The stack of replacement seals 8 is raised until another of the cover plates 18, along with the replacement seal 8 located thereon, engages in the first positioning claw 19. In doing so, the cover plate 18, which closes the magazine 7 and is engaged in the first positioning claw 19, is raised along with the worn seal 4 until this cover plate 18 engages in the second positioning claw 20. The seal 4 is thus stored in the additional magazine 17 (i.e., the old magazine).

[0048] The platform 14 can then be lowered again by the feed drive 13. The replacement seal 8 arranged in the slide 15 is moved into the operating position by the actuator 15b.

[0049] Finally, the compressor piston 2 is moved into the operating stroke position. For this purpose, the compressor piston 2 is pushed along the first longitudinal axis A1 into the replacement seal 8 arranged in the operating position. Subsequently, the preloading device 21 is actuated to press the replacement seal 8 against the cylinder barrel 3. Thus, the first chamber 3A is sealed from the environment and the second chamber 3B by the axial sealing element and the annular sealing element of the replacement seal 8.

[0050] In one embodiment, hydrogen is provided by compressor 1 with a maximum output pressure of 1050 bar. The compressor piston 2 can be driven, for example, by a hydraulic fluid.

[0051] Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the compressor 1, in which the compressor piston 2 is connected to a further compressor piston 25 via a transfer chamber 24. The further compressor piston 25 is arranged substantially parallel to the compressor piston 2. A part of the compressor piston 2 is arranged in a receiving cylinder 26, wherein in the (in Fig. 2shown) first end position of the compressor 1, an annular gap 27 is formed between the compressor piston 2 and the wall of the receiving cylinder 26. Correspondingly, a part of the further compressor piston 25 is arranged in a further receiving cylinder 28, wherein a further annular gap 33 is formed between the further compressor piston 25 and the wall of the further receiving cylinder 28. The annular gap 27 is connected to a drive machine, for example a high-pressure pump, via a chamber 29, and the further annular gap 33 is connected via a further chamber 30. In the position shown, the chamber 29 is connected to the pressure side of the drive machine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the further chamber 30 is connected to a suction side of the drive machine via a further valve, in particular a slide valve.In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer chamber 24 is filled with hydraulic fluid to redirect the movement of the compressor piston 2 by 180° to the additional compressor piston 25, so that the additional compressor piston 25 is moved in the opposite direction to the direction of the compressor piston 2. Upon reaching one end position, the valves are switched, connecting the additional chamber 30 to the pressure side and the chamber 29 to the suction side of the drive machine. This reverses the direction of movement of the additional compressor piston 25, with the movement being transferred to the compressor piston 2 via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24.

[0052] The compressor piston 2 and the additional compressor piston 25 can be driven hydraulically or pneumatically via the drive motor. A pressure converter 31 is provided on the compressor piston 2, which seals off the annular gap 27 from the transfer chamber 24. Similarly, a further pressure converter 32 is provided on the additional compressor piston 25, which seals off the additional annular gap 33 from the transfer chamber 24. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) drive pressure is transferred to the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24 via the pressure converter 31 or the additional pressure converter 32. List of reference numbers:

[0053] 1 Compressor 2 Compressor piston 3 Cylinder tube 3A First volume 3B Second volume 4 Seal 4A Seal carrier 4B Axial seal 5 Sealing element 6 Center axis of the seal 7 Magazine 8 Replacement seals 9A Replacement seal carrier 9A 9B Annular circumferential replacement sealing element 9B 9C Replacement axial seal 10 Center axis of the replacement seal 11 Changing device 12 Guides 13 Feed drive 14 Platform 15 Slide 15A Base body 15B Actuator for slide 16 Receptacle ring 17 Additional magazine 18 Cover plates 19 Lower positioning claw 20 Upper positioning claw 21 Pretensioning device 22 Leakage detection device 23 Used seal in the old magazine 24 Transfer chamber 25 Additional compressor piston 26 Receptacle cylinder 27 Annular gap 28 Additional receptacle cylinder 29 Chamber 30 Additional chamber 31 Transfer part 32 Further transfer part

Claims

1. A compressor (1) comprising a compressor piston (2) compressing a working medium, a seal (4) for sealing the compressor piston (2), a magazine (7) containing a plurality of replacement seals (8), a replacement device (11) for replacing the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) of the magazine (7), characterised in that the centre axes (10) of the replacement seals (8) are arranged substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

2. Compressor (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the replacement seals (8) are each stacked substantially horizontally one above the other along the magazine (7).

3. Compressor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the replacement device (11) comprises a feed drive (13) for displacing the replacement seals (8) essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

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

5. Compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the replacement device (11) comprises a slider (15) for displacing the seal (4), in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (A1) of the compressor piston (2), from an operating position aligned with the compressor piston (2) into a change position aligned with the replacement seals (8) and / or for displacing one of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (17), from an exchange position aligned with the other of the replacement seals (8) into an operating position aligned with the compressor piston (2).

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

7. Compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by: an additional magazine (17) for receiving the replaced seal (23).

8. Compressor (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the longitudinal axis of the additional magazine (17) is arranged substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

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

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

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

12. Compressor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the compressor piston (2) is displaceable into a retracted position beyond an operational dead centre for replacing the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) of the magazine (7).

13. A method of compressing a working medium, comprising the steps of: moving a compressor piston (2) compressing the working medium, wherein the compressor piston (2) is sealed with a seal (4), providing a magazine (17) with a plurality of replacement seals (8), replacing the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) of the magazine (7), characterised in that the centre axes (10) of the replacement seals (8) are arranged substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (17).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the replacement of the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) of the magazine (17) comprises at least one of the following steps: displacing the compressor piston (2) into a retracted position beyond an operational dead centre, and / or displacing the seal (4), in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (A1) of the compressor piston (2), from an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston (2) into an change position arranged in alignment with the replacement seals (8), and / or displacing the seal (4) arranged in the change position, in particular essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7), into a storage position in an additional magazine (17), and / or displacing one of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7), into an exchange position corresponding to the change position of the seal (4), and / or displacing the replacement seal (8) arranged in the exchange position, in particular essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (17), into an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston (2), and / or pushing the compressor piston (2) into the replacement seal (8) arranged in the operating position.

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