Compressor assembly for compressing a gas

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor arrangement (1) for compressing a gas, comprising a housing (2), a hydraulically driven compressor (3) and a liquid pump (4), wherein the hydraulically driven compressor (3) and the liquid pump (4) are arranged within the housing (2) and the housing (2) has a gas supply (5) connected to the hydraulically driven compressor (3) and a gas discharge (6) connected to the hydraulically driven compressor (3), wherein the housing (2) is at least partially filled with a liquid (7) and the hydraulically driven compressor (3) can be driven by means of a flow of the liquid (7) generated by the liquid pump (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor arrangement for compressing a gas according to the features of patent claim 1.

[0002] Compressor assemblies for compressing a gas, such as hydrogen after electrolysis, are well known in the art. Particularly when compressing explosive gas mixtures, high explosion protection requirements apply. To reduce the risk of explosion to the required level, the compressors are generally operated outside of enclosed spaces so that any escaping gas can mix directly with the outside ambient air. To prevent ignition sources, the compressor motors must be encapsulated and often feature thermal winding protection to prevent excessively high temperatures from being reached. Such measures are often costly and prevent the compressor assembly from being used in enclosed spaces.

[0003] Based on the prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved compressor arrangement for compressing a gas, which can be operated in enclosed spaces while complying with explosion protection requirements and at the same time can be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0004] This object is achieved by a compressor arrangement for compressing a gas according to the features of patent claim 1.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] The compressor arrangement according to the invention for compressing a gas comprises a housing, a hydraulically driven compressor, and a liquid pump. The hydraulically driven compressor and the liquid pump are arranged within the housing. The housing has a gas inlet connected to the hydraulically driven compressor and a gas outlet connected to the hydraulically driven compressor. The gas to be compressed is introduced into the hydraulically driven compressor via the gas inlet, compressed therein, and discharged from the housing through the gas outlet for further use or storage.

[0007] Essential to the invention is that the housing is at least partially filled with a liquid, so that the hydraulically driven compressor can be driven by a liquid flow generated by the liquid pump. The liquid in the housing is sucked in by the liquid pump and then fed at a defined pressure and flow rate into the hydraulically driven compressor, which is driven by the flowing liquid. The liquid is then returned to the housing. Thus, a closed circuit is formed.

[0008] The compressor assembly according to the invention offers several advantages. Because the compressor and pump are arranged within a liquid-filled housing, no additional explosion protection measures are required to meet explosion protection requirements. In particular, the compressor assembly complies with the ATEX directives of the European Union. The compressor assembly features a self-contained, modular design. This saves costs and allows the compressor assembly to be operated in enclosed spaces.

[0009] Furthermore, the hydraulically driven compressor and the liquid pump are cooled by the liquid contained in the housing. This feature also makes the compressor arrangement more cost-effective than prior art solutions.

[0010] The compressor arrangement is therefore particularly suitable for use in decentralized energy supply and home use.

[0011] Preferably, a gas chamber is formed between the liquid and an upper housing wall of the housing. Any gas leaks escaping from the hydraulically driven compressor can be collected in the gas chamber and discharged as needed.

[0012] The housing particularly preferably has a chimney connection. This is located, in particular, on the upper housing wall. The gas in the gas chamber can be discharged via the chimney connection. Particularly during the compression of flammable gases, such as hydrogen, leakage gases can be safely and controlledly discharged from the compressor assembly through the chimney connection. Compared to compressor assemblies known from the prior art, only one connection is required for all relief lines.

[0013] A distance of 1 to 15 cm, particularly preferably 5 to 10 cm, is preferably maintained between the surface of the liquid and the upper housing wall. This has proven advantageous within the scope of the invention for the previously described functions of the gas chamber.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the housing has an interior volume of 0.05 to 0.5 m³, preferably an interior volume of 0.1 to 0.4 m³, and particularly preferably an interior volume of 0.15 to 0.3 m³. The compact design enables the compression of gases, particularly hydrogen, in small quantities. This is advantageous, for example, for the recompression of hydrogen produced in small quantities during electrolysis.

[0015] Preferably, the compressor assembly or housing can be integrated or arranged in standard 19-inch cabinet systems. This minimizes the footprint of the compressor assembly and allows for space-saving integration into existing systems or installations.

[0016] In particular, the liquid pump and the hydraulically driven compressor are completely enclosed within the liquid. This ensures that the heat generated during operation of the liquid pump and the hydraulically driven compressor can be optimally dissipated into the liquid. It also ensures that the liquid pump only draws in the liquid contained in the housing.

[0017] The hydraulically driven compressor is preferably a piston compressor. Piston compressors are simple and robust compressors that require little maintenance and are inexpensive to manufacture.

[0018] The liquid pump is, in particular, electrically hermetically sealed, so that the liquid cannot come into direct contact with the liquid pump's electronics. It is particularly preferred to use a deep-well pump. Deep-well pumps are cost-effective, small, low-maintenance, and electrically hermetically sealed, especially in the area of ​​their electrical connection. This makes deep-well pumps particularly well-suited for use in the compressor arrangement claimed here.

[0019] The liquid pump preferably has an electric drive that can be connected to a standard 230V outlet. This eliminates the need for a costly, ATEX-compliant drive.

[0020] The fluid is typically water. It can also contain an additive, such as an antifreeze or rust inhibitor. Water has a high heat capacity and can therefore easily absorb the heat generated by the hydraulically driven compressor and the fluid pump. It is also inexpensive, non-flammable, and environmentally friendly. Alternatively, oil can also be used as the fluid.

[0021] The gas to be compressed is preferably hydrogen, the compression of which has become increasingly important in the context of the energy transition.

[0022] A pressure gauge is preferably connected to the gas supply to check the pre-pressure of the gas to be compressed.

[0023] The gas supply may include a shut-off valve, which is preferably located between the pressure gauge and the hydraulically driven compressor. The shut-off valve can be used to close the gas supply as needed.

[0024] The gas outlet may also include a pressure gauge and a shut-off valve. The valve is preferably located between the pressure gauge and the hydraulically driven compressor.

[0025] In a particularly advantageous design variant, the gas discharge can also feature a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve can be manually operated and is used primarily for maintenance purposes.

[0026] The liquid pump preferably generates a liquid pressure of 5 to 15 bar, particularly preferably 10 bar. This pressure has proven particularly advantageous for driving the hydraulically driven compressor within the scope of the invention.

[0027] Preferably, the liquid pump generates a flow rate of 10 to 30 L / min, especially 20 L / min. This flow rate has also proven optimal in conjunction with the operation of the hydraulically driven compressor.

[0028] The hydraulically driven compressor preferably generates a gas pressure of 250 to 1500 bar, in particular 250 to 350 bar, and particularly preferably 300 bar. This is a preferred pressure for the further use or storage of the gases, in particular hydrogen.

[0029] The hydraulically driven compressor preferably generates a standard volume flow of 10 to 40 NL / min.

[0030] The housing can have cooling fins on at least one side. The cooling fins can passively cool the fluid inside the housing. This prevents overheating of the compressor assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the housing can have an inlet and outlet opening connected to an additional heat exchanger. This allows the fluid to be fed to the heat exchanger, cooled there, and then returned to the housing.

[0031] The compressor arrangement is explained in more detail below using a purely schematic figure. This serves to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0032] The Figure 1shows a schematic diagram of a compressor arrangement 1 for compressing a gas. The compressor arrangement 1 has a housing 2, a hydraulically driven compressor 3, and a liquid pump 4. The hydraulically driven compressor 3 and the liquid pump 4 are arranged within the housing 2. The housing 2 has a gas supply 5 connected to the hydraulically driven compressor 3 and a gas discharge 6 connected to the hydraulically driven compressor 3. The hydraulically driven compressor 3 is supplied with a gas to be compressed, in this embodiment, hydrogen, via the gas supply 5. After the gas has been compressed in the hydraulically driven compressor 3, the compressed gas is discharged from the housing 2 via the gas discharge 6 for further use or storage. The housing 2 has a gas supply opening 22 and a gas discharge opening 23.The gas supply 5 and the gas discharge 6 are each shown in dashed lines. The arrows indicate the gas flow direction.

[0033] According to the invention, the housing 2 is partially filled with a liquid 7. The hydraulically driven compressor 3 can be driven by a flow of the liquid 7 generated by the liquid pump 4. For this purpose, the liquid 7 is sucked directly from the housing 2 by the liquid pump 4 and passed on to the hydraulically driven compressor 3 via a hydraulic line 8 connecting the liquid pump 4 to the hydraulically driven compressor 3. The hydraulically driven compressor 3, which in this embodiment is a piston compressor, is driven by the flowing liquid 7, so that the gas is compressed. The liquid 7 is then fed back into the housing 2. The flow of the liquid 7 is shown in solid lines. The arrows indicate the flow direction of the liquid 7.

[0034] The compressor assembly 1 meets the requirements of the ATEX directives because there is no separate ignition source. Therefore, further explosion protection measures are not necessary. Furthermore, the arrangement of the liquid pump 4 and the hydraulically driven compressor 3 within the liquid 7 ensures that they are cooled directly by the liquid 7. The temperature of the liquid 7 itself can be controlled via passive cooling with cooling fins arranged on the housing 2 and / or via active cooling using a separate heat exchanger. In the latter case, the housing 2 can have an inlet and outlet opening so that the liquid 7 can be fed to the heat exchanger and then fed back into the housing 2. Compared to other solutions known in the prior art, such a cooling device is very cost-effective.

[0035] A gas chamber 10 is formed between the liquid 7 and an upper housing wall 9 of the housing 2. Any leakage gas escaping from the hydraulically driven compressor 3 can be collected in the gas chamber 10 and discharged via a chimney connection 11 located on the upper housing wall 9. Leakage gases generated within the compressor assembly 1 can thus be discharged in a controlled and targeted manner at any time.

[0036] A distance A of between 5 and 10 cm is formed between the surface 12 of the liquid 7 and the upper housing wall 9.

[0037] The housing 2 has an interior volume of 0.1 to 0.3 m³. Due to its compact design, the compressor assembly 1 is configured and designed to be installed in a standard 19-inch cabinet system. The compressor assembly 1 can thus be integrated into existing systems in a very space-saving manner.

[0038] The liquid pump 4 and the hydraulically driven compressor 3 are arranged entirely within the liquid 7. This ensures that the liquid pump 4 can draw in sufficient liquid 7 at all times and that the heat generated by the liquid pump 4 and the hydraulically driven compressor 3 is completely and evenly dissipated to the liquid 7.

[0039] The liquid pump 4 is a deep-well pump. Deep-well pumps are cost-effective, small, low-maintenance, and electrically hermetically sealed. They therefore offer optimal conditions for operation in the compressor arrangement 1 according to the invention.

[0040] The liquid pump 4 has an electric drive that can be connected to a standard 230V outlet via a cable 13. The housing 2 has a cable duct 14 through which the cable 13 of the pump 4 can be routed.

[0041] The housing 2 has a drain opening 15 which can be used to drain the liquid 7 contained in the housing.

[0042] A pressure gauge 16 is connected to the gas supply 5, with which the pre-pressure of the gas to be compressed can be checked.

[0043] The gas supply line also includes a shut-off valve 17, which is located between the pressure gauge 16 and the hydraulic compressor 3 at the gas supply line 5. The shut-off valve 17 can be used to close the gas supply line 5 as needed.

[0044] The gas discharge 6 also has a pressure gauge 18 and a check valve 19. The check valve 19 is arranged between the pressure gauge 18 and the hydraulically driven compressor 3.

[0045] The gas discharge 6 also has a pressure relief valve 20. If the gas pressure in the gas discharge 6 is too high, it can be regulated by the pressure relief valve 20. Part of the gas volume flow can be directed out of the compressor assembly 1 through a separate housing opening 21. This ensures that the required gas pressure is always present at the gas discharge opening 23 of the gas discharge 6.

[0046] The fluid pump 4 generates a fluid pressure of 10 bar. This has proven particularly advantageous for the operation of the hydraulic compressor 3.

[0047] The liquid pump 4 also generates a volume flow of 20 L / min, which is also advantageous for the operation of the hydraulic compressor 3.

[0048] The hydraulically driven compressor 3 generates a gas pressure of 300 bar, which is a preferred pressure for further use or storage, especially for hydrogen.

[0049] The hydraulically driven compressor 3 generates a standard volume flow of 10 to 40 NL / min. Reference symbol:

[0050] 1- Compressor arrangement 2- Housing 3- Hydraulically driven compressor 4- Liquid pump 5- Gas supply 6- Gas discharge 7- Liquid 8- Hydraulic line 9- Upper housing wall 10- Gas chamber 11- Chimney connection 12- Surface of 7 13- Cable 14- Cable entry 15- Drain opening 16- Pressure gauge 17- Check valve 18- Check valve 19- Pressure gauge 20- Pressure relief valve 21- Housing opening 22- Gas supply opening 23- Gas discharge opening A-distance

Claims

1. Compressor arrangement (1) for compressing a gas, comprising a housing (2), a hydraulically driven compressor (3) and a liquid pump (4), wherein the hydraulically driven compressor (3) and the liquid pump (4) are arranged within the housing (2) and the housing (2) has a gas supply (5) connected to the hydraulically driven compressor (3) and a gas discharge (6) connected to the hydraulically driven compressor (3), wherein the housing (2) is at least partially filled with a liquid (7) and the hydraulically driven compressor (3) can be driven by means of a flow of the liquid (7) generated by the liquid pump (4).

2. Compressor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a gas space (10) is formed between the liquid (7) and an upper housing wall (9).

3. Compressor arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe housing (2) has a chimney connection (11), wherein the chimney connection (11) is arranged in particular on the upper housing wall (9).

4. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has an internal volume of 0.05 to 0.5 m 3 , preferably a volume of 0.1 to 0.4 m 3 and particularly preferably from 0.15 to 0.3 m 3 has.

5. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid pump (4) and the hydraulically driven compressor (3) are arranged completely within the liquid (7).

6. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulically driven compressor (3) is a piston compressor.

7. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid pump (4) is a deep well pump.

8. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid (7) is water, wherein the water is in particular mixed with an additive.

9. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas to be compressed is hydrogen.

10. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid pump (4) generates a liquid pressure of 5 to 15 bar, in particular 10 bar.

11. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid pump (4) generates a volume flow of 10 to 30 L / min, in particular 20 L / min.

12. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulically driven compressor (3) generates a gas pressure of 250 to 1500 bar, preferably 250 to 350 bar, particularly preferably 300 bar.

13. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulically driven compressor (3) generates a standard volume flow of 10 to 40 NL / min.

14. Compressor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor arrangement (1) is designed and constructed to be arranged in a standard 19-inch cabinet system.

Images