Compressor and method for compressing a working medium

Abstract

The compressor (1) comprises a compressor piston (2) for compressing a working medium, a seal (4) for sealing the compressor piston (2), a magazine (7) for housing a plurality of replacement seals (8), and a replacement device (11) for replacing the seal (4) with one of the plurality of replacement seals (8) in the magazine (7). The central axes (10) of the replacement seals (8) are arranged substantially in line with the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor including a compressor piston for compressing a working medium, a seal for sealing the compressor piston, a magazine for housing a plurality of replacement seals, and a replacement device for replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method of compressing a working medium, the method comprising: moving a compressor piston for compressing a working medium, the compressor piston being sealed with a seal, providing a magazine with a plurality of replacement seals, and replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals of the magazine. [Background technology]

[0003] As described in EP 3514380 A1, the replacement of seals in conventional high-pressure compressors is very complicated and time-consuming. In contrast, EP 3514380 A1 proposes a compressor in which the replacement of seals is automated. When a high-pressure seal is worn or damaged and the sealing of the high-pressure piston can no longer be guaranteed, an exchange device is activated to replace the high-pressure seal with a replacement high-pressure seal. When all high-pressure (replacement) seals are worn, the entire magazine can be replaced with the corresponding magazine. An unused replacement high-pressure seal can be used or a new replacement high-pressure seal can be inserted into the magazine. The prior art already discloses various designs of magazines that can keep individual replacement high-pressure seals in stock. Depending on the design, the magazine can be rotated or moved.

[0004] This state of the art offers a significant improvement over conventional high pressure compressors, for example those used for providing high pressure compressors. However, disadvantageously, the number of replacement seals in a rotary magazine is limited due to space constraints. Also, the positioning accuracy could be increased. These drawbacks are also present in sliding versions of the magazine, where the replacement high pressure seals are arranged in the same plane as the high pressure seal.

[0005] Further general state of the art is given in JP 8-177749, EP 2 721 297 B1 and DE 8 224 258 Ul. Summary of the Invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate or eliminate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the present invention aims to further reduce the number of service operations required to replace seals.

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

[0008] For purposes of this disclosure, position and orientation designations such as "up," "down," "horizontal," and "vertical" refer to the intended condition of use of the compressor.

[0009] Thus, the replacement seals (with unused sealing elements) are arranged in storage positions with their central axes aligned, i.e., aligned, along the longitudinal axis of the magazine. This design allows a significantly larger number of replacement seals to be stored in a magazine (the "new magazine") in a space-saving manner, which means longer periods between service calls.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the seal comprises an in particular annular seal carrier on which at least one annular sealing element is mounted. During operation of the compressor, when the working medium is compressed, the annular sealing element is in sealing contact with the jacket of the compressor piston. Furthermore, the seal can comprise an axial sealing element for sealing in the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. The replacement seal is preferably identical 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 a variety of ways, for example by a hydraulic pump. The compressor can have one or more compressor stages.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the magazine comprises a longitudinal guide for guiding the replacement seal in the direction of a substantial longitudinal axis of the magazine. The longitudinal guide is preferably set up to hold the replacement seal essentially without play in the lateral direction, i.e. in any direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine. In the stored position, the replacement seal is thus arranged to move through the magazine exclusively in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine. The longitudinal guide can, for example, comprise a guide rod extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine.

[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 planes of the replacement seals substantially horizontal). Thus, in this embodiment, the replacement seals are arranged in a substantially vertical stack along the magazine. In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the magazine extends essentially vertically. Advantageously, a large number of replacement seals can thus be stored in a space-saving manner. The topmost replacement seal can be moved upwards from a storage position in the magazine to a replacement position to enable the replacement seal to be replaced.

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

[0015] To raise and lower the replacement seals together, it is advantageous if the changing device comprises a platform for (upper) placement of the replacement seals, whereby the feed drive is arranged to move the platform together with the replacement seals. By activating the feed drive, the stack of replacement seals on the platform can be raised in order to place the topmost replacement seal in the changing position.

[0016] Furthermore, the replacement device is preferably set up to guide the seal away from the compressor piston or to guide the replacement seal towards the compressor piston. For this purpose, the replacement device comprises in a preferred embodiment a slider. On the one hand, the slider can be designed to move the seal from an operating position aligned with the compressor piston, in particular essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston, to an exchange position aligned with the replacement seal. Furthermore, the slider can be designed to move one of the replacement seals, in particular essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine, from an exchange position aligned with the other replacement seal to an operating position aligned with the compressor piston. Preferably, the slider is connected to an actuator, for example another electric motor, another spindle drive, a hydraulic drive or a pneumatic drive.

[0017] For reliable movement of the seal between the working position and the replacement position or of the replacement seal between the replacement position and the working position, it is advantageous if the slider comprises a mounting ring for holding the seal and / or the replacement seal. Preferably, the (replacement) seal is arranged in such a way that there is essentially no play in the mounting ring.

[0018] Discarding the seals after replacement is appropriate if an extra magazine (the "old magazine") is provided to hold the replacement seals.

[0019] The seals used can be positioned particularly easily in the additional magazine if the longitudinal axis of the additional magazine is essentially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the magazine.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the feed drive for moving the replacement seal is also configured to move the seal located in the replacement position to the additional magazine. In this way, a single actuation of the feed drive can move the replacement seal from the storage position to the replacement position and the seal from the replacement position to the pick-up position of the additional magazine. In an embodiment with a slider, the feed drive can be used to move the seal from the change position of the slider to the pick-up position of the additional magazine and the replacement seal from the storage position of the magazine to the replacement position of the slider.

[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 seals. That is to say, the replacement seals can remain transferred from the replacement position to the working position without being taken together with the adjacent cover plate. This cover plate can thus be used to close the magazine opening during the switching operation. Furthermore, the cover plate can be taken into the additional magazine when the next replacement seal moves into the replacement position along with the magazine opening. This also allows closing another opening of the additional magazine during the switching operation. It is also preferred that the cover plate protects the individual (replacement) seals of the (additional) magazine.

[0022] In this embodiment, it is not preferred if the magazine has a first position pawl for holding the cover plate in place and / or if the additional magazine has a second position pawl for holding the cover plate in place. The first or second positioning pawl may comprise a resiliently deflectable retaining element for engaging the cover plate.

[0023] To release the seal from its circumference, it is advantageous if the compressor piston can be moved to a retracted position past an operating dead center relative to one of the replacement seals in the magazine. During operation, the compressor piston moves between two operating dead centers. To replace the seal, the compressor piston is moved to a retracted position past one of the dead centers, thereby withdrawing the compressor piston from the seal. The seal can then be transferred, preferably via a slider, from the operating position to the replacement position.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor, the compressor piston is connected via a transfer chamber to an additional compressor piston, which is preferably arranged essentially parallel to the compressor piston.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, in particular the lower part of the compressor piston is arranged in the receiving cylinder, so that an annular gap is formed at the first end of the compressor between the compressor piston and the wall of the receiving cylinder. Thus, a part of an additional compressor piston, in particular the lower part, can be arranged in an additional receiving cylinder, so that an additional annular gap can be formed between the additional compressor piston and the wall of the additional receiving cylinder.

[0026] The annular gap is preferably connected to the engine, for example the high pressure pump, via a chamber, and the additional annular gap is preferably connected to the engine, for example the high pressure pump, via an additional chamber. In the first position, the chamber is connected to the pressure side of the engine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the additional chamber is connected to the suction side of the engine via a further valve, in particular a slide valve. The transfer chamber is preferably filled with hydraulic fluid in order to redirect the movement of the compressor piston, in particular 180°, towards the additional compressor piston, whereby the additional compressor piston is moved in the opposite direction to the direction of the compressor piston. In the second position, the additional chamber is connected to the pressure side and the chamber is connected to the suction side of the engine. This reverses the direction of movement of the additional compressor piston, whereby the movement is transferred to the compressor piston via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber.

[0027] The compressor piston and the further compressor piston can be driven via the engine, in particular hydraulically or pneumatically. The compressor piston can be provided with a pressure transducer, with which the annular gap is closed off from the transfer chamber. An additional pressure transducer can therefore be provided on the further compressor piston, with which the additional annular gap is closed off from the transfer chamber. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) driving pressure is transferred to the hydraulic fluid of the transfer chamber via the pressure transducer or via an additional pressure transducer.

[0028] The method according to the invention for compressing a working medium comprises at least a compressor piston for compressing a working medium, the compressor piston sealing a first space against a second space with a seal, providing a magazine with a plurality of replacement seals, and replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine, a central axis of the replacement seal being substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.

[0029] The replacement of one of the magazine replacement seals is Preferably, the method includes one or more, in particular all of the following: moving the compressor piston beyond the operating dead centre to a retracted position, and / or moving the seal from an operating position, in particular aligned with the longitudinal direction of the compressor piston, to a replacement position, in particular aligned with the replacement seal, and / or moving the seal, in particular arranged in the longitudinal direction of the magazine, to a storage position in an additional magazine, and / or moving one of the replacement seals to a replacement position, in particular corresponding to the replacement position in the longitudinal direction of the magazine, moving a replacement seal arranged in a replacement position, in particular arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the magazine, to an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston, and / or pushing the compressor piston into a replacement seal arranged in the operating position, and / or moving one of the replacement seals to a replacement seal arranged in the operating position.

[0030] Preferred working media are gaseous working media, in particular molecular hydrogen, natural gas, nitrogen, argon, helium or a mixture of some of the aforementioned working media.

[0031] The invention is further explained below with reference to preferred embodiments and according to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a replacement seal when the compressor of the present invention is provided with a replacement device for replacing used seals. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a compressor according to the invention, in which one compressor piston is connected to an additional compressor piston via a transfer chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a compressor 1, which may include one compressor stage (shown) or several compressor stages (not shown). The compressor 1 comprises at least one high-pressure compressor piston 2 with a longitudinal axis or longitudinal direction A1. The compressor piston 2 moves back and forth in a cylinder 3 between a first and a second working dead centre. The compressor piston 2 seals the first space 3A of the cylinder 3 from the second space 3B by means of a (high-pressure) sealing device, hereafter called seal 4 for short. The seal 4 comprises an annular sealing element 5 with a central axis 6 (i.e. an axis passing through the centre of the annular sealing element 5) and a seal carrier 4A provided with an axial seal 4B. In the working position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned, i.e. aligned, with the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2. When the working medium is compressed, the annular sealing element 5 seals tightly against the jacket of the compressor piston 2.

[0034] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the magazine 7 is provided with several, in particular at least five, preferably ten or more (high pressure) replacement seals 8, which are designed identically to the seals 4. Each replacement seal 8 thus comprises a replacement seal carrier 9A, an annular circumferential replacement seal element 9B having a central axis 10 (i.e. an axis passing axially through the centre of the annular replacement seal element 9B) and an axial replacement seal 9C. With the help of a replacement device 11, the seal 4 can be replaced by one of the replacement seals 8 of the magazine 7.

[0035] 1, in the illustrated storage position, the central axes 10 of the replacement seals 8 are aligned with one another, i.e. in a straight line, along the central longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. If the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7 extends vertically, as in the illustrated example, the replacement seals 8 are stacked with their respective vertically aligned central axes 10 in an essentially horizontal position, i.e. one above the other, along the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. The magazine 7 is provided with longitudinal guides 12, in this case with individual guide rods, which hold the replacement seals 8 in position laterally, i.e. in any direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2.

[0036] As can also be seen from Fig. 1, the changing device 11 comprises a feed drive 13 for moving the replacement seal 8 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. Furthermore, the changing device 11 comprises a platform 14, which is connected to the feed drive 13, for example, via a driver rod or directly. The replacement seal 8 is arranged on the platform 14. By activating the feed drive 13, the platform 14 together with the replacement seal 8 can be moved upwards or downwards as required.

[0037] As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the replacement device 11 comprises a slider 15. The slider 15 can be used to move the seal 4 from the working position shown in FIG. 1 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2 to an adjacent, in this case, changing position of the magazine 7. In the working position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A1 of the compressor piston 2. In the changing position, the central axis 6 of the seal 4 is aligned with the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. Furthermore, the slider 15 can be used to move one of the replacement seals 8 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7 (and thus also parallel to the longitudinal direction A1 of the compressor piston 2 in the illustrated embodiment) from a changing position arranged concentrically with respect to the magazine to the working position. In the changing 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.

[0038] As can be seen in Fig. 1, the slider 15 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a mounting ring 16, which receives on its inside the seal 4 or the replacement seal 8 (depending on the process step). The slider 15 is slidably mounted on the compressor base 15A. To move the slider 15, the slider 15 is connected to an actuator 15B, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder-piston drive. A sliding ring 15C serves as an upper limit for the slider 15.

[0039] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the compressor 1 further comprises an additional magazine 17, in which the replaced seal 4 as well as the used replacement seal 8 can be stored. For the sake of illustration, a used seal 23 is arranged in the additional magazine 17 in FIG. 1. The longitudinal axis of the additional magazine 17 is aligned, i.e. in a straight line, with the longitudinal axis A2 of the magazine 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the additional magazine 17 is arranged adjacently, in this case above the magazine 7. Corresponding to the magazine 7, the additional magazine 17 is designed to hold the seal 4 and the replacement seal 8, with their central axes aligned with each other. The above-mentioned feed drive 13 is designed to move the seal 4, which has been moved into the changing position, from the slider 15 to the storage position of the additional magazine 17, and to move the frontmost, in this case the topmost, replacement seal 8 from the storage position of the magazine 7 to the changing position of the slider 15.

[0040] As can be seen in Fig. 1, the cover plates 18 are each arranged between two replacement seals 8. The magazine 7 is provided with a first (lower) positioning claw 19 which holds one of the cover plates 18. The further magazine 17 is provided with a second (upper) positioning claw 20 which holds one of the cover plates 18. The first positioning claw 19 and the second positioning claw 20 each comprise an elastically deflectable holding element.

[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the compressor piston 2 can be moved beyond the first dead centre of operation shown in FIG. 1 to a retracted position in preparation for a seal change, so that the annular sealing element 5 of the seal 4 is axially released from the jacket of the cylinder piston 2.

[0042] As can be seen from Figure 1, a pretensioning device 21 is provided, in particular of hydraulic or gas type, which presses the seal 4 against one end face of the cylinder barrel 3. The axial seal 4B seals the cylinder barrel 3 against the seal carrier 4A.

[0043] The procedure for replacing the seal 4 with the replacement seal 8 is as follows.

[0044] Any leakage of the working medium from the first space 3A formed in the seal member 4 is transferred to the second space 3B. The second space 3B is fluidly connected to a leak detection device. This device is known in the prior art and therefore it is not necessary to discuss the device in more detail here. When leakage at the seal 4 above an acceptable level is detected (by a device known in the prior art), an automatic seal replacement is initiated at the next available time.

[0045] In the first stage of the seal exchange, for example, the first space 3A of the high pressure cylinder 3 is vented and discharged into the round tube. The compressor piston 2 moves down along the first longitudinal axis A1 until it exceeds the first dead centre in operation, in this case the lower dead centre, for example 260 mm. In preparation for the seal exchange, the stroke of the compressor piston 2 can reach, for example, 300 mm.

[0046] In a next step, the pretensioning device 21 is brought to a relaxed state, which releases the seal 4 .

[0047] In the next step, the actuator 15B for the slider 15 is activated. This moves the slider 15 with the seal 4 from the operating position to the changing position. The seal 4 is placed on a cover or separating plate 18 which closes the opening of the magazine 7.

[0048] The feed drive 13 is then actuated, which advances the platform 14 with the replacement seal 8. The stack of replacement seals 8, with the replacement seal 8 thereon, is lifted until another cover plate 18 engages with the first positioning claw 19. The magazine 7 is closed, and the cover plate 18 engaged with the first positioning claw 19 is lifted with the worn seal 4 until this cover plate 18 engages with the second positioning claw 20. In this way, the seal 4 is stored in the additional magazine 17 (i.e. in the old magazine).

[0049] The platform 14 can then be lowered again by the feed drive 13. The replacement seal 8 arranged on the slider 15 is moved into the working position by the actuator 15B.

[0050] Finally, the compressor piston 2 is transferred to the working stroke position. To do this, the compressor piston 2 is pressed along the first longitudinal axis A1 into the replacement seal 8 arranged in the working position. The pretensioning device 21 is then activated to press the replacement seal 8 against the cylinder barrel 3. The first space 3A is thus sealed against the surroundings and the second space 3B by the axial and annular sealing elements of the replacement seal 8.

[0051] In one embodiment, a compressor 1 is used to provide hydrogen with a maximum outlet pressure of 1050 bar. The compressor piston 2 may be driven, for example, by a hydraulic fluid.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the compressor 1, in which the compressor piston 2 is connected to an additional compressor piston 25 via a transfer chamber 24. The additional compressor piston 25 is arranged essentially parallel to the compressor piston 2. A part of the compressor piston 2 is arranged in a receiving cylinder 26 in which an annular gap 27 is formed between the compressor piston 2 and the wall of the receiving cylinder 26 at a first end (shown in FIG. 2) of the compressor 1. Thus, a part of the additional compressor piston 25 is arranged in an additional receiving cylinder 28, in which an additional annular gap 33 is formed between the additional compressor piston 25 and the wall of the additional receiving cylinder 28. The annular gap 27 is connected to an engine, for example a high-pressure pump, via a chamber 29, and the additional annular gap 33 is connected to an engine, for example a high-pressure pump, via an additional chamber 30. In the illustrated position, the chamber 29 is connected to the pressure side of the engine via a valve, in particular a slide valve, and the additional chamber 30 is connected to the suction side of the engine via an additional valve, in particular a slide valve. In the illustrated design, the transfer chamber 24 is filled with hydraulic fluid in order to redirect the movement of the compressor piston 2 through 180° to the additional compressor piston 25, which is moved in the opposite direction to the compressor piston 2. When the end position is reached, the valve switches, connecting the additional chamber 30 to the pressure side and the chamber 29 to the suction side of the engine. This reverses the direction of movement of the additional compressor piston 25, which is then transferred to the compressor piston 2 via the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24.

[0053] The compressor piston 2 and the further compressor piston 25 can be driven hydraulically or pneumatically via the engine. The compressor piston 2 is provided with a pressure transducer 31, by means of which the annular gap 27 is closed off from the transfer chamber 24. Correspondingly, an additional pressure transducer 32 is provided on the further compressor piston 25, with which the additional annular gap 33 is closed off from the transfer chamber 24. The (pneumatic or hydraulic) driving pressure is transmitted via the pressure transducer 31 or the further pressure transducer 32 to the hydraulic fluid in the transfer chamber 24. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] (Reference Number List) 1 Compressor 2 Compressor piston 3 Cylinder barrel 3A First Space 3B Second Space 4. Seal 4A Seal Carrier 4B Axial seal 5 Sealing elements 6 Seal axis 7 Magazine 8 Replacement seals 9A Replacement Seal Carrier 9B Annular circumferential replacement seal element 9C Axial replacement seal 10 Center shaft of replacement seal 11 Exchange device 12 Guide 13 Feed drive unit 14 Platform 15 Slider 15A Base 15B Actuator for slider 16 Mounting ring 17 additional magazines 18 Cover plate 19 Lower positioning claw 20 Upper positioning claw 21 Pretension device 22 Leak detection devices 23 Used stickers from old magazines 24 Transfer Chamber 25 additional compressor pistons 26 Receiving cylinder 27 Annular gap 28 Additional receiving cylinders 29 Chamber 30 additional chambers 31 Pressure transducer 32 Additional Pressure Transducers

Claims

1. A compressor (1), A compressor piston (2) for 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 plurality of replacement seals (8) in the magazine (7), A compressor (1), characterized in that the central axes (10) of the replacement seals (8) are arranged substantially in line with the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

2. 2. The compressor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the replacement seals (8) are respectively stacked one on top of the other substantially horizontally along the magazine (7).

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

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

5. 5. The compressor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the replacement device (11) comprises a slider (15) for moving the seal (4) from an operating position aligned with the compressor piston (2), in particular substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A1) of the compressor piston (2), to a changing position aligned with the replacement seal (8) and / or for moving one of the replacement seals (8) from an exchange position aligned with another of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A2) of an additional magazine (17), to an operating position aligned with the compressor piston (2).

6. 6. The compressor (1) according to claim 5, characterized 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 any one of the preceding claims, characterised by an additional magazine (17) for receiving used seals (23).

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

10. Compressor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover plate (18) is arranged between two exchange seals in each case.

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

12. The compressor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the compressor piston (2) is movable beyond an operating dead centre into a retracted position in order to replace the seal (4) with one of the replacement seals (8) in the magazine (7).

13. 1. A method for compressing a working medium, comprising the steps of: a compressor piston (2) sealed by a seal (4) which compresses the working medium; Providing a magazine (7) with a plurality of replacement seals (8); replacing said seal (4) with one of said plurality of replacement seals (8) in said magazine (7); The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the central axis (10) of the replacement seal (8) is arranged substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7).

14. Replacing the seal (4) with one of the plurality of replacement seals (8) in the magazine (7) comprises: moving the compressor piston (2) beyond an operating dead centre to a retracted position; moving said seal (4), in particular substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1) of said compressor piston (2), from an operating position arranged in alignment with said compressor piston (2) to a change position arranged in alignment with said replacement seal (8); moving the seal (4) arranged in a change position, in particular arranged essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7), into a storage position of an additional magazine (17); moving one of the replacement seals (8), in particular substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7), to a replacement position corresponding to the change position of the seal (4); moving the replacement seal (8) arranged in the replacement position into an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston (2), in particular essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A2) of the magazine (7); forcing the compressor piston (2) into the replacement seal (8) placed in an operative position; 14. The method of claim 13, comprising at least one of:

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