COMPRESSOR SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS - Patent application

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a compressor system, in particular a screw compressor, for compressing a gas, preferably air, comprising a compressor block (11) in which a compressor chamber (12) is formed in which the gas is compressed by mechanical compression means (13), the compressor chamber (12) having an inlet opening (14) on the inlet side and an outlet opening (15) on the outlet side, and a control device (16) for controlling a drive (17) of the compression means (13), the control device (16) being operatively connected to a temperature sensor (19) and / or a humidity sensor (20) for determining the state of the gas entering through the inlet opening (14), the temperature sensor (19) and / or humidity sensor (20) being provided on or in the control device (16) inside the compressor system with a temperature T prevailing therein. c and / or the humidity F prevailing there c and a control device (16) measures the measured value T for the state of the gas entering through the inlet opening (14). c and / or F c The device is characterized by comprising a processing unit (23) for drawing conclusions from the data.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor system for compressing a gas, preferably air, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 or the preamble of claim 16, in particular a screw compressor, comprising a compressor block in which a compressor chamber is formed in which the gas is compressed by mechanical compression means, the compressor chamber having an inlet opening on the inlet side and an outlet opening on the outlet side, and to a method for controlling the compressor system in order to regulate the temperature of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor block, in particular taking into account the state conditions of the gas entering at the inlet opening.

[0002] In particular, for fluid-cooled compressors, the temperature of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor chamber is adjusted to the desired target final compression temperature T S,VET , where this temperature must always be high enough to prevent condensation in the compressed gas with sufficient certainty. However, at the same time, the target final compression temperature T S,VET should not be set too high, which can be achieved, for example, via a fluid cooling circuit that cools the compressor chamber. In particular, in compressors cooled via a fluid cooling circuit, the target final compression temperature T S,VET should not be set too high.

[0003] A typical compressor system is already known from US Pat. No. 8,226,378 B2, in which the formation of condensate in the compressed gas in a screw compressor is prevented by controlling the cooling capacity of an oil cooling circuit via a bypass valve. In the proposed regulation of the temperature of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor chamber, temperature and humidity sensors are also used to determine the state conditions for the supply air entering the compressor chamber. In particular, in a preferred design, the gas temperature T, which represents the state of the gas at the inlet opening on the inlet side, is used. ein and a humidity sensor F that indicates the state of the gas at the inlet opening on the inlet side.ein It has been proposed that a humidity sensor for detecting the temperature be located outside the compressor system.

[0004] Although this in principle makes it possible to determine the state conditions for the gases entering the compressor chamber, the teaching proposed in this document nevertheless has some drawbacks.

[0005] With regard to the temperature sensor, for example, falsified values ​​may arise because the sensor is exposed to waste heat from the machine, an effect that is amplified when the intake volume flow rate is low and a relatively high proportion of gas is drawn in that is heated by the waste heat.

[0006] With regard to the humidity sensor, it is exposed to a correspondingly high particle load or contamination outside the compressor unit, which results in distorted measurements. The effects of soiling are most pronounced outside the compressor unit and increase significantly over operating time.

[0007] It is also conceivable to place a temperature or humidity sensor downstream of the intake air filter and upstream of the inlet valve in the compressor system. The filtered gas flow is typically present in this area, but when the compressor system is vented, oil mist can form, exposing the temperature and humidity sensor to a certain risk of fouling. Furthermore, the entire intake volumetric flow of the compressor system flows through the area between the air filter and the inlet valve, which results in a relatively high particle load on the temperature and humidity sensor over its entire service life, despite the presence of the inlet filter, due to the relatively high volumetric flow.

[0008] On the other hand, the object of the present invention is to propose a solution based on the above-mentioned prior art, in which the desired temperature T of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor chamber is VETcan be determined more reliably taking into account the state conditions of the gas entering at the inlet opening. In this respect, improved structural solutions should also be developed.

[0009] This object is solved from the standpoint of apparatus technology with a compressor system according to the features of claim 1 and from the standpoint of process technology according to the features of claim 16. Advantageous further developments are given in the subclaims.

[0010] The central idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a temperature and / or humidity sensor at or in a control device in the compressor system, to measure the temperature T c or humidity F c wherein the control device detects a measured value T for the state condition of the gas entering through the inlet opening. c and / or F c and a processing unit for deriving a conclusion from the

[0011] The gas entering through the inlet opening is subject to certain conditions, in particular the temperature T ein , humidity F ein , dew point Tau ein , water vapor content WDG ein , or pressure P ein With regard to the steps of "determining", "closing back", "controlling the actuators", etc. mentioned in connection with the subject matter of the present invention, it is made clear that these steps are performed automatically and independently by the control device.

[0012] The proposed solution has several advantages. On the one hand, the humidity and temperature sensors are much better protected from contamination or damage in this design than if they were mounted at or in the suction area of ​​the compressor unit. In addition, manufacturing is simplified, since long supply lines for power supply and / or data transmission are no longer required. Finally, operation is also improved, since a more direct connection to the control device brings further practical advantages in terms of operation. Processing of process data values ​​in the form of calibration, characteristic curve correction, measuring range adjustment, etc. can be performed directly in the control device or, when connected to the control device, directly in the MEMS sensor, especially if the humidity and / or temperature sensor is integrated in the MEMS sensor, and digital values ​​are provided at the data interface.

[0013] On the other hand, conventional sensors usually have an analog interface (0...10V or (0)4...20mA), which must be read via an analog input circuit, scaled accordingly, normalized, and optionally zeroed and calibrated. A subsequent analog-to-digital converter is required to process the process value. These processing procedures are prone to errors and also to a certain amount of drift due to changes in the components used over time.

[0014] Here, discrete sensors are preferred, which already have suitable internal signal processing and make the data available digitally, for example via a fieldbus interface, however such sensors are expensive.

[0015] Humidity and / or temperature sensors integrated into the control unit may already be operational with the control unit, and in this respect, these sensors may therefore be commissioned and functionally tested, separated in time and space from the compressor, in contrast to the aforementioned discrete sensors, which only provide data after installation and commissioning.

[0016] The possible prejudice that the state of the gas entering through the inlet opening must be determined as close as possible to the inlet opening in the compressor room has proven unfounded. On the one hand, correction factors or corresponding allocation tables can be used to draw conclusions about the state in the area of ​​the inlet opening, and on the other hand, values ​​for absolute humidity, i.e., dew point or water vapor content, do not differ significantly between the environment at the inlet opening on the inlet side of the compressor room and the state at or within the control device. In this regard, it has also been shown that values ​​representing the state condition of the gas in the area of ​​the inlet opening on the inlet side can also be determined using temperature or humidity sensors located at or within the control device in the compressor system. It is understood that this presupposes constant gas exchange between the gas near the inlet opening on the inlet side and the gas at or within the control device.

[0017] In a preferred further development of the invention, the compressor system also comprises actuation means, in particular a cooling fluid bypass valve, and the control device is c and / or F c and controlling the actuating means based on the state condition of the gas entering the inlet opening determined from:

[0018] Although control of one or more actuation means depends on the determined state conditions, state conditions determined in accordance with the present invention may also be used for or in a variety of other applications.

[0019] In a possible design, the control device also c and / or F c Based on the state conditions of the incoming gas at the inlet opening, determined from S,VET The compressor system is designed and set up to control the compressor system so as to comply with the

[0020] In a further design, the control device may be configured to control the pressure value P c is also detected, and the pressure value Pc The gas supply system is further operatively connected to a pressure sensor to draw even more accurate conclusions about the state conditions of the gas entering through the inlet opening, taking into account the pressure difference between the pressure sensor and the inlet opening.

[0021] In a further design, the pressure sensor is located at or in a controller within the compressor system.

[0022] In a preferred design, the controls are housed in a control housing within the compressor unit, with the temperature and / or humidity sensors also housed within the control housing.

[0023] In a preferred design, the control housing is at least largely closed, in particular with the exception of several openings, in particular with the exception of two openings. The control housing may be a housing that directly surrounds the electronic control device. In this case, the volume enclosed by the control housing essentially corresponds to the volume occupied by the electronic control device or is not significantly larger than it. However, the control housing may also be realized by a control cabinet in which, in addition to the control device itself, other electronic components such as a power supply are accommodated. By being accommodated inside the control housing, the temperature and / or humidity sensor is further protected from harmful external influences such as damage or contamination.

[0024] A particularly preferred design is that the temperature and / or humidity sensor can be integrated onto the circuit board on which the electronic components of the control device are also located, in particular the main processor of the control device, which can form the processing unit of the control device.

[0025] The integration of the control device onto the circuit board provides a particularly favorable solution in terms of manufacturing technology and operation. Temperature and humidity sensors are now available as miniaturized components that can be easily integrated onto the circuit board. In this respect, the state of the gas entering through the inlet opening, e.g. the dew point Tau of the gas in the vicinity of the inlet opening on the inlet side, can be determined. einor the temperature T representing the environment at the inlet opening of the compressor room on the inlet side ein or humidity F, which represents the environment at the inlet opening on the inlet side of the compressor chamber. ein The function of the temperature sensor for estimating the temperature can be easily realized by electronic components that can be integrated on a circuit board together with other components of the control device, such as the main processor, preferably in an automated process. This reduces manufacturing costs when implementing a compressor system, especially connection and cabling costs. At the same time, signal runtime and transmission errors can be significantly reduced, since the control device can be tightly connected to the main processor.

[0026] In a very particular preferred design, the temperature sensor and / or humidity sensor can be designed as a MEMS sensor. The humidity sensor and the temperature sensor can be realized separately, but it is still conceivable to form the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor in a common MEMS sensor. MEMS sensors (microelectromechanical systems) are nowadays commonly used in many technical fields, especially in air conditioning technology, and are offered by various manufacturers. Therefore, the state condition of the gas entering through the inlet opening, for example the dew point Tau of the gas in the vicinity of the inlet opening, can be measured. ein or water vapor content WDG ein Alternatively, a function for detecting a temperature representative of the environment at the inlet opening of the compressor room, or a function for detecting a humidity representative of the environment at the inlet opening of the compressor room can be implemented cost-effectively.

[0027] At the same time, a closer connection in terms of space and functionality can be created to the control device, in particular to the main processor of the control device.In a preferred further development, fluid coupling means are provided at or in the control device for coupling or better coupling the temperature sensor and / or humidity sensor to the environment or to the air in the environment upstream of the inlet opening.

[0028] In this respect, such fluid coupling means may comprise a corresponding opening in the control housing of the control device, through which ambient air, in particular from the vicinity of the inlet opening of the compressor chamber, can be introduced into the control housing, directed towards the temperature and / or humidity sensor and then also discharged from the control housing.

[0029] The fluid coupling means may also comprise a cooling airflow guide and / or a fan for guiding or driving the supply airflow. One possible design involves a cabinet ventilation device already provided in the control cabinet, i.e. the desired supply airflow for supplying air from the environment at the inlet opening of the compressor room or air having the same or similar conditions can be realized by the already provided cabinet ventilation device.

[0030] In a further preferred design, the fluid coupling means may also comprise a cooling airflow guide formed in the control housing for guiding the cooling airflow, wherein a fan is provided for driving the cooling airflow. The cooling airflow guide in the control housing may be used to determine to which components of the control device the cooling airflow should be directed and in which order, wherein in a first possible design the cooling airflow or supply airflow for the temperature sensor and / or humidity sensor should not yet be exposed to waste heat from the components to be cooled, i.e. the supply airflow is first directed to the temperature sensor and / or humidity sensor, and only afterwards does it absorb waste heat from the control device and is discharged from the control housing as a cooling airflow.

[0031] In an alternative design, the cooling or supply air flow first passes through the component to be cooled and only then through the temperature and / or humidity sensor. In this case, the cooling or supply air flow first absorbs waste heat from the control device before reaching the temperature or humidity sensor. However, since the absolute humidity is not affected by this heating, this is equally suitable for determining the absolute humidity or dew point. At the same time, a lower relative humidity has the advantage of reducing condensation on the humidity sensor, thereby improving the reliability of the humidity measurement. It should be noted that integrated humidity sensors with internal heaters to prevent condensation are also generally available, which are switched on if there is a risk of condensation.

[0032] In a further preferred design, a filter is provided in the cooling air flow guide so that the supply air flow is first guided through a supply air filter before reaching the temperature and / or humidity sensor, which allows for further particle removal from the supply air and thus further reduces contamination of the temperature and / or humidity sensor.

[0033] In a preferred design, the spacing between the controller's main processor and the temperature sensor is less than 30 cm, preferably less than 20 cm. Alternatively or additionally, in a preferred design, the spacing between the controller's main processor and the humidity sensor is less than 30 cm, preferably less than 20 cm.

[0034] In a preferred design of the present invention, the temperature sensor is directly connected to the main processor of the control device, and the humidity sensor is directly connected to the main processor of the control device, in particular, without intermediate connections such as further components, interfaces, etc. This procedure allows for direct connections and avoids longer signal propagation times, transmission failures, or requirements for interface structural or programming design.

[0035] In a preferred design, the compressor system has a fluid cooling circuit, the cooling capacity of which can be adjusted via one or more actuation means such as valves, wherein the control device takes into account the state conditions of the gases entering at the inlet opening, determined via a temperature sensor or via a humidity sensor, and in particular the temperature T of the gases entering at the inlet opening, determined in this way. ein or humidity F ein In this respect, the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is adjusted based on the determined value T ein Or F ein , or the dew point Tau determined from this ein or water vapor content WDG ein It can be increased or decreased depending on the

[0036] In particular, taking into account the absolute humidity or dew point in the vicinity of the inlet opening, this ensures that condensation in the compressed gas is avoided with sufficient certainty and at the same time the temperature T VET can be kept as low as possible.

[0037] Specifically, the temperature T ein and humidity F ein determines the water vapor content / dew point of the intake gas and therefore the minimum required target final compression temperature T as an input variable / set point for the VET controller to avoid condensation. S,VET This controller controls the actuator(s) in the fluid circuit and / or the amount of cooling medium and / or the speed of the fan motor to the cooling fluid cooler. I,VET is measured at the outlet of the compressor block.

[0038] In a particularly preferred design, the actuation means comprises a cooling fluid bypass valve operatively connected to the control device, which allows for gradually adjusting the amount of cooling fluid supplied through or past the heat exchanger integrated in the fluid cooling circuit. This design for adjusting the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is a common approach in compressor systems. By way of example only, reference is again made to the aforementioned US Pat. No. 8,226,378 B2.

[0039] For controlling the compressor system, in particular the actual final compression temperature T of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor block, taking into account the state conditions of the gas entering at the inlet opening. I,VET 1. A method according to the invention for regulating a temperature T c , or the humidity F prevailing at or within the control device c In order to determine the temperature T c and / or humidity F c is used to determine the measured value T c and / or F c is used to draw conclusions about the state conditions of the gas entering through the inlet opening.

[0040] In an advantageous design of the method, the temperature T measured at the control device or at a temperature sensor in the control device is c , and the humidity F measured at the humidity sensor in the control device or in the control device c is the dew point Tau representing the air in the area of ​​the control device c or another value representing the water vapor content of the air in the area of ​​the control device, WDG c is used to calculate the dew point Tau c or a value representing the water vapor content (WDG) c is the target final compression temperature T of the compressed gas at the outlet opening of the compressor block. S,VET is taken into consideration when determining

[0041] In another preferred further development, the temperature T c or humidity F c is determined in the supply air flow directed through the control device.

[0042] In a preferred further development of the method, the supply air flow passes through a filter in order to remove particles from the supply air before reaching the temperature or humidity sensor.

[0043] In a possible preferred design, the temperature T measured at the temperature sensor c is the gas temperature at the inlet opening of the compressor chamber, T ein is used to infer

[0044] In another possible preferred design, the temperature T measured at the temperature sensor c and humidity F measured by the humidity sensor c is the dew point Tau of the gas at the inlet opening of the compressor chamber ein or water vapor content WDG ein In this regard, inference also includes derivation, determination, or calculation by the controller.

[0045] In a further possible preferred design, the compressor system is configured to operate at a virtually actual final compression temperature T I,VET The target final compression temperature T S,VET The cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is determined by taking into account the state conditions of the gas entering the inlet opening of the compressor system, in particular the temperature T determined in this way. ein or humidity F ein is set taking into consideration the above.

[0046] In another possible preferred design, the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is set via a bypass adjustment.

[0047] In a further preferred design of the method according to the invention, it may be provided that the pressure at or in the vicinity of the control device is determined via a pressure sensor, whereby this pressure determination is preferably carried out by a pressure sensor at or in the control device.

[0048] For clarity, the humidity F measured by the humidity sensor c Note that is the relative humidity, not the absolute water content / humidity.

[0049] The invention is also explained in more detail below with reference to further features and advantages by way of a description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a compressor system provided with a fluid cooling circuit, the fluid cooling circuit being equipped with a temperature sensor according to the invention and a humidity sensor according to the invention for determining the gas temperature Tein and the gas humidity Fein. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a control device for a compressor system equipped with corresponding temperature or humidity sensors. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a first alternative design for integrating humidity and temperature sensors onto the compressor system controller circuit board. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment for achieving the integration of temperature and humidity sensors on the compressor system controller circuit board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a compressor system 37 provided with a fluid cooling circuit 27, which in each case cools the gas temperature T ein and gas humidity F einand a humidity sensor 20 according to the invention for determining the temperature and humidity of the compressor block 11. The compressor block 11 comprises the aforementioned inlet opening 14, a compressor chamber 12 enclosed by the compressor block 11, and an outlet opening 15. Mechanical compression means 13, here in particular two screws, are mounted in the compressor chamber 12, which, according to the screw compressor principle, compress the gas flowing into the inlet opening 14 and discharge the gas at the outlet opening.

[0052] The outlet opening 15 is connected to an oil separator 31 into which the compressed gas enters and from which the cooling and lubricating fluid, in this case oil, is separated. The compressed gas from which the cooling fluid, in this case oil, has been removed is supplied to a consumer or consumer network via an outlet line 32. The oil separator 31 is also a component of the aforementioned fluid cooling circuit 27, which returns the cooling fluid, in this case oil, separated from the compressed gas to the compressor chamber 12 via an injection point 33.

[0053] In order to be able to adjust the temperature of the cooling fluid returned to the injection point 33, actuation means, here designed in particular as a cooling fluid bypass valve 18, are provided to optionally return the cooling fluid directly from the oil separator to the injection point or to guide the cooling fluid wholly or partly through a heat exchanger 28 before it is returned to the injection point 33.

[0054] The compressor system further comprises a control device 16 housed in a control housing 21 on or within the compressor system. The control housing 21 has a first opening 25 on the inlet side and a second opening 34 on the outlet side so as to be able to guide an air flow through the control housing 21. A fan 26 is preferably provided on the outlet side of the control device 16 to drive said air flow.

[0055] The control device 16 comprises, for example, one or more circuit boards 22 on which the main processor 23 of the control device 16 is arranged. Furthermore, in a preferred design of the present invention, the aforementioned temperature sensor 19 or the aforementioned humidity sensor 20 may also be arranged on the circuit board 22 of the control device 16, preferably on the circuit board 22 on which the main processor 23 of the control device is also arranged, and in this respect this circuit board may also be referred to as the main circuit board.

[0056] In a further preferred design, the temperature sensor 19 and / or the humidity sensor 20 are directly connected to the main processor 23 of the control device 16, i.e., no further interfaces or other components are connected between them. The circuit board 22 with the main processor 23 of the control device 16 is preferably arranged in the control housing 21 in such a way that the airflow entering through the inlet opening 25 first passes the temperature sensor 19 and the humidity sensor 20 before being heated by the main processor 23 and / or the fan 26. In a particularly preferred design, the temperature sensor 19 and / or the humidity sensor 20 are designed as MEMS sensors (micro-electromechanical systems).

[0057] In the particular embodiment described herein, the controller 16 still calculates the pressure value P c The pressure sensor 36 is operatively connected to a pressure sensor 36 designed to detect the pressure. Preferably, the pressure sensor 36 is also arranged on the circuit board 22 of the control device 16, preferably on the circuit board 22 where the main processor 23 of the control device is also arranged. Particularly preferably, the pressure sensor 36 is also designed as a MEMS sensor. The gas pressure or air pressure can be determined via the pressure sensor 36. The air pressure influences the compression process and can also influence other parameters of the compressor system. The air pressure depends largely on the installation altitude of the compressor unit above sea level, but is also influenced, for example, by weather conditions. However, the latter has a relatively small influence.

[0058] Without an existing sensor for air pressure, an atmospheric pressure of 1.0 bar is typically used for the calculation, which corresponds to the installation of the compressor unit at sea level. This simplifies the calculation in that only the final compression pressure is considered for the pressure ratio Π, and therefore the intake pressure is not. This simplification is necessary to calculate the target final compression temperature T S,VET This means that an appropriate safety margin must be taken into account when calculating

[0059] If the air pressure p1 is known, it can be taken into account in the calculation and the pressure ratio Π=p1 / p2 is applied, where p1 is the intake pressure in bar (absolute) and p2 is the final compression pressure in bar (absolute). For p1=1.0 bar (absolute), Π=p2 is applied. If p1 is less than 1.0 bar (absolute), for example due to a higher installation altitude of the compressor unit above sea level, the pressure ratio Π increases and therefore the target final compression temperature T S,VET has a corresponding effect on

[0060] In Figure 2, the control housing 21 from Figure 1 is again illustrated separated from the control device 16 housed therein. See the explanation in relation to Figure 1. A cooling airflow guide 30, which guides the cooling airflow driven by the fan 26 along a desired path, may be defined by the structural design of the control housing 21 or a corresponding device. To further reduce contamination of the temperature sensor 19 or humidity sensor 20, an air filter 35 is advantageously arranged in the cooling airflow guide 30, preferably in the area of ​​the inlet opening 25, to retain particles from the incoming air.

[0061] With the arrangement proposed herein, the temperature sensor 19 and humidity sensor 20 may determine a gas temperature representative of the gas humidity or gas temperature at the inlet opening 14 of the compressor chamber 12. Optionally, the specifically measured temperature or the specifically measured humidity may still be used to determine the value T ein or F ein, can be corrected using a correction factor or correlation table to more accurately estimate the gas temperature or gas humidity at the inlet opening 14 of the compressor chamber 12. ein or humidity F ein In addition to calculating or estimating the temperature T c , and humidity F at or within the control device 16 c The measured value of Tau is the dew point of the gas in the area of ​​the control device 16. c or water vapor content WDG c The calculated value Tau can be used to estimate c or WDG c is the dew point Tau at the inlet opening 14 of the compressor chamber 12. ein or water vapor content WDG ein can be used to directly infer Tau c or WDG c may be assumed to be 1:1 or a correction factor may be included. In general, however, it may be assumed that the absolute water vapor content of the gas at both locations, i.e., on the one hand, at or within the control device 16 and, on the other hand, in the area of ​​the inlet opening 14 of the compressor chamber 12, is the same, or at least essentially the same.

[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates a design in which the temperature sensor 19 and the humidity sensor 20 are designed as MEMS sensors and are each directly connected to the main processor 23 of the control device 16 .

[0063] FIG. 4 illustrates a design in which the temperature sensor 19 and humidity sensor 20 are integrated in a common MEMS sensor, which is directly connected to the main processor 23 of the controller 16 .

[0064] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dew point Tau c is the temperature T at or within the control device 16 c and the associated relative humidity F c These pairs of values ​​are determined from measurements of the water vapor content (WDG).c and dew point Tau c This allows the dew point to be calculated. Without additional influences, the water vapor content of the interconnected gas volumes, i.e., on the one hand, the gas volume in the area of ​​the control device 16 and, on the other hand, the gas volume at the inlet opening 14 of the compressor chamber 12, is assumed to be the same or essentially the same. As a result, in the case of a compressor that draws gas, in particular air, from its surroundings, the dew point can be determined in each gas volume that is also directly connected to the surroundings of the compressor's inlet opening. The dew point is determined solely by the water vapor content of the gas drawn by the compressor. The water vapor content is independent of fluctuations in the gas temperature within certain limits and can only be determined indirectly by measuring the gas temperature and relative humidity. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the gas temperature T c and relative humidity F c is recorded for this purpose at or in the control device. If a heat source causes a temperature increase, the relative humidity is reduced in the same way, since the water vapor content does not change as a result of the temperature change. This means that the temperature sensor 19 and humidity sensor 20 can also be located in a warmer area of ​​the machine, i.e. at or in the control device.

[0065] An additional advantage results from the fact that locating the humidity sensor 20 at or within the control device 16 suppresses condensation on the humidity sensor 20. If the temperature sensor 19 or humidity sensor 20 is located within a control cabinet, a relatively low particle load can be assumed because the cooling air for the control cabinet is always filtered. If the relative humidity approaches 100%, there is a risk of condensation forming on the temperature sensor 19 or humidity sensor 20. This is the case when the temperature and dew point approach each other. If the dew point remains the same, an increase in temperature results in a decrease in relative humidity and, therefore, a reduced risk of sensor condensation. In prior art, where the humidity sensor is located outside the compressor or at or within the outlet area, there is an additional risk that a coating of dew forms on the humidity sensor at cooler gas temperatures, distorting or making the measurement of relative humidity impossible due to this dew formation. In this regard, the solution proposed herein can also overcome this problem.

[0066] Ambient air pressure P c By determining the target final compression temperature T S,VET This is advantageous in that, on the one hand, weather variations are taken into account, but above all, if an incorrect installation altitude above sea level is entered when the compressor unit is initialized, such an incorrect parameterization can affect the ambient air pressure P c This makes the detection of the state condition of the gas entering the inlet opening of the compressor unit more accurate in that the detected state condition can be corrected by the actual detection of the gas pressure.

[0067] [List of references] 11 Compressor block 12 Compressor chamber 13 Compression Methods 14 Inlet opening 15 Outlet opening 16 Control device 17 Drive unit 18 Actuation means, cooling fluid bypass valve 19 Temperature Sensor 20 Humidity Sensor 21 Control housing 22 Circuit Board 23 Main Processor 24 Fluid coupling means 25 Entrance opening 26 Fans 27 Fluid cooling circuit 28 Heat exchanger 29 Housing ventilation system 30 Cooling airflow guide 31 Oil separator 32 Exit Line 33 Injection point 34 Outlet opening 35 Air Filter 36 Pressure Sensor 37 Compressor System

Claims

1. A compressor system for compressing gas, comprising: a compressor block (11) having a compressor chamber (12) in which the gas is compressed via mechanical compression means (13); wherein the compressor chamber (12) has an inlet opening (14) on the inflow side and an outlet opening (15) on the outflow side; and a control device (16) for controlling the drive unit (17) of the compression means (13), Here, the control device (16) is operably connected to a temperature sensor (19) and / or a humidity sensor (20) in order to determine the state conditions of the gas entering from the inlet opening (14). A compressor system characterized in that the temperature sensor (19) and / or the humidity sensor (20) are arranged in or within the control device (16) in the compressor system to detect the dominant temperature Tc or the dominant humidity Fc therein, and the control device (16) includes a processing device (23) to draw conclusions from the measured values ​​Tc and / or Fc about the state conditions of the gas entering from the inlet opening (14).

2. The compressor system is characterized in that it includes an operating means, and the control device controls the operating means via a corresponding control command based on the state conditions of the gas flowing into the inlet opening (14) determined from Tc and / or Fc. The compressor system according to claim 1.

3. The control device is further designed and set up to control the compressor system such that the temperature of the compressed gas at the outlet opening (15) of the compressor chamber (12) conforms to the target final compression temperature TS,VET, based on the state conditions of the gas flowing into the inlet opening (14) determined from Tc and / or Fc. The compressor system according to claim 1.

4. The control device (16) is further operably connected to a pressure sensor (36) in order to detect a pressure value Pc and, taking the pressure value Pc into consideration, draw conclusions about the state conditions of the gas entering from the inlet opening (14). The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The pressure sensor (36) is also located in or within the control device (16) in the compressor system, The compressor system according to claim 4.

6. The control device (16) is housed in a control housing (21), and the temperature sensor (19) and / or humidity sensor (20) are also housed in the control housing (21), characterized in that The compressor system according to claim 1.

7. The control device (16) comprises one or more circuit boards (22) having a main processor (23) of the control device (16), and the temperature sensor (19) and / or humidity sensor (20) are also arranged on the one or more circuit boards. The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the temperature sensor (19) is designed as a MEMS sensor.

9. The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the humidity sensor (20) is designed as a MEMS sensor.

10. The temperature sensor (19) and the humidity sensor (20) are integrated into the MEMS sensor, characterized in that The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The fluid coupling means (24) is provided to couple the temperature sensor (19) and / or the humidity sensor (20) to the environment upstream of the inlet opening (14), characterized in that The compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

12. The fluid coupling means (24) is characterized in that the control housing (21) of the control device (16) includes a corresponding opening (25), The compressor system according to claim 11.

13. The fluid coupling means (24) is characterized by comprising a cooling airflow guide (30) and / or a fan (26) for guiding or driving the supply airflow. The compressor system according to claim 11.

14. The fan (26) is provided in or within the control housing (21) as a component of the housing ventilation system (29), characterized in that The compressor system according to claim 13.

15. The cooling airflow guide (30) for guiding the cooling airflow is formed in the control housing (21), and the fan (26) also drives the cooling airflow. The compressor system according to claim 13.

16. The air filter (35) is provided and positioned in the cooling airflow guide (30) such that the supply airflow is first guided through the supply air filter (35) before reaching the temperature sensor (19) and / or the humidity sensor (20). The compressor system according to claim 13.

17. The distance between the main processor (23) and the temperature sensor (19) of the control device (16) is less than 30 cm, and / or the distance between the main processor (23) and the humidity sensor (20) of the control device (16) is less than 30 cm. The compressor system according to claim 7.

18. The temperature sensor (19) is directly connected to the main processor (23) of the control device (16), and the humidity sensor (20) is directly connected to the main processor (23) of the control device (16), characterized in that The compressor system according to claim 7.

19. The compressor system is characterized in that it has a fluid cooling circuit (27), the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit (27) can be adjusted via the actuation means, and the control device (16) adjusts the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit (27) taking into consideration the state conditions of the gas flowing into the inlet opening (14) as determined via the temperature sensor (19) or the humidity sensor (20). The compressor system according to claim 2.

20. The operating means is characterized in that it includes a cooling fluid bypass valve (18), and the cooling fluid bypass valve (18) allows for gradual adjustment of whether the amount of cooling fluid supplied is via a heat exchanger (28) integrated into the fluid cooling circuit (27) or supplied by passing through the heat exchanger (28). The compressor system according to claim 19.

21. A method for controlling a compressor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A method characterized in that temperature Tc and / or humidity Fc are determined in or within the control device via a temperature sensor (19) or humidity sensor (20) to detect a dominant temperature Tc or humidity Fc in or within the control device, and the measured values ​​Tc and / or Fc are used to draw conclusions about the state conditions of the gas entering through the inlet opening (14).

22. From the temperature Tc measured in the control device (16) or the temperature sensor (19) within the control device (16), and from the humidity Fc measured in the control device (16) or the humidity sensor (20) within the control device (16), another value representing the dew point Tauc representing the air in the region of the control device (16) or the water vapor content of the air in the region of the control device is calculated, and the dew point Tauc or the value WDGc representing the water vapor content is taken into consideration when determining the target final compression temperature TS,VET of the compressed gas at the outlet opening (15) of the compressor block (11). The method according to claim 21.

23. The temperature Tc or humidity Fc is determined in the supply airflow guided via the control device, The method according to claim 21.

24. The supply airflow is characterized in that it passes through a filter to remove particles before reaching the temperature sensor (19) or the humidity sensor (20), The method according to claim 23.

25. The temperature Tc measured by the temperature sensor (19) is used to estimate the gas temperature Tein at the inlet opening (14) of the compressor chamber (12), characterized in that The method according to claim 21.

26. The temperature Tc measured by the temperature sensor (19) and the humidity Fc measured by the humidity sensor (20) are used to estimate the dew point Tein or water vapor content WDGein of the gas at the inlet opening (14) of the compressor chamber (12). The method according to claim 21.

27. The compressor system is cooled via an adjustable fluid cooling circuit to keep the actual compression end temperature TI,VET as close as possible to the target final compression temperature TS,VET, wherein the cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is set considering the state conditions of the gas flowing into the inlet opening of the compressor system. The method according to claim 21.

28. The cooling capacity of the fluid cooling circuit is set via bypass adjustment, characterized in that The method according to claim 27.

29. The dominant pressure in the environment of the control device (16) is determined in or via a pressure sensor (36) within the control device (16), characterized in that The method according to claim 21.

Images