Assembly for compressing a gas, cooling method and use of such an assembly

Abstract

A method for cooling an assembly (1) for compressing a gas including a housing (2) having a plurality of elements for compressing the gas, the method comprising the steps of: allowing a cooling air flow (21) to flow from an ambient environment into a first section (3) of the housing (2); moving the cooling air flow (21) through a plurality of coolers (14, 16, 18) disposed in a central section (5) of the housing (2), such that the cooling air flow (21) moves from the first section (3) to a second section (4) of the housing (2); and allowing the cooling air flow (21) to flow out of the second section (4) of the housing (2) into the ambient environment.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for compressing gas, and more particularly to a housing having multiple sections, the housing being optimally configured for cooling airflow in an assembly having multiple elements for compressing gas, particularly liquid-injected elements such as water-injected and / or oil-injected elements. [Background technology]

[0002] In this context, "element" can refer to both compressor elements and vacuum pump elements.

[0003] The primary purpose of such an assembly is to compress gas. In oil-injected or water-injected elements, a liquid, oil or water, respectively, is added while the gas is compressed to lubricate the element's parts, provide sealing, and / or provide cooling during the compression process, and / or for further secondary reasons. By adding a liquid, the flow coming out of the element not only contains the pressure, but also a significant amount of liquid. This liquid is separated from the flow and usually cooled to be fed back into the element via a liquid injection line. The various components that make this operation possible are part of the assembly.

[0004] The housing of an assembly has several functions: on the one hand, it provides a shield for the elements and parts that make up the assembly, thus providing protection for the assembly from unwanted access, external objects and influences, and conversely, it protects people and animals in the surrounding environment of the housing from the movement of the assembly or from hot elements and / or parts.

[0005] In particular, when such a housing contains multiple elements, proper configuration and construction of the housing is important to enable maintenance and repair to be performed. Depending on the configuration of the housing and the location of the elements and parts within the housing, the operator may be able to perform maintenance and repairs that are easy or difficult.

[0006] The final function of the housing relates to the cooling function. In assemblies with liquid-injected elements, cooling is usually achieved by liquid and compressed gas. The cooling air that has absorbed the released heat is discharged from the housing in a controlled and optimal manner, taking into account the factors of the housing's surrounding environment. In many cases, it is undesirable to release heat in the direction of a person's passage, as this would be very uncomfortable or even dangerous for people. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly with improved housing, operation and construction.

[0008] More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for constructing an assembly and for improved cooling of the assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To this end, the present invention provides an assembly for compressing a gas, comprising a housing comprising a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising: a first liquid-injectable element for compressing the gas; a first motor for driving the first liquid-injectable element; a second liquid-injected element for compressing the gas; a second motor for driving the second liquid-injectable element; a first liquid separator in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the first liquid injected element for gas compressed by the first liquid injected element; a second liquid separator in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the second liquid injected element for gas compressed by the second liquid injected element; At least The plurality of components are distributed across the first and second sections of the housing, the housing also having a central section separating the first and second sections from one another, the central section comprising: a first cooler in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the first liquid separator for cooling the first liquid in the first liquid injection line for the first liquid injected element; a second cooler in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the second liquid separator for cooling the second liquid in the second liquid injection line for the second liquid injected element; Includes.

[0010] The present invention is based on the understanding that when multiple liquid-injected elements are provided in a single housing, it is advantageous to provide a separate liquid separator for each liquid-injected element and a separate cooler for cooling the liquid separated by the respective liquid separator. This results in an assembly in which the housing has a first cooler for the liquid separated by the first liquid separator and a second cooler for the liquid separated by the second liquid separator, each capable of dissipating heat independently into a cooling airflow. According to the present invention, it is particularly advantageous to locate the first and second coolers in a central section of the housing. The central section is located between the first and second sections of the housing and separates the first and second sections from each other. The components of the assembly, including the first liquid-injected element, the first motor, the second liquid-injected element, the second motor, the first liquid separator, and the second liquid separator, are distributed throughout the first and second sections. This configuration is believed to be optimal for cooling the components, particularly for dissipating heat from the components within the housing to the surrounding environment of the housing. Furthermore, in this configuration, the various parts of the assembly are easily accessible for maintenance and repair. Thus, this housing provides improved construction and operation.

[0011] A surprising advantage of this assembly relates to its adaptability to generate highly variable compressed gas flows. Such adaptability is necessary in some situations to accommodate highly variable demands for compressed gas. This allows the assembly of the present invention to continue to operate optimally and efficiently despite highly variable flows. It should be noted that most known assemblies, primarily those with a single element, are highly inefficient when variable flows of compressed gas occur. By configuring the assembly of the present invention with two elements, each driven by its own motor and connected to its own liquid separator with its own cooler for the separated liquid, the assembly can be configured based on the needs of the compressed gas user, allowing each liquid-injected element to function optimally within the assembly. Thanks to the specific configuration of the various components within the housing, the operation of a first liquid-injected element does not adversely affect the operation of a second liquid-injected element, or vice versa, and the presence of multiple liquid-injected elements does not hinder maintenance and repair of multiple components within the assembly.

[0012] Preferably, each of the first and second coolers includes one or more fans for forcing cooling airflow through the respective coolers, with each cooling airflow being supplied to flow from the first section to the second section. By allowing the fans of the multiple coolers to blow in the same direction, specifically from the first section to the second section, heat from the first and second liquids can be efficiently dissipated to the surrounding environment. This is because large loops or continuous circulation of cooling air through the multiple coolers cannot occur. This improves the efficiency and operational reliability of the coolers, regardless of which or how many coolers are operating. The cooling airflow through each of the fans can also be individually tailored to the required cooling capacity of each cooler, for example, by individually setting the speed of each fan based on specific control parameters that are a measure of the required cooling capacity.

[0013] Preferably, a check valve is provided at the gas outlet of the first liquid separator for the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element and at the gas outlet of the second liquid separator for the gas compressed by the second liquid-injected element.

[0014] The presence of a non-return valve, also called a check valve, at the gas outlet of each liquid separator ensures complete pressure separation of the liquid circuits belonging to the two elements, which makes it possible to start and stop the elements independently of each other.

[0015] Preferably, the central section further comprises a third cooler in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the first liquid separator for the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element and the gas outlet of the second liquid separator for the gas compressed by the second liquid-injected element, for cooling the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element and the second liquid-injected element.

[0016] This allows the compressed gas to be cooled in a cooler shared between the first and second liquid injectable elements.

[0017] The third cooler preferably has one or more additional fans for forcing additional cooling airflow through the third cooler, the additional cooling airflow being provided to flow from the first section to the second section.

[0018] By allowing the additional fan to blow in the same direction as the fans of the first and second coolers, specifically from the first section to the second section, the heat from the compressed gas can be efficiently rejected to the surrounding environment since large loop or continuous circulation of cooling air through the various coolers with the attendant advantages mentioned above cannot occur.

[0019] Preferably, the housing has a gas outlet in direct or indirect fluid communication with the gas outlets of the first and second liquid separators via the gas outlet of the third cooler. Providing a single gas outlet on the housing simplifies use for the end user, as the end user does not need to consider the fact that the housing contains multiple elements.

[0020] Preferably, each of the first and second sections comprises at least one of the plurality of components. In other words, the plurality of components are distributed throughout the first and second sections. As a result, it is impossible for either the first or second section to be empty. As a direct consequence, the central section physically separates the plurality of components from one another.

[0021] Preferably, the central section further includes a lead-through for at least one line selected from a gas line and a liquid line for fluidly connecting at least one of the components of the first section and at least one of the components of the second section. By configuring the central section with three coolers, it is possible to easily provide space for the lines. In particular, when the three coolers are rectangular or substantially square, the coolers can be positioned relative to each other to provide the lead-through.

[0022] Preferably, the housing has at least one opening in the upper segment of the first section and / or the second section to allow cooling air to flow from the surrounding environment of the housing to or into the first section or the second section of the housing, and / or vice versa. Preferably, the roof element of the housing is formed at least in part by a lattice element to provide the at least one opening. If an opening is provided in the upper segment of the housing, preferably the roof element of the housing, the cooling air can be drawn in and discharged at the top of the housing. As a result, in particular, the heated cooling air is discharged at a height exceeding a person's height in many practical situations. In other words, a person entering the surrounding environment of the housing does not directly feel the flow of warm cooling air exiting the housing. A further advantage of this configuration is that it is possible to provide air ducts for discharging the heated cooling air to the surrounding environment and / or for supplying fresh cooling air from the surrounding environment. The air ducts can be provided above the components of the assembly, thereby not interfering with access / maintenance along the side of the assembly. In addition, since sufficient space is created for the intake / inlet of fresh cooling air and the discharge / outlet of heated cooling air, pressure losses due to the change in direction of the cooling air between the inlet and outlet of the roof element of the housing are minimized, which is beneficial for the total energy consumption of the compressor.

[0023] Preferably, the side walls of the housing are formed by side wall panels, at least a portion of which are openable or removable to provide access to the components within the housing. By making the side walls of the housing removable and / or openable, access to the components within the housing is facilitated, thereby significantly simplifying maintenance of the components within the housing.

[0024] Preferably, the central section forms a partition between the first and second sections, the partition spanning the entire width and / or height of the housing, or spanning substantially the entire width and / or height of the housing. By configuring the partition to span the entire width and height of the housing, undesirable backflow of cooling air from the second section to the first section is prevented. As a result, the cooling airflow is forced by the housing structure from the ambient environment to the first section of the housing, to the second section of the housing, and back to the ambient environment. As a result, more optimal heat dissipation from the components within the housing to the ambient environment is achieved.

[0025] Preferably, the first liquid in the first liquid injection line and / or the second liquid in the second liquid injection line is oil. Tests and simulations have shown that such an arrangement is particularly advantageous for oil-injected compressors.

[0026] The present invention also relates to a method for cooling an assembly for compressing a gas, comprising a housing having a plurality of elements for compressing a gas, the method comprising the steps of: allowing a flow of cooling air from the ambient environment into the first section of the housing; moving a cooling airflow through a plurality of coolers disposed in a central section of the housing, the cooling airflow moving from a first section to a second section of the housing; allowing cooling airflow to exit the second section of the housing to the ambient environment; Includes.

[0027] The assembly housing configuration, in which the coolers are located in the central section of the housing, allows cooling airflow to flow into a first section, move from the first section through multiple coolers to a second section, and exit the second section, is novel and offers many advantages. First, efficient cooling can be achieved. Second, complex component assemblies can be constructed within the housing, which still facilitates maintenance and repair.

[0028] Preferably, the step of allowing at least the cooling air flow to exit is performed in an upper segment of the first section and / or the second section, preferably in a roof element of the housing. Preferably, the plurality of coolers comprises at least one first cooler for cooling a first liquid for a first liquid-injected element for compressing the gas, and a second cooler for cooling a second liquid for a second liquid-injected element for compressing the gas, and preferably also a third cooler for cooling the compressed gas. The advantages and effects of these aspects are described above with reference to the assembly.

[0029] Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of an assembly according to one of the above-described embodiments for supplying compressed gas by adjusting a first motor driving a first liquid-injected element and adjusting a second motor driving a second liquid-injected element based on the demand for compressed gas. The demand can be supplied in various ways. In particular, the demand can be supplied passively, i.e., the consumption of compressed gas causes a pressure drop in the consumer network, which directly indicates the demand for compressed gas. Alternatively, the demand can be supplied actively by transmitting data to the consumer. As a further alternative, the demand can be supplied in a combination of active and passive ways. By adjusting the motors based on the demand, the changing demand for compressed gas in the consumer network can be optimally supplied.

[0030] Preferably, the first motor and the second motor have different operating characteristics. Preferably, the first motor is a first type motor having a substantially fixed rotational speed. Preferably, the second motor is a second type motor having an adjustable rotational speed. Furthermore, preferably, the second type motor has a continuously variable adjustable rotational speed.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first motor is a first type of motor having a substantially fixed rotational speed, and the second motor is a second type of motor having an adjustable rotational speed. A motor with a fixed rotational speed is less expensive and can be better adapted to the connected liquid-injected element to supply compressed gas with optimal efficiency. A motor with a variable adjustable rotational speed is, for example, connected to a frequency regulator or voltage regulator and has an adjustable rotational speed. The structure of the motor and the method for controlling the rotational speed are obviously not the subject of this document, and therefore will not be further described. When a liquid-injected element is connected to a motor with an adjustable rotational speed, the liquid-injected element must not only be suitable, and preferably optimized, for supplying compressed gas at the maximum rotational speed, but also suitable, and preferably optimized, for supplying compressed gas at rotational speeds lower than the maximum rotational speed. Therefore, such a liquid-injected element connected to a motor with an adjustable rotational speed is typically more expensive and less efficient. However, a major advantage is the ability to supply a variable amount of compressed gas. In particular, the above advantages can be partially achieved by combining a first motor with a fixed rotational speed in the first liquid-injected element and a second motor with an adjustable rotational speed in the second liquid-injected element.

[0032] If the first motor is a first type of motor having a substantially fixed rotational speed and the second motor is a second type of motor having an adjustable rotational speed, the first motor is preferably switched on only when the second element alone is unable to supply the required amount of compressed gas.

[0033] Preferably, the first motor has a lower maximum operating power output than the second motor. By providing a second motor with an adjustable rotational speed that has a power output greater than the first motor with a fixed rotational speed, a "control gap" when the first motor of the first liquid-injectable element is switched on is minimized or avoided. A control gap can occur when approximately half the maximum delivery flow rate of the combined compressed gases is required, more particularly when the first motor with a fixed rotational speed is switched on while the second motor with an adjustable rotational speed is slowed down or switched off. Tests have shown that when a first motor with a fixed rotational speed is switched on while a second motor with an adjustable rotational speed and the same power output is set to its minimum possible operating speed, the combination of the first motor and the second motor at its minimum operating speed typically delivers a higher compressed gas flow rate than if the second motor alone were operated at its maximum operating speed. Therefore, when switching from a state in which the second motor alone is operated at its maximum operating speed to a state in which the first motor is operated in addition to the second motor, or vice versa, a "control gap" occurs in the flow rate of compressed gas delivered by the assembly. In other words, the control gap is the interval in terms of compressed gas flow rate between the maximum flow rate of compressed gas that the second liquid-injectable element with the adjustable rotational speed second motor can deliver alone and the minimum flow rate of compressed gas that the first liquid-injectable element with the fixed rotational speed first motor can deliver. The assembly cannot deliver the compressed gas flow rate accurately in this control gap. However, to substantially meet the demand for compressed gas flow in such a control gap, a first liquid-injectable element having a first motor with a fixed rotational speed must repeatedly operate alternately between a loaded state and an unloaded state. This is highly disadvantageous in terms of energy because operating the first liquid-injectable element in an unloaded state requires operating power without the first liquid-injectable element supplying compressed gas. Furthermore, a reduction in the maximum operating output of a first motor with a fixed rotational speed reduces the minimum flow rate of compressed gas that can be supplied by the first liquid-injectable element alone.As a result, the control gap is reduced or even eliminated. Meanwhile, a reduction in the maximum operating power of the first motor with a fixed rotational speed also means a reduction in the maximum flow rate of compressed gas that can be delivered by the combination of the first and second liquid-injectable elements of the assembly. Tests have shown that the maximum power of the first motor with a fixed rotational speed is preferably greater than 60%, more preferably greater than 70%, of the maximum power of the second motor with an adjustable rotational speed. Furthermore, the maximum power of the first motor with a fixed rotational speed is preferably less than 90%, more preferably less than 80%, of the maximum power of the second motor with an adjustable rotational speed. This allows the maximum delivery flow rate of compressed gas to be optimized while minimizing the adverse effects of a potential control gap.

[0034] The invention will now be explained in more detail using examples of embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the center section of the assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is a flow diagram of an assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a first perspective view of an assembly according to one practical embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the assembly from FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the drawings, the same reference numbers are assigned to the same or equivalent elements.

[0037] The primary purpose of the assembly 1 is to supply compressed gas. To this end, each liquid-injected element 6, 8 of the assembly 1 is primarily intended to compress the gas to be compressed. By supplying elements 6, 8 with a liquid, such as oil or water, the flow emerging from the elements 6, 8 will contain not only compressed gas but also a significant amount of liquid. By fluidly connecting the gas outlet of each element 6, 8 to the inlet of a liquid separator 10, 12, e.g., a cyclone separator, a significant portion of the liquid can be separated from the flow. This provides an additional possibility for returning the separated liquid to the elements 6, 8, thereby creating a substantially closed circuit for the reuse of the liquid. In practice, the liquid and, optionally, the gas flow emerging from the liquid separator are cooled by a liquid cooler and a gas cooler, respectively. Preferably, a check valve is provided downstream of each liquid separator 10, 12. In particular, a minimum pressure valve is located near the gas outlet of each liquid separator 10, 12. This valve ensures that no compressed gas can flow back into the liquid separators 10, 12 from the lines downstream of them. In practice, this ensures that the liquid circuits are completely separated from each other in terms of pressure, and that the two elements 6, 8 can therefore operate independently of each other. Preferably, a further non-return valve is arranged close to the gas inlet of each liquid-injected element 6, 8 to ensure that no backflow occurs due to compressed gas still present in the associated liquid separator 10, 12, even if the element 6, 8 stops operating.

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of an assembly 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 1 includes multiple components for generating compressed gas, which are assembled together within a housing 2. The housing 2 has a first section 3 and a second section 4. The first section 3 is separated from the second section 4 by a central section 5. The central section 5 divides the housing 2 into two, but not necessarily two equal, portions. The multiple components are distributed throughout each section. Example embodiments are described below.

[0039] In FIG. 1 , assembly 1 includes multiple elements 6 and 8 within a single housing 2. The advantage of having multiple elements 6 and 8 within a single housing 2 is that assembly 1 with multiple elements 6 and 8 can accommodate greater fluctuations in the flow rate of compressed gas compared to a single element. Furthermore, providing multiple elements 6, 8 increases the efficiency of producing compressed gas with flow rate fluctuations. The figure shows an embodiment with two elements 6 and 8. It will be apparent that the same principles of the present invention can be applied to an assembly 1 with three or more elements. The present invention is not limited to an assembly 1 with only two elements 6 and 8.

[0040] Elements 6 and 8 can be the same or different. The motors 7 and 9 driving elements 6 and 8, respectively, can be the same or different and / or controlled in the same or different ways. In one embodiment, both motors 7 and 9 are fixed-speed motors. Alternatively, the two motors are pole-changing motors due to the presence of at least two different coils, allowing them to operate at at least two fixed speeds. As a further alternative, both motors 7 and 9 are variable-speed motors, typically controlled by a frequency regulator. As yet another alternative, one of the two motors 7 and 9 is a fixed-speed or pole-changing motor, and the second of the two motors 7 and 9 is a variable-speed motor. The present invention is not limited to motors with the same power output. Therefore, the two motors 7 and 9 can have different power outputs, which is an additional advantage in terms of adjusting for changes in the demand for compressed gas. For example, if motor 7 is a fixed speed motor and motor 9 is a variable speed motor, it is advantageous to select the power of the variable speed motor to be greater than the power of the fixed speed motor so that no control gap occurs when the fixed speed motor is switched on and off. For clarity, a fixed speed motor is a first type of motor having a substantially fixed rotational speed, and a variable speed motor is a second type of motor having a variably adjustable rotational speed. In the illustrated embodiment, the two elements 6 and 8 and the two motors 7 and 9 are provided in a first section 3 of the housing 2.

[0041] Each element 6, 8 is connected to a liquid separator 10, 12. As explained above, elements 6, 8 are provided primarily to supply compressed gas. For this purpose, each element 6, 8 has a gas outlet 11, 13, respectively. The streams emerging from said gas outlets 11, 13 contain not only compressed gas but also a significant amount of liquid. Liquid separators 10 and 12 are in fluid communication with the gas outlets 11 and 13, respectively, to separate the liquid from the streams.

[0042] Each liquid separator 10 and 12 can be configured and optimized for the connected elements 6 and 8, thereby allowing the liquid separators 10 and 12 to have different configurations and / or dimensions. Preferably, each liquid separator 10 and 12 includes both a cyclone separator and one or more liquid filter elements. Each liquid separator 10 and 12 has a liquid outlet 15 and 17, respectively, and a gas outlet 19 and 20, respectively. Liquid from the liquid outlets 15 and 17 is returned to the elements 6 and 8 via the respective coolers 14 and 16. The compressed gas emerging from the two gas outlets 19 and 20 passes through a minimum pressure valve with an integrated check valve before being mixed and fed to a cooler 18 (not shown in FIG. 1 ) before the compressed gas is sent to the gas outlet 26 of the housing 2. The cooling air supply or exhaust of each of the first cooler 14, second cooler 16, and third cooler 18 (not shown in FIG. 1) can be individually controlled based on the cooling needs of each cooler 14, 16, 18 so that the assembly 1 can operate optimally and efficiently.

[0043] The first, second, and third coolers 14, 16, and 18 are located in the central section 5. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the central section 5, illustrating how the first, second, and third coolers 14, 16, and 18 can be arranged relative to one another. Each cooler 14, 16, and 18 is formed by a heat exchanger having slats for dissipating heat into cooling air. Each cooler 14, 16, and 18 thus has one or more fans for forcing cooling air through the heat exchanger. The central section 5 forms a single large cooling surface made up of multiple coolers 14, 16, and 18, each of which has one or more fans. The fans are arranged substantially in a plane in the central section 5 and are configured to draw and blow cooling air in the same direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the drawing and blowing of cooling air are represented by cooling airflow 21. In particular, the fans are arranged to blow cooling air from the first section 3 to the second section 4. Because multiple fans are arranged adjacent to one another and are arranged to draw and blow cooling air in the same direction, an optimum overall cooling air flow within the housing 2 is achieved and the various coolers 14, 16, 18 cannot significantly adversely affect one another.

[0044] FIG. 1 also shows that the roof elements 25 of the first and second sections 3 and 4 of the housing 2 each include an opening 24, formed by, for example, a grate, to allow the cooling airflow 21 to enter and exit the associated section 3 or 4. This allows cooling air to be drawn in from above in the first section 3. This allows heated cooling air to be blown out from above in the second section 4. As a result, people located anywhere around the housing 2 do not suffer any direct suffering or significant inconvenience from the heated cooling airflow 21. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this effect is particularly related to the blowing out of heated cooling air, and the location of the intake opening is less relevant. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the opening 24 does not necessarily have to be located in the roof element 25; the opening 24 could be located in the upper segment 23 of the housing 2. As a further alternative, the opening 24 could be located in a selected wall panel of the housing 2 to facilitate the cooling airflow 21. When selecting the wall panel, the ambient environment in which the housing 2 is located can be taken into consideration.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the central section 5 of the housing 2. FIG. 2 illustrates that the cooler assembly of the first cooler 14, the second cooler 16, and the third cooler 18 substantially defines the completed height h and width b of the housing 2. Thus, the central section 5 forms a physical separation between the first section 3 and the second section 4 of the housing 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration in which the first cooler 14 and the second cooler 16 are positioned one above the other, defining the height h of the housing. Alternatively, the first cooler 14 and the second cooler 16 can be positioned adjacent to each other, which together define the width b of the housing 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the third cooler 18 is positioned adjacent to the first cooler 14 and the second cooler 16, which together define the width b of the housing 2. The third cooler 18 is positioned a distance from the top of the housing 2 and a distance from the bottom. Alternatively, the third cooler 18 can be positioned entirely at the top or bottom of the housing 2. Due to the illustrated location of the third cooler 18, the coupling to the third cooler 18 and the coupling to the upper second cooler 16 are performed in the space above the third cooler 18. The space below the third cooler 18 can also be used to perform the coupling to the third cooler 18 and the lower first cooler 14, and can also be used as a lead-through for lines. The components within the first section 3 and second section 4 of the housing 2 are arranged in complete, operative fluid communication with each other. Thus, lines, including gas lines, liquid lines, and electrical lines, are placed between the various components to optimize operational functionality as much as possible. The lead-throughs are designated 22 in FIG. 2 .

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of assembly 1, from which the operation and interrelationship of the various components become apparent. It also illustrates how first element 6 is driven by first motor 7. First element 6 draws gas through gas inlet 27. If a special gas, such as nitrogen or oxygen, needs to be compressed, gas inlet 27 is connected to a gas storage tank or gas production facility. Element 6 also has a liquid inlet for injecting liquid for cooling, lubricating, and / or sealing element 6. The compressed gas and liquid are then delivered to first gas outlet 11. This gas outlet 11 is in fluid communication with liquid separator 10, since not only compressed gas but also a significant amount of liquid flows out of the gas outlet 11. Liquid separator 10 separates the gas and liquid streams from the gas outlet 11. The liquid stream flows out of liquid outlet 15 and returns to element 6 through first cooler 14, forming a closed liquid circuit. The gas stream exits the liquid separator 10 at a gas outlet 19 and is fed to the housing 2 at a gas outlet 26 , optionally through a third cooler 18 .

[0047] FIG. 3 further illustrates how the second element 8 is driven by the second motor 9. The second element 8 draws gas through a gas inlet 27. If a special gas, such as nitrogen or oxygen, needs to be compressed, the gas inlet 27 is connected to a gas storage tank or gas production facility. The element 8 also has a liquid inlet for injecting liquid for cooling, lubricating, and / or sealing the element 8. The compressed gas and liquid are then delivered to the second gas outlet 13. The gas outlet 13 is connected to a liquid separator 12, which separates the gas and liquid from the gas outlet 13 into a gas stream and a liquid stream. The liquid stream exits the liquid outlet 17 and is returned to the element 8 through a second cooler 16, forming a closed liquid circuit. The gas stream exits the liquid separator 12 through a gas outlet 20 and is delivered to a gas outlet 26 of the housing 2, optionally through a third cooler 18.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows how the gas outlet 19 of the first liquid separator 10 and the gas outlet 20 of the second liquid separator 12 are combined before going to the third cooler 18. Thus, the two gas streams exiting the liquid separators 10, 12 are cooled by a single cooler 18. Testing and simulations have shown that this does not result in a significant loss of efficiency. FIG. 3 also shows how a controller 28 is provided to control the first motor 7 and the second motor 9 based on the demand for compressed gas. Thus, the controller 28 can efficiently control the two elements 6 and 8 separately and / or together to meet the demand for compressed gas. The controller 28 can also control the cooling air flow rate of the fan located in the center section 5.

[0049] Figures 4 and 5 are different perspective views of a more practical embodiment of the assembly 1. Here, the housing 2 is shown as open, specifically without side and roof walls. Figures 4 and 5 show only the bottom 2' of the housing 2. Figures 4 and 5 also show the first section 3, the second section 4, and the central section 5. Here, the first section 3 is larger than the second section 4. A first element 6 and a second element 8 are arranged in the first section 3. The elements 6 and 8 are arranged adjacent to each other within the housing 2 and are preferably mounted on rails extending laterally through the housing 2. The laterally extending direction is equal to the width b of the central section 5. As a result, when the side walls of the housing 2 are partially or completely opened, the elements 6 or 8 can be pushed out or into the housing 2 through the opened side walls and attached to and / or removed from the rails. This configuration simplifies maintenance and repair. Additionally, the motors 7 and 9 may be mounted on rails so that they can be attached and / or detached through the opposing side walls.

[0050] Figures 4 and 5 also show how the first section 3 includes a control cabinet which may house, for example, the control device 28 of Figure 3. The control cabinet may also house devices and wiring for connecting and controlling different parts of the assembly 1. The control cabinet may read out sensor values, house switching modules for the motors, for example frequency regulators, house protection devices, etc.

[0051] 4 and 5 show that the inlets of elements 6 and 8 can include inlet filters 27A and 27B. The inlet filters 27A and 27B are located near a roof element of the housing 2, which roof element includes openings that allow the cooling airflow 21 to enter the housing 2. In the embodiment shown, a rail or support structure is provided between the control cabinet and the central section 5, from which the inlet filters 27A and 27B can be hung. This simplifies installation of the assembly 1.

[0052] 4 and 5 illustrate how the central section 5 physically separates the first section 3 and the second section 4 into a so-called cool compartment, which draws in cooling air, and a warm compartment, which draws in heated cooling air. In other words, the central section 5 forms a partition wall comprised of multiple modules located between the first section 3 and the second section 4. The central section 5 includes a first cooler 14, a second cooler 16, and optionally a third cooler 18, as well as at least one leadthrough 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the leadthrough 22 is located below the third cooler 18. Lines, tubing, and cables can be routed through the leadthrough 22 to operatively connect components and parts of the first section 3 with those of the second section 4. In each figure, the gas outlets 11 and 13 of elements 6 and 8 are in operative fluid communication with the liquid separators 10 and 12.

[0053] Liquid separators 10 and 12 are located in second section 4. In the illustrated embodiment, each liquid separator 10 and 12 has a cyclone separator and includes an additional liquid filter, designated by reference numeral 30. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different kinds and types of liquid separators can be used and / or combined based on the needs and circumstances. FIG. 5 also schematically illustrates components 29, which may include various liquid connections, liquid filters, vents, pressure regulators, temperature control valves, and / or other components.

[0054] 4 and 5 also show how a gas outlet 26 is provided in the wall of the housing 2 to supply compressed gas to the exterior of the housing 2. A user can connect to the gas outlet 26 to use the compressed gas produced inside the housing 2. Components inside the housing 2 are also provided to produce compressed gas to meet the demand for compressed gas, in particular the compressed gas that is removed from the gas outlet 26.

[0055] Each of the coolers 14, 16, and 18 is accessible from the side of the housing 2. This allows for filter replacement, for example, by sliding the filter element laterally in and out of the housing 2. Additionally, the coolers 14, 16, and 18 themselves can also be slid laterally on rails relative to the housing 2 for, for example, chemical cleaning. Because the coolers 14, 16, and 18 are located in the central zone 5, the first zone 3 and the second zone 4 maintain maximum accessibility for performing work, replacement, and / or maintenance on the various components of the assembly 1. Figures 4 and 5 show that the structure of the housing 2, including the first section 3 and the second section 4, is open, with plenty of space around the various components. This facilitates installation and maintenance of the assembly 1.

[0056] Each figure also illustrates how the structure of housing 2 improves the operation of assembly 1. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates how cooling air passes through housing 2. The cooling air enters first section 3 at the roof element. The cooling air passes through coolers 14, 16, and 18 located in central section 5 and is then blown into second section 4. Here, the cooling air is typically heated as a result of heat exchange in coolers 14, 16, and 18. The heated cooling air is exhausted at the roof element of second section 4.

[0057] Based on the above description, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in different ways and based on different principles. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments and drawings are merely examples and serve only to further the understanding of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) for compressing gas, comprising a housing (2) having a first section (3) and a second section (4) and a plurality of components, said plurality of components comprising: a first liquid-injectable element (6) for compressing gas, located in said first section (3); a first motor (7) for driving said first liquid-injectable element (6); a second liquid-injectable element (8) for compressing gas, located in the first section (3); a second motor (9) for driving said second liquid-injectable element (8); a first liquid separator (10) disposed in the second section (4) for the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element (6), the first liquid separator (10) being in fluid communication with a gas outlet (11) of the first liquid-injected element (6); a second liquid separator (12) disposed in the second section (4) for the gas compressed by the second liquid-injected element (8), the second liquid separator (12) being in fluid communication with a gas outlet (13) of the second liquid-injected element (8); At least The components are distributed across the first section (3) and the second section (4) of the housing (2), the housing (2) also having a central section (5) separating the first section (3) and the second section (4) from each other, the central section (5) comprising: a first cooler (14) in fluid communication with a liquid outlet (15) of the first liquid separator (10) for cooling the first liquid in a first liquid injection line for the first liquid-injected element (6); a second cooler (16) in fluid communication with a liquid outlet (17) of the second liquid separator (12) for cooling the second liquid in a second liquid injection line for the second liquid-injected element (8); An assembly (1) containing:

2. 2. The assembly (1) of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second coolers (14, 16) has one or more fans for forcing a cooling air flow (21) through the first and second coolers (14, 16), each of the cooling air flows (21) being supplied to flow from the first section (3) to the second section (4).

3. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a check valve is provided at a gas outlet (19) of the first liquid separator (10) for the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element (6) and at a gas outlet (20) of the second liquid separator (12) for the gas compressed by the second liquid-injected element (8).

4. 4. The assembly (1) of claim 3, wherein the central section (5) further comprises a third cooler (18) in fluid communication with the gas outlet (19) of the first liquid separator (10) and the gas outlet (20) of the second liquid separator (12) for cooling the gas compressed by the first liquid-injected element (6) and the second liquid-injected element (8).

5. 5. The assembly (1) of claim 4, wherein the third cooler (18) has one or more additional fans for forcing additional cooling airflow through the third cooler (18), the additional cooling airflow being supplied to flow from the first section (3) to the second section (4).

6. 5. The assembly (1) of claim 4, wherein the housing (2) has a gas outlet (26) in fluid communication with a gas outlet of the third cooler (18).

7. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first section (3) and the second section (4) comprises at least one of the plurality of components.

8. 8. The assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the central section (5) further comprises a lead-through (22) for at least one line selected from a gas line and a liquid line for fluidly connecting at least one of the plurality of components in the first section (3) and at least one of the plurality of components in the second section (4) with each other.

9. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing (2) has at least one opening (24) in an upper segment (23) of the first section (3) and / or the second section (4) to allow cooling air to flow from the ambient environment of the housing (2) to or into the first section (3) or the second section (4) of the housing (2) and / or vice versa.

10. 10. An assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the roof element (25) of the housing (2) is formed at least in part by a lattice element to provide at least one opening (24).

11. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side walls of the housing (2) are formed by side wall panels, at least some of which can be opened or removed to provide access to the plurality of components within the housing (2).

12. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the central section (5) forms a partition wall between the first section (3) and the second section (4), the partition wall spanning or substantially spanning the entire width (b) and / or the entire height (h) of the housing (2).

13. 3. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first liquid in the first liquid injection line and / or the second liquid in the second liquid injection line is oil.

14. A method for cooling an assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the steps of: allowing a cooling air flow (21) to enter the first section (3) of said housing (2) from the ambient environment; moving the cooling air flow (21) through a plurality of coolers (14, 16, 18) arranged in a central section (5) of the housing (2), the cooling air flow (21) moving from the first section (3) to the second section (4) of the housing (2); allowing the cooling air flow (21) to exit the second section (4) of the housing (2) into the ambient environment; A method comprising:

15. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of allowing at least the cooling air flow (21) to exit is performed in an upper segment (23) of the first section (3) and / or the second section (4).

16. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of coolers (14, 16, 18) includes at least one first cooler (14) for cooling a first liquid for a first liquid-injected element (6) for compressing the gas, and a second cooler (16) for cooling a second liquid for a second liquid-injected element (8) for compressing the gas.

17. 10. Use of the assembly (1) according to claim 1 for supplying compressed gas by adjusting a first motor (7) driving the first liquid-injectable element (6) and adjusting a second motor (9) driving the second liquid-injectable element (8) based on the demand for compressed gas.

18. 18. Use according to claim 17, wherein the first motor (7) and the second motor (9) have different operating characteristics.

19. 19. Use according to claim 18, wherein the first motor (7) is a first type of motor having a substantially fixed rotational speed.

20. 20. Use according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the second motor (9) is a second type of motor with adjustable rotational speed.

21. the second motor (9) is a second type motor with adjustable rotation speed; 20. Use according to claim 19, wherein the first motor (7) is switched on only if the second liquid injectable element (8) is not able to supply the demand for compressed gas by itself.

22. 22. Use according to claim 21, wherein the first motor (7) has a lower maximum operating power than the second motor (9).

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