Air-cooled pressure device

Abstract

An air-cooled pressurization device (1), in which two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23) are arranged near each other or overlapping each other or both in a cross section (24, 49) of the air channel (13) such that a total air flow (15) through the air channel (13) is divided into a plurality of air flows (25-27), and one or more guide elements (28) are provided in the air channel (13) for dividing the air flow (15) and guiding the air to one or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23) or to parts of such heat exchangers (16, 17, 23).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure device, typically a compressor, for compressing or pressurizing a fluid, which is typically a gaseous fluid, such as air or other gases, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, or hydrogen, however, the invention does not exclude the pressure device being used to compress or pressurize denser fluids, such as water vapor.

[0002] Furthermore, the pressurizing device of the present invention comprises a housing, a fluid duct for guiding a fluid through the pressurizing device from a fluid duct inlet to a fluid duct outlet, and one or more pressurizing stages each comprising a pressurizing element for pressurizing the fluid, the pressurizing stages being contained in and forming part of the fluid duct.

[0003] These pressure applying elements are typically connected in series, although the invention does not exclude other configurations.

[0004] Typically, uncompressed ambient air is taken in at a fluid duct inlet, converted through various pressurization stages in a pressurization device into compressed air, and this compressed air is supplied at a fluid duct outlet for use by a user of compressed or pressurized air (or, more generally, pressurized fluid).

[0005] More particularly, the invention relates to a pressure device of this kind comprising means for cooling, which are at least in part air cooling means. To this end, the pressure device to which the invention relates comprises one or more devices for forcing a flow of air in an air channel passing through the housing from an air channel inlet to an air channel outlet.

[0006] Furthermore, the pressurization device according to the invention comprises at least two, and possibly more than two, heat exchangers positioned in the air channel for transferring heat therefrom to the air forced through the air channel by one or more devices for forcing the air flow. Typically, these heat exchangers are intended to cool the pressurized fluid and transfer the heat accumulated in the pressurized fluid during compression to the ambient air flowing through said heat exchangers. Hot pressurized fluid is not suitable for supply to pressurized fluid consumers, not only because of its high temperature, but also because, for example, excessive moisture would accumulate therein. Often, a heat exchanger is provided after each pressurization stage in the pressurization device in order to cool the fluid before providing it to the next pressurization stage or to the pressurized fluid consumer.

[0007] Also, the present invention does not exclude heat exchangers being positioned in the air channels for purposes other than cooling the pressurized fluid, for example, in one possible embodiment, an oil-to-air heat exchanger or cooler may be positioned in the air channels through which oil flows to lubricate or cool compressor components, such as bearings and gearing. [Background technology]

[0008] Compressing air or another fluid converts energy into heat, resulting in hot, compressed or pressurized air or fluid. This hot, compressed or pressurized air or fluid must be cooled to be useful to a user. Furthermore, the oil circulating in the oil circulation system of the pressurization device to lubricate or cool the components of the pressurization device often also needs to be cooled. In yet other examples, the pressurization device includes a liquid cooling circuit, for example, to recover energy stored in the pressurized fluid during the compression process. Often, this liquid cooling circuit further includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger to cool excess heat that remains in the liquid cooling circuit and is not consumed by consumers of this recovered energy.

[0009] In summary, in many applications using pressurizing devices, there is a need to cool two or more heat exchangers in an air flow of ambient air drawn in from the surrounding environment by a device for forcing air flow in air channels provided in the housing of the pressurizing device.

[0010] Generally, when multiple heat exchangers must be cooled by the same air flow generated in the air channel, several difficulties or problems arise. In practice, a single device for forcing the air flow is usually used, and in some cases, one or more such devices are used for forcing the air flow through an air channel provided in the housing of the pressurizing device. The multiple heat exchangers in this air channel are exposed to the air flow generated by the device for forcing the air flow through the air channel. That is, this forcing air flow is divided into different heat exchangers or coolers in the air channel. There is no separate device for forcing the air flow for each heat exchanger.

[0011] However, such heat exchangers may vary widely in size, shape, and characteristics, and may be made from different materials, depending on their purpose. These heat exchangers may be used to cool very different media, and the cooling requirements in terms of cooling rate, input and output temperatures of the media to be cooled, and flow rate of the media through the heat exchanger may vary greatly depending on the application.

[0012] An important characteristic in this context is, for example, the flow resistance of the aforementioned heat exchanger. Air-to-air, fluid-to-air, or liquid-to-air heat exchangers, which are forms of coolers, are essentially cooling devices comprising one or more ducts. These ducts are a type of narrow channel or passage, typically formed as tubular elements with a rectangular cross section, through which the air, fluid, or liquid (medium) to be cooled by the cooling air flows. These ducts are somewhat spaced apart from one another to allow the cooling air to flow through the open spaces between the ducts. Internal fins are provided within these ducts or narrow channels to increase the contact surface area with the air, fluid, or liquid (medium) to be cooled flowing through the ducts. These fins, also called turbulators, introduce turbulence into the flow, increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer process.

[0013] Additionally, external fins are further provided on the exterior of the ducts to increase the contact surface area with the cooling air flowing in the open spaces between the ducts, improving heat transfer between the cooling air and the fluid, air, or liquid to be cooled.

[0014] Clearly, depending on the amount of open space between the ducts, the width of the ducts, and the shape of the external fins, the airflow to the heat exchanger will encounter more or less resistance as it flows through the space between the ducts.

[0015] It is readily understood that this airflow will tend to flow more smoothly through a heat exchanger with a lower flow resistance than through a heat exchanger with a higher flow resistance. As a result, if two heat exchangers of the same size but with different flow resistances are subjected to the same biasing airflow flowing uniformly through the air channels, the heat exchanger with the lower flow resistance will experience a relatively higher flow rate of cooling air, and therefore a higher cooling capacity, than the heat exchanger with the higher flow resistance.

[0016] However, these cooling requirements are often such that the cooling air flow rate through both heat exchangers is split more or less evenly. In other instances, or more commonly, the cooling air flow rate through each heat exchanger in the air channel does not match the cooling air flow rate required to meet the cooling capacity demands of the said heat exchanger.

[0017] Further parameters play an important role and can complicate the situation considerably. Indeed, consider two identical heat exchangers, completely identical in shape and size, flow resistance, and other external characteristics, and made of the same material, placed in the air channel of a pressurized device. If such a type of heat exchanger is positioned in a uniform air flow in the air channel, it is expected that the air flow passing through this heat exchanger will also be identical.

[0018] Furthermore, suppose that both identical heat exchangers are intended to cool different media having very different specific heat capacities, while these media are pumped at the same flow rate through them. For example, suppose that a first heat exchanger is intended to cool a medium with a low specific heat capacity, such as air, and a second heat exchanger is intended to cool a medium in liquid form with a(n) higher specific heat capacity, such as lubricating oil.

[0019] It is clear that in order to cool the medium with a lower specific heat capacity (air) by 1°C in this first heat exchanger, a certain flow rate of cooling air will be required for the previous heat exchanger, which will be much lower than the flow rate of cooling air required to cool the medium with a higher specific heat capacity (oil) by 1°C in the second heat exchanger.

[0020] Therefore, if the objective is to cool both different media in two identical heat exchangers, or to reduce the temperature of these media at the same rate, the first heat exchanger should be subjected to a lower air flow rate than the second heat exchanger. This is not the case when identically sized identical heat exchangers have the aforementioned media flowing through them at the same flow rate and are subjected to the same uniform cooling air flow in the air channels. Furthermore, this shows that it is by no means obvious to meet a specific cooling capacity requirement for two or more heat exchangers simultaneously exposed to the same cooling air flow, even when only the media to be cooled are considered, let alone when other factors are taken into account.

[0021] Of course, further parameters may play an additional or alternative role, for example the media in these heat exchangers may have different approach temperatures, which have a significant effect on the efficiency of heat transfer between the media flowing in the heat exchanger to be cooled and the cooling air.

[0022] Indeed, it is assumed that for example the first and second heat exchangers are identical and intended to cool the same medium, that these media flow at the same flow rate through said heat exchangers, and that the cooling air flow rates for said heat exchangers are the same, and furthermore that the temperature of the medium to be cooled at the inlet of the first heat exchanger is relatively higher than the temperature of the medium at the inlet of the second heat exchanger.

[0023] It is clear that the heat of the medium in this first heat exchanger is transferred to the cooling air more effectively than in the second heat exchanger, because the temperature difference between the medium to be cooled and the cooling air is higher in the first heat exchanger than in the second heat exchanger. Meanwhile, the flow rates of the medium to be cooled and the cooling air are identical. Therefore, the first heat exchanger has a higher cooling capacity than the second heat exchanger. Therefore, even from this point of view, it does not seem clear to meet specific cooling requirements for two or more heat exchangers that share a common, uniform air flow in the air channel.

[0024] From the above, it also becomes clear that the flow rate of the medium to be cooled in said heat exchanger also plays a role: indeed, the higher the flow rate of the medium to be cooled, the more the amount of medium that has to be cooled by a certain fixed air flow rate of cooling air in a certain time interval, and the weaker the temperature drop of the medium to be cooled after passing through said heat exchanger.

[0025] Furthermore, and finally, the design of the pressurizing device itself, the operating conditions of the pressurizing device, and the desired requirements of the consumers of the pressurized fluid (e.g., output flow rate, output pressure, output fluid temperature, etc.) significantly constrain the freedom to randomly select or set the aforementioned parameters and essentially determine the cooling needs in the air channels, which typically vary significantly for the various heat exchangers mentioned above.

[0026] For example, a pressurizing device typically includes an oil lubrication system, where the temperature of the oil rises to a certain upper oil temperature after passing through the lubrication circuit. An oil-to-air cooler may be disposed in the air channel to cool the oil to a required lower oil temperature. The oil flows through the oil lubrication circuit at a certain flow rate. These upper and lower oil temperatures and the required oil flow rate depend on the type of oil used, as well as the design, operating conditions, and constraints of the components of the pressurizing device.

[0027] Similarly, such a pressurization device typically comprises two or more compression stages. A fluid is compressed, for example, in a first stage and further compressed in a second stage, each time being heated during the compression process. After each stage, the fluid is cooled in a first fluid-to-air cooler and a second fluid-to-air cooler, respectively. The fluid flow rate after each compression stage is typically different, as are the fluid temperatures reached by the compressed fluid during compression and the required fluid temperatures after cooling. These parameters are typically determined by the design and operating conditions of the pressurization device and by the requirements set by the consumers of the compressed fluid.

[0028] It is clear that the parameters of the oil-air cooler and the two fluid-air coolers cannot be selected randomly, and therefore several heat exchangers with very different cooling air requirements are positioned together and provided in the air channel, simultaneously subjected to the same cooling air flow. In general, the cooling air flow conditions will not be suitable for all the aforementioned heat exchangers or coolers with very different requirements.

[0029] One possible method known from the state of the art to address the issue of cooling air flow and the cooling capacity of multiple heat exchangers in an air channel consists of redesigning the heat exchanger so that it has an outer shape, flow resistance, size, tube inner diameter, etc., such that the required portion of the total amount of cooling air flows through said heat exchanger corresponding to the required cooling capacity (possibly adapted).

[0030] One major drawback of this solution is that it is very time-consuming, difficult and expensive to design and manufacture a heat exchanger or set of heat exchangers suitable for each particular application or even combination of applications.

[0031] Furthermore, such a method is disadvantageous for standardization and reuse of the components of the pressure device, in particular the heat exchangers or cooling elements provided in such a pressure device.

[0032] Furthermore, a particular type of pressurizing device, and even a single pressurizing device of a particular type, is often used in situations where the required output pressure of the pressurized fluid or the required output flow rate of the pressurized fluid is variable.

[0033] Therefore, in practice, it is not feasible to tailor the design to each situation, and as a result, the heat exchanger often does not perform optimally.

[0034] Another possibility for solving the airflow problem in applications with multiple heat exchangers consists of regulating the flow rate of the cooling air by means of a device for forcing the airflow through the air channels.

[0035] In fact, by increasing the flow rate of cooling air provided by the airflow biasing device to a sufficiently high level, it is often possible to ensure that each of the heat exchangers achieves at least its minimum required cooling capacity. However, this solution usually requires an excessively high flow rate of cooling air to be provided, which is not cost-effective. Furthermore, it is generally not possible to provide a tailored cooling air flow to each of the heat exchangers or coolers, so excessive or insufficient cooling situations are not eliminated.

[0036] Yet another problem present in known pressurization devices is the high level of noise caused by the cooling air flow in the air channels and through the cooler or heat exchanger, and the fan or device for forcing the air flow in the air channels. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0037] It is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems and / or possibly further problems.

[0038] In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved air-cooled pressurization device which comprises two or more heat exchangers in the air channels of the pressurization device and which makes it possible to better supply the required cooling air flow to at least one, and preferably to each, of said heat exchangers, in which the supplied cooling air flow is better adapted to the required cooling capacity of said heat exchangers than in similar pressurization devices known from the state of the art.

[0039] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an air-cooled pressurization device in which the total power required to force the refrigerant air through the refrigerant air channels is minimized or at least reduced compared to similar pressurization devices known from the state of the art.

[0040] Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the noise generated and acoustic energy dissipated by elements of the air cooling system of a pressurized device compared to similar pressurized devices currently known.

[0041] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for easily adapting existing known pressure devices with minimal additional elements and without the need for significant modifications to the components of such existing known pressure devices.

[0042] Finally, it is a further object of the present invention to develop a size-limited, reliable, and cost-effective air-cooled pressurization device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0043] To this end, the present invention relates to an air-cooled pressurization device comprising a housing, a fluid duct for guiding a fluid through the pressurization device from a fluid duct inlet to a fluid duct outlet, one or more pressurization stages in the fluid duct each comprising a pressurization element, a device for forcing an air flow in an air channel passing through the housing, and two or more heat exchangers positioned in the air channel for transferring heat from the heat exchanger to air forced through the air channel by the device for forcing the air flow. These two or more heat exchangers are arranged near each other or overlapping each other, or both, in the cross section of the air channel so that the total air flow through the channel is divided into multiple air flows, each air flow passing through a corresponding one of these two or more heat exchangers, which allocate the total air flow to the two or more heat exchangers in the cross section, and one or more sheet-like or plate-like guide elements are provided in the air channel to divide the air flows and guide the air to one or more of the two or more heat exchangers or parts of such one or more heat exchangers.

[0044] One great advantage of such a pressurization device according to the invention is that the airflow of cooling air is distributed to the heat exchangers by means of sheet- or plate-like guiding elements provided in the air channel and can be guided towards or away from one or more of the heat exchangers, with the aim of dividing the total airflow into different airflows better adapted to the needs of the different heat exchangers.

[0045] In this way, it is possible to control the amount of refrigerant airflow passing through at least one of these heat exchangers or coolers, which can be advantageously used to increase the cooling power of one particular cooler by decreasing the cooling power of another cooler in the airflow.

[0046] Another advantage of the pressurization device according to the present invention is that in many cases, the total power required to move the refrigerant air throughout the entire air channel can be minimized. Indeed, if the air flow is partially guided toward a heat exchanger with a higher air flow resistance, for example, by a sheet-like or plate-like guide element, a higher air flow rate will flow through the heat exchanger than if no sheet-like or plate-like guide element were disposed in the air channel. This means that the required air flow in the heat exchanger can be achieved with a lower total air flow provided by the device for forcing the air flow. Furthermore, this also reduces the energy consumption of the device for forcing the air flow.

[0047] Therefore, in one possible embodiment of the air-cooled pressurization device according to the invention, heat exchangers with different flow resistances are provided in the air channel, and one or more guide elements are oriented and positioned in the air channel to restrict, guide or divide the air flow in the air channel so that a relatively large portion of the air flow is guided towards the heat exchanger with the higher flow resistance, and the portion of the air flow heading towards the heat exchanger with the lower flow resistance is partially guided away from the heat exchanger or is somewhat restricted. The word "relatively" is used to express that the portion of the air flow guided towards said heat exchanger with the higher flow resistance is not necessarily larger in an absolute sense than the portion of the air flow flowing towards the heat exchanger with the lower flow resistance, but is larger in a relative sense compared to when there are no guide elements in the air channel.

[0048] In contrast, if the air flow through the heat exchanger with the lower air flow resistance is not sufficient to achieve the required cooling capacity and the heat exchanger with the higher air flow resistance has excess cooling capacity, it may be advantageous to partially guide the air flow towards the heat exchanger with the lower air flow resistance by means of sheet-like or plate-like guide elements.

[0049] Therefore, in another possible embodiment of the air-cooled pressurization device according to the invention, one or more guide elements are oriented and positioned in the air channel to restrict, guide or divide the air flow within the air channel so that a relatively large portion of the air flow is guided towards the heat exchanger with the lower flow resistance and the portion of the air flow heading towards the heat exchanger with the higher flow resistance is partially guided or somewhat restricted away from the heat exchanger.

[0050] In another preferred embodiment of the air-cooled pressurization device according to the invention, one or more guide elements are positioned and oriented in the air channel such that the air flow passing through said heat exchanger having different air flow resistance is more evenly distributed over said heat exchanger than in the absence of said one or more guide elements.

[0051] One advantage of such an embodiment of the pressurization device according to the invention is that the total air flow is distributed more evenly to the different heat exchangers or coolers, i.e., heat exchangers or coolers with higher airflow resistances that are supplied with a larger portion of the total air flow, and heat exchangers or coolers with lower airflow resistances that are supplied with a smaller portion of the total air flow, compared to when there are no guiding elements in the air channels. Such an arrangement is suitable when the heat exchangers or coolers require more or less the same flow rate of cooling air to meet their cooling needs.

[0052] In other examples, of course, the present invention does not preclude directing a larger portion of the total airflow towards heat exchangers or coolers requiring higher cooling capacities, and / or restricting the airflow somewhat towards heat exchangers or coolers requiring lower cooling capacities, even in situations where all heat exchangers or coolers are performed in the same way.

[0053] In yet another preferred embodiment of the air-cooled pressurization device according to the present invention, one or more guide elements are oriented and positioned in the air channel to restrict, guide or divide the air flow within the air channel in a manner that improves overall flow through the air channel by reducing frictional losses, thereby reducing the pressure drop across the air channel compared to without the one or more guide elements.

[0054] Such an embodiment of the pressure device according to the invention has the advantage that less energy is consumed by the device to force the air flow in the air channel.

[0055] In another possible embodiment of the air-cooled pressure device according to the invention, the guide element forms a baffle which is at least partially covered on one or both sides with noise-absorbing acoustic foam or is made entirely from a foam or porous material with very high flow resistance.

[0056] One advantage of such an embodiment of the pressure device according to the present invention is that the noise absorbing acoustic material or foam absorbs sound energy, thereby significantly reducing the noise generated by cooling the pressure device.

[0057] The invention will now be further explained with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0058] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one possible embodiment of a pressure device according to the invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another possible embodiment of a pressure device according to the present invention in a more simplified manner. [Figure 3] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another possible embodiment of a pressure device according to the present invention in a more simplified manner. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another possible embodiment of a pressure device according to the present invention in a more simplified manner. [Figure 5] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another possible embodiment of a pressure device according to the present invention in a more simplified manner. [Figure 6] 6 is a front view of a heat exchanger of a pressurizing device according to the invention, as indicated by arrow F6 in FIG. 5; FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a front view of a heat exchanger of a pressurizing device according to the invention, as indicated by arrow F7 in FIG. 2; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] 1 shows a first possible embodiment of an air-cooled pressure device 1 according to the invention, intended to compress or pressurize a fluid 2. In this example, this fluid 2 is air 2 taken from the surrounding environment 3 of the pressure device 1.

[0060] The pressurizing device 1 comprises a housing 4 and a fluid duct 5 for guiding a fluid 2 through the pressurizing device 1 from a fluid duct inlet 6 to a fluid duct outlet 7. The fluid 2 taken in at the fluid duct inlet 6 is pressurized or compressed in the pressurizing device 1 by one or more pressurizing stages, in this example two pressurizing stages 8 and 9. These pressurizing stages 8 and 9 form part of the fluid duct 5 and each comprise a pressurizing element, namely pressurizing element 10 and pressurizing element 11 in this example.

[0061] In the example of this figure, the pressurizing elements 10 and 11 are compressors 10 and 11, but the invention does not exclude the use of other types of pressurizing elements, such as pumps, etc. Each of the pressurizing elements 10 and 11 is driven by a motor, such as an electric motor, not shown in Figure 1.

[0062] The pressurized fluid (air) 12 leaves the pressurization device 1 at a fluid duct outlet 7 and is supplied to a consumer or consumer network of pressurized fluid 12, for example via a pipe or piping network (not shown).

[0063] In the example of Figure 1, the fluid 2 to be pressurized is air, but it could also be any other gaseous or denser fluid, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen, or water vapor.

[0064] An air channel 13 is provided in the housing 4, and a device 14 for forcing an air flow 15 in the air channel 13 ensures the supply of air flow 15 through the air channel 13. The device 14 for forcing the air flow 15 is typically a fan 14 or a ventilator. The illustrated device 14 for forcing the air flow 15 is only one of many possibilities; in other embodiments, a plurality of such devices 14 for forcing the air flow 15 may be provided, and these devices 14 may be mounted, for example, in a parallel or serial configuration, or even in other configurations. The device 14 for forcing the air flow 15 can also consist of a plurality of fans or ventilators, or simply a single fan or ventilator.

[0065] In each stage 8 or 9, the pressurized fluid 2, after passing through the aforementioned pressurizing element 10 or 11, is cooled in a corresponding heat exchanger or cooler, i.e., cooler 16 and cooler 17, respectively, which are positioned in the air channel 13 for transferring heat from the heat exchanger or cooler 16 or 17 to cooling air 15. This cooling air 15 is ambient air drawn from the surrounding environment 3 of the pressurizing device 1 and forced through the air channel 13 by a device 14 for forcing the air flow.

[0066] The first cooler 16 cools the fluid 2 compressed in the compression element 10 of the first stage 8, i.e., the first compression element 10, and constitutes an intercooler 16 positioned downstream (in fluid flow 2) of the first compression element 10 and upstream (in fluid flow 2) of the second compression element 11.

[0067] The second cooler 17 cools the fluid 2 compressed in the compression element 11 of the second or final stage 8, i.e., the second compression element 11, and constitutes a final cooler 17 positioned downstream (in the fluid flow 2) of the second compression element 11.

[0068] The pressurizing device 1 further comprises an oil lubrication and / or cooling system comprising an oil reservoir or oil sump 18 containing oil 19. A closed-loop oil circuit 20 consisting of oil tubes 21 connects the oil reservoir 18 to components of the pressurizing device 1 that require lubrication or cooling, such as the rotors, bearings, gearing and drive motors of the pressurizing elements 10 and 11 (not shown in Figure 1). Furthermore, oil 19 is returned from said components to the oil reservoir 18 through the oil circuit 20.

[0069] An oil pump 22 is provided in the oil circuit 20 upstream of the oil reservoir 18 for circulating oil 19 around the oil circuit 20 .

[0070] 1, the oil circuit 20 comprises two loops: a first loop runs from the oil reservoir 18 towards the first pressurizing element 10 and back to the oil reservoir 18. A second loop runs from the oil reservoir 18 towards the second pressurizing element 11 and back to the oil reservoir 18.

[0071] An oil cooler 23 is provided in the oil circuit 20. This oil cooler 23 is also positioned in the air channel 13 for cooling the oil 19 circulating in the oil circuit 20 by the cooling air flow 15 flowing through the air channel 13.

[0072] Generally, according to the present invention, at least two, and possibly more, heat exchangers are arranged near each other or overlapping each other, or both, in the cross section 24 of the air channel 13 so that the total air flow 15 through the channel 13 is divided into multiple air flows.

[0073] In the example of FIG. 1, there are three such heat exchangers or coolers, namely, an intercooler 16, an aftercooler 17 and an oil cooler 23, and these three heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17 and 23 are stacked so as to overlap one another in the cross section 24 of the air channel 13.

[0074] The oil cooler 23 is positioned between the aftercooler 17 and the intercooler 16 , the intercooler 16 is located above the oil cooler 23 , and the oil cooler 23 is located above the aftercooler 17 .

[0075] Since there are no other openings in cross section 24 other than those in coolers 16, 17, and 23, total air flow 15 is divided into multiple air flows 25, 26, and 27 (shown by arrows in FIG. 1).

[0076] Each air stream 25, 26, and 27 flows through an opening in one corresponding heat exchanger or cooler, namely, intercooler 16, oil cooler 23, and aftercooler 17. Air streams 25, 26, and 27 divide total air stream 15 at cross section 24 among the aforementioned coolers 16, 17, and 23.

[0077] Furthermore, according to the invention, one or more sheet- or plate-like guide elements 28 are provided in the air channel 13 for dividing the air flow 15 and guiding the air towards one or more of two or more heat exchangers or coolers or towards parts of such one or more heat exchangers or coolers.

[0078] 1, the air channel 13 comprises only one such sheet- or plate-like guide element 28. In this example, this guide element 28 is positioned upstream (in the air flow) of the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23, or upstream of said cross section 24 in the air channel 13.

[0079] The air channel 13 extends from an air channel inlet 29 to an air channel outlet 30 and in this example the device for biasing air flow 14 is attached to the air channel outlet side 30 .

[0080] However, the present invention does not exclude attaching a device 14 for forcing air flow to the inlet side 29 of the air channel, or attaching such a device 14 for forcing air flow to both the inlet side 29 and the outlet side 30 of the air channel 13.

[0081] 1, the air channels 13 extend mainly in a vertical direction AA′ through the pressure device 1. Preferably, the device 14 for forcing the air flow is positioned in the upper part 31 of the pressure device 1 or on top of the pressure device 1.

[0082] An air channel inlet 29 and an air channel outlet 30 are also provided at the top 31 of the pressurizing device 1, and the air 15 in the air channel 13 flows downward from the air channel inlet 29 to the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23 in the air channel 13, and upward from the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23 to the air channel outlet 30.

[0083] The air channel 13 is primarily U- or V-shaped, and the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23 are positioned one above the other in a primarily vertical plane of a cross section 24. This cross section 24 essentially divides the air channel 13 into a section for a downward air flow 32 and a section for an upward air flow 33.

[0084] 1, guide element 28 is provided upstream (in air flow 15) of heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23. Guide element 28 has a lower part 34 with a flat surface oriented parallel to the vertical plane of heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23, and an upper part 35 with a flat surface inclined in an oblique direction BB′ relative to lower part 34 towards air channel inlet 29 provided in side wall 36 of housing 4 of pressurizing device 1.

[0085] 1 discussed herein, it is clear that the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23 have different sizes. More generally, the heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, and 23 disposed in the air channels have different airflow resistances. In particular, for example, the oil cooler 23 may have significantly different characteristics in shape, airflow resistance, cooling capacity, and inlet and outlet temperatures of the oil 19 being cooled compared to the characteristics of the corresponding intercooler 16 and aftercooler 17. Furthermore, the specific heat capacity of the oil 19 may differ significantly from the specific heat capacity of the pressurized fluid 2 (typically air) being cooled in the intercooler 16 and aftercooler 17.

[0086] If guide element 28 is not installed in air channel 13, total air flow 15 is divided among coolers 16, 17, and 23 in a manner determined by air flow resistance, but the resulting respective air flows will generally not match the required flow rate of cooling air required by each cooler 16, 17, or 23 to achieve the desired cooling capacity.

[0087] Generally, the cooler with the lowest airflow resistance will have a higher flow rate of cooling air, and the cooler with the highest airflow resistance will have a lower flow rate of cooling air.

[0088] If there is not enough airflow through a heat exchanger or cooler with a high flow resistance, this can be remedied by increasing the total airflow 15, for example by increasing the rotational speed of the device 14 or devices 14. However, one drawback of this solution is that more energy is consumed and that in some cases a too high proportion of cooling air may flow through the heat exchanger or cooler with the lower air resistance, resulting in excessive cooling in such cooler.

[0089] By installing guide element 28 within air channel 13, total air flow 15 can be divided and directed toward one or more heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, or 23 that require a relatively larger portion 25, 26, or 27 of total air flow 15 than would be required without guide element 28. Additionally, a portion of total air flow 15 can be directed away from one or more heat exchangers or coolers 16, 17, or 23 that require a relatively smaller portion 25, 26, or 27 of total air flow 15 than would be required without guide element 28.

[0090] The air-cooled pressurizing device according to claim 2 or 3 is characterized in that one or more guide elements are positioned and oriented in the air channel in such a way that the air flow passing through said heat exchanger is distributed more evenly over said heat exchanger than would be the case without said one or more guide elements.

[0091] Another criterion that can be used to define the positioning and orientation of the guide elements 28 within the air channel 13 consists of searching for a positioning or orientation that improves the overall air flow 15 through the air channel 13 by reducing friction losses, thereby reducing the pressure drop across the air channel 13 compared to when one or more guide elements 28 are not used.

[0092] The situation shown in Figure 1 can be considered as a highly schematic illustration of the pressure device 1 of the present invention. Figures 2 to 5 are even more schematic illustrations that are only intended to illustrate some principles of the present invention that can be applied in an actual pressure device 1 of the present invention.

[0093] 2 shows very diagrammatically an air channel 13 of a pressurization device 1 according to the invention. In a cross section 24 of the air channel 13 there are two coolers 16 and 17 mounted one above the other in a vertical cross section 24 of the air channel 13. For example, the coolers 16 and 17 can be an intercooler 16 and an aftercooler 17, etc. for cooling the pressurized fluid 2, similar to the previous example in FIG.

[0094] 6 is a front view of cross section 24. At cross section 24, it is clear that the total air flow 15 through channel 13 is divided into air flows 25 and 26 between two coolers 16 and 17. Coolers 16 and 17 are mounted in a frame 37, which consists of side strips 38 and 39, an upper strip 40, and a lower strip 41. In the center of the frame, an intermediate strip 42 separates upper cooler 16 from lower cooler 17. No openings other than those in coolers 16 and 17 are present in cross section 24. Naturally, the present invention does not exclude the application of any kind of other configuration using a larger number of coolers or heat exchangers, regardless of their position relative to each other.

[0095] 2, the air channels 13 extend horizontally, although this is not necessarily the case in practice. The arrows at the top of FIG. 2 indicate the direction of cooling air flow through the channels 13.

[0096] Guide elements 28 in the form of sheet- or plate-like elements 28 are attached to the coolers 16 and 17 and to the upstream side (in the cooling air flow 15) of the cross section 24. The guide elements 28 slope downwards along the direction BB' towards the center of the air channel 13, i.e. towards the middle strip 42 of the frame 37 separating the upper cooler 16 from the lower cooler 17.

[0097] Naturally, the guide elements 28 guide the air flow 15 towards the undercooler or aftercooler 17 and somewhat impede the cooling air flow towards the overcooler or intercooler 16. This is also very clear from the front view shown in FIG.

[0098] As a result, a larger portion of the total air flow 15 flowing through the air channel 13 forms an air flow 26 towards the aftercooler 17, thus increasing the cooling capacity of this aftercooler 17 compared to when the guide element 28 is not installed in the air channel 13.

[0099] On the other hand, a smaller portion of the total airflow 15 forced through the air channel 13 forms an airflow 25 toward the intercooler 16, reducing the cooling capacity of the intercooler 16 compared to when the guide element 28 is not installed in the air channel 13.

[0100] Of course, this is only one possible configuration, and for example the positions of the intercooler 16 and aftercooler 17 could be swapped.

[0101] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement which is entirely identical to that shown in FIG. 2, except that now the guide element 28 forms a baffle which is covered on one side by noise absorbing acoustic foam 43.

[0102] Naturally, this contributes to reducing the noise level generated by the air cooling of the pressure device 1.

[0103] In the example of FIG. 3, a layer of noise-absorbing acoustic foam 43 is applied to the entire side of the guide element 28 facing the bottom of the air channel 13, ie the side exposed to the air flow 26 with the highest flow rate.

[0104] In other embodiments, it is not excluded to provide the guide element 28 with a noise-absorbing acoustic foam 43 on both sides or only on the side facing the top of the air channel 13. Furthermore, it is also possible to cover only part of the side of the guide element 28 with such a noise-absorbing acoustic foam 43.

[0105] In the embodiment of the pressure device 1 shown in Figure 4, the pressure device 1 has a substantially T-shaped air channel 13. This air channel 13 has an air channel main section 44 that extends horizontally in the example of Figure 4 and has an air channel side branch 45 facing upwards.

[0106] Two coolers 46 and 47 are provided in the cross section 24 of the air channel main section 44 in a manner equivalent to that in the previous example of FIGS.

[0107] A third cooler 48 is mounted within a cross section 49 of the air channel side branch 45 .

[0108] In this example, the air channel 13 has a single air channel inlet 29 and two air channel outlets 50 and 51, namely the air channel outlet 50 for air flowing through the air channel main section 44 and the air channel outlet 51 for air flowing through the air channel side branch 45.

[0109] A fan 14 or other device or devices for forcing air flow through air channel 13 may be installed at air channel inlet 29. Further, alternatively or additionally, such a fan 14 or other device for forcing air flow through air channel 13 may be installed at each of air channel outlets 50 and 51. Air may exit air channel 13 only by passing through one of coolers 46, 47, and 48. No other openings are provided in cross sections 24 and 49. Total air flow 15 is divided into three air flows 25, 26, and 27. These air flows correspond to air flowing through coolers 46 and 47 in air channel main section 44 and cooler 48 installed at the inlet of air channel side branch 45, respectively.

[0110] Furthermore, according to the invention, upstream of the coolers 46 , 47 and 48 (in the cooling air flow 15 ), a guide element 28 in the form of a sheet-like or plate-like element 28 is mounted in the air channel main section 44 .

[0111] In this case, the guide element 28 is inclined upward along the direction CC' towards the center of the air channel main section 44, i.e. towards the intermediate strip 42 separating the cooler 47 at the top of the air channel main section 44 from the cooler 46 at the bottom of the air channel main section 44.

[0112] In this way, a larger portion of the total air flow 15 is pushed towards the coolers 47 and 48. The air flows 26 and 27 are therefore relatively larger than if such guide elements 28 were not mounted in the air channel main section 44, resulting in a relatively higher cooling capacity of the corresponding coolers 47 and 48.

[0113] On the other hand, the cooler 46 in the lower part of the air channel main section 44 receives a relatively smaller portion of the total air flow compared to the case without the guide element 28, and therefore its cooling capacity is also relatively lower.

[0114] Of course, depending on the cooling needs of the coolers 46, 47, and 48, the air flows 25, 26, and 27 can be adapted in any other way, for example by using a larger number of guide elements, by changing the orientation or position of such guide elements 28, etc.

[0115] Finally, Figure 5 shows that it is possible to obtain results similar to those in the examples of Figures 2 and 3 by using guide elements 28, now positioned downstream (in the air flow) of the coolers or heat exchangers 16 and 17 in the cross section 24 of the air channel 13.

[0116] In the example of FIG. 5, the guide element 28 is inclined upwards along the direction DD′, away from the center of the air channel 13 or the intermediate strip 42 between the coolers 16 and 17 .

[0117] Furthermore, such placement of guide elements 28 can have a similar effect on the total air flow 15 to stimulate flow to certain coolers or conversely reduce flow to certain coolers.

[0118] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment of the air-cooled pressure device 1 described above, and such pressure device 1 can be applied and implemented in many different ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 1. Air-cooled pressure device 2 Fluid, air, pressurized fluid, fluid flow 3. Surrounding environment 4. Housing 5 Fluid Duct 6 Fluid duct inlet 7 Fluid duct outlet 8. Pressure stage, first stage 9 Pressure Stage 10 Pressurizing element, compressor, first compression element, first pressurizing element 11 pressurizing element, compressor, second compression element, second pressurizing element 12 Pressurized fluid, air 13 Air Channels 14 Devices, Fans 15 Air flow, cooling air, cooling air flow, total air flow 16 Cooler, first cooler, intermediate cooler, upper cooler, heat exchanger 17 Cooler, second cooler, final cooler, bottom cooler, heat exchanger 18 Oil reservoir, oil sump 19 Oil 20 Closed Loop Oil Circuit 21 Oil tube 22 Oil pump 23 Oil cooler 24 cross sections 25 Air flow, part 26 Air flow, part 27 Air flow, part 28 Guide Elements 29 Air channel inlet, air channel inlet side 30 Air channel outlet, air channel outlet side 31 Upper 32 Downward Airflow 33 Upward Air Flow 34 Lower 35 Upper 36 Side wall 37 frames 38 Side Strips 40 Top Strip 41 Bottom Strip 42 Middle Strip 43 Noise-Absorbing Acoustic Foam 44 Air Channel Main Section 45 Air Channel Side Branch 46 Cooler 47 Cooler 48 Cooler 49 cross section 50 Air Channel Outlets 51 Air channel outlet

Claims

1. An air-cooled pressurizing device (1), comprising: a housing (4); a fluid duct (5) for guiding fluid through said air-cooled pressurizing device (1) from a fluid duct inlet (6) to a fluid duct outlet (7); one or more pressure stages (8, 9) arranged inside the fluid duct (5), each of said pressure stages (8, 9) comprising a pressure element (10, 11); one or more devices (14) for forcing an air flow (15) inside the air channels (13, 44, 45) passing through said housing (4); two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) positioned inside said air channels (13, 44, 45), for transferring heat from said heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) to air forced through said air channels (13, 44, 45) by said device (14) for forcing an air flow; In the air-cooled pressurizing device (1), The two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) are arranged adjacent to each other or overlapping with each other, or adjacent to each other and overlapping with each other, in a cross section (24, 49) of the air channel (13, 44, 45) so that a total amount of the air flow (15) passing through the air channel (13, 44, 45) is divided into a plurality of air flows (25-27), and each of the air flows (25-27) flows through a corresponding one of the two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48). the air flow (25-27) distributes the total amount of the air flow (15) in the cross section (24, 49) to two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48), and one or more sheet-like or plate-like guide elements (28) are provided inside the air channels (13, 44, 45) for dividing the air flow (15) and guiding the air to one or more of the two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) or to parts of one or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48); the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having different flow resistances are provided inside the air channels (13, 44, 45); 1. An air-cooled pressurization device (1), characterized in that one or more guide elements (28) are oriented and positioned in the air channel (13, 44, 45) to restrict, guide, or divide the air flow (15) within the air channel (13, 44, 45) so that a relatively large portion of the air flow (15) is guided towards a heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having a higher flow resistance, and so that a portion of the air flow (15) heading towards a heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having a lower flow resistance is partially guided or somewhat restricted away from the heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48).

2. An air-cooled pressurizing device (1), a housing (4); a fluid duct (5) for guiding fluid through said air-cooled pressurizing device (1) from a fluid duct inlet (6) to a fluid duct outlet (7); one or more pressure stages (8, 9) arranged inside the fluid duct (5), each of said pressure stages (8, 9) comprising a pressure element (10, 11); one or more devices (14) for forcing an air flow (15) inside the air channels (13, 44, 45) passing through said housing (4); two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) positioned inside said air channels (13, 44, 45), for transferring heat from said heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) to air forced through said air channels (13, 44, 45) by said device (14) for forcing an air flow; In the air-cooled pressurizing device (1), The two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) are arranged adjacent to each other or overlapping with each other, or adjacent to each other and overlapping with each other, in a cross section (24, 49) of the air channel (13, 44, 45) so that a total amount of the air flow (15) passing through the air channel (13, 44, 45) is divided into a plurality of air flows (25-27), and each of the air flows (25-27) flows through a corresponding one of the two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48). the air flow (25-27) distributes the total amount of the air flow (15) in the cross section (24, 49) to two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48), and one or more sheet-like or plate-like guide elements (28) are provided inside the air channels (13, 44, 45) for dividing the air flow (15) and guiding the air to one or more of the two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) or to parts of one or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48); the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having different flow resistances are provided inside the air channels (13, 44, 45); 1. An air-cooled pressurization device (1), characterized in that one or more guide elements (28) are oriented and positioned in the air channel (13, 44, 45) to restrict, guide, or divide the air flow (15) within the air channel (13, 44, 45) so that a relatively large portion of the air flow (15) is guided towards a heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having a lower flow resistance, and so that a portion of the air flow (15) heading towards a heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48) having a higher flow resistance is partially guided or somewhat restricted away from the heat exchanger (16, 17, 23, 46-48).

3. 2. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) of claim 1, characterized in that one or more guide elements (28) are positioned and oriented in the air channels (13, 44, 45) such that the air flow (15) passing through the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) is more evenly distributed over the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) than would be the case without the one or more guide elements (28).

4. 4. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) of claim 1, wherein one or more guide elements (28) are oriented and positioned in the air channels (13, 44, 45) to restrict, guide or divide the air flow (15) within the air channels (13, 44, 45) in a manner that improves the overall air flow (15) through the air channels (13, 44, 45) by reducing friction losses, thereby reducing the pressure drop across the air channels (13, 44, 45) compared to without the one or more guide elements (28).

5. 5. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) forms an air cooler (16, 17, 23, 46-48) for cooling the pressurized fluid (2, 12) in the fluid duct (5) downstream (in the fluid flow) of the pressurization element (10, 11).

6. 6. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two pressurization stages (8, 9) having a first pressurization element (10) in the form of a first compressor (10) and a second pressurization element (11) in the form of a second compressor (11); and two heat exchangers (16, 17) for cooling the pressurized fluid (2, 12) in the fluid duct (5), the two heat exchangers (16, 17) being air coolers (16, 17), i.e. a first air cooler (16) which is an intercooler (16) positioned downstream (in the fluid flow) of the first compressor (10) and upstream (in the fluid flow) of the second compressor (11), and a second air cooler (17) which is an aftercooler (17) positioned downstream (in the fluid flow) of the second compressor (11).

7. An air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of the two or more heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) is an air-cooled oil cooler (23).

8. 8. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the air channels (13, 44, 45) extend from an air channel inlet (29) to one or more air channel outlets (30, 50, 51), and the device (14) for forcing the air flow is attached to the air channel outlet side (30, 50, 51).

9. 9. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the air channels (13, 44, 45) extend from an air channel inlet (29) to one or more air channel outlets (30, 50, 51), and the device (14) for forcing the air flow is attached to the air channel inlet side (29).

10. 10. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a guide element (28) is positioned upstream (in the air flow (15)) of two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48).

11. An air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a guide element (28) is positioned downstream (in the air flow (15)) of two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48).

12. 12. An air-cooled pressurizing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the air channels (13, 44, 45) extend mainly in a vertical direction (AA') through the air-cooled pressurizing device (1) and the device (14) for forcing an air flow (15) is positioned in the upper part of the air-cooled pressurizing device or on the top of the air-cooled pressurizing device.

13. 13. The air-cooled pressurizing device (1) of claim 12, wherein an air channel inlet and an air channel outlet are provided at an upper portion (31) of the air-cooled pressurizing device (1), and the air in the air channels (13, 44, 45) flows downward from the air channel inlet (29) towards two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) and upward from two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) towards the air channel outlet (30).

14. 14. The air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) are positioned one above the other in a mainly vertical plane, the mainly vertical plane dividing the mainly U-shaped or V-shaped air channel (13) into a portion for a downward air flow (32) and a portion for an upward air flow (33).

15. 15. The air-cooled pressurizing device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that a guide element (28) is provided upstream (in the air flow (15)) of two or more of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48), the guide element (28) having a lower part (34) with a flat surface oriented parallel to the vertical plane of the heat exchangers (16, 17, 23, 46-48) and an upper part (35) with a flat surface inclined in an oblique direction (BB') relative to the lower part (34) towards an air channel inlet (29) provided in a side wall (36) of the air-cooled pressurizing device (1).

16. 16. An air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the guide element (28) forms a baffle, which is at least partially covered on one or both sides by a noise-absorbing acoustic foam (43).

17. The fluid (2) to be pressurized is a gaseous fluid or a fluid of higher density, air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen, or water vapor 17. An air-cooled pressurizing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is one of the following:

18. 18. An air-cooled pressurization device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the pressurization elements (10, 11) are compressors (10, 11) and the device (14) or devices (14) for forcing an air flow (15) in the air channel (13) are fans or ventilators (14).

Images