Compressor device and compressor assembly comprising such compressor device

Abstract

1. A compressor arrangement (1) comprising a compressor element (9) having at its fluid duct outlet (26) an adapter (10) of acoustic impedance with an adapter inlet duct (27) and an adapter outlet duct (28) interconnected by an adapter intermediate duct section (29) surrounding at least one expansion chamber (30), the adapter intermediate duct section (29) having a maximum opening (32) with an equivalent diameter (C) substantially larger than a minimum opening (31) of the adapter inlet duct (27) with an equivalent diameter (B).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor device for compressing or pressurizing a fluid, usually a gaseous fluid such as air, or other gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen. However, using the compressor device for compressing or pressurizing a denser fluid such as steam is not excluded from the present invention.

[0002] Furthermore, the compressor device of the present invention includes a fluid duct for guiding the fluid from a fluid duct inlet to a fluid duct outlet through the compressor device.

[0003] The compressor device is usually a positive displacement compressor device, for example, a tooth compressor, a twin lobe compressor, etc., or a rotary compressor such as a rotary screw compressor. However, the compressor device being another type of compressor device is not excluded from the present invention.

[0004] The present invention further relates to a type of compressor device designed to operate under specific nominal operating conditions. Usually, the nominal flow rate of the compressor device according to the present invention is in the range of 40 - 140 l / s. Additionally or alternatively, the compressor device according to the present invention has a rotor or a rotating element (e.g., male or female screw rotors) that operates at a nominal rotor speed within the range of 3000 - 9000 rpm. Nevertheless, designing other types of compressor devices with nominal operating ranges not included in the above ranges is not excluded from the present invention. It is also not excluded from the present invention that a compressor device designed for a specific nominal operating flow rate or nominal operating speed operates at other flow rates or other operating speeds.

[0005] The present invention also relates to a compressor assembly comprising one or more compressor stages according to the present invention, with at least one of the compressor stages being formed by the compressor device.

[0006] The compressor device according to the present invention is typically connected in series to form a compressor assembly, but other configurations are not excluded from the present invention.

[0007] Typically, uncompressed ambient air is taken in at the fluid duct inlet of such a compressor assembly according to the present invention, converted into compressed air through various compression stages of the compressor assembly, and supplied at the fluid duct outlet of the compressor assembly for use by the user of compressed air or pressurized air (or more commonly, pressurized fluid).

[0008] More specifically, the present invention relates to such a compressor assembly comprising a cooling means, preferably at least partially an air-cooling means. To that end, the compressor assembly to which the present invention relates comprises, for example, a device for forcing an airflow in an air channel through a housing from an air channel inlet to an air channel outlet.

[0009] Furthermore, the compressor assembly according to the present invention typically comprises one or more heat exchangers positioned in the air channel to transfer heat from the heat exchangers to the air being forced through the air channel by a device for forcing the airflow. These heat exchangers are typically intended to cool the pressurized fluid and transfer heat accumulated in the compressed or pressurized fluid during compression to the ambient air flowing through the heat exchanger.

[0010] High-temperature compressed or pressurized fluids are unsuitable for supplying to users not only because of their high temperature, but also because, for example, excessive moisture can accumulate.

[0011] In many cases, heat exchangers are located after each compression stage in a compression assembly, cooling the fluid before it is supplied to the next compression stage or to consumers of the compressed or pressurized fluid. [Background technology]

[0012] In recent years, much effort has been made to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and transition to more environmentally friendly energy sources. The current surge in fossil fuel prices is a major impetus for this change. Another aspect of this transition is the trend toward reducing energy consumption.

[0013] Furthermore, in industrial production and manufacturing, there is a strong demand to reduce costs related to energy consumption. In the context of the present invention, which is in the field of compressor technology, energy consumption is a major problem, and much effort has been made to improve the energy efficiency of the compressor device and compressor assembly.

[0014] Furthermore, in rotary compressor systems, it is known that vibrations and pressure pulsations occur in the compressed fluid depending on the rotational speed of the compressor rotor. These vibrations and pressure pulsations generate noise and can damage not only the compressor system and compressor assembly itself, but also the elements surrounding these compressor systems and assemblies.

[0015] Another problem that frequently arises in connection with these vibrations and pressure pulsations is that the compressed or pressurized fluid is not discharged in an optimal manner, or that the uncompressed fluid is not efficiently supplied to the compression chamber of the compressor device. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0016] The object of the present invention is to overcome one or more of the aforementioned problems and / or possibly other problems.

[0017] In particular, the main objective of the present invention is to improve the overall energy efficiency of compressor devices and compressor assemblies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] To this end, the present invention relates first to a compressor device comprising a compressor element for compressing a fluid, the device comprising a fluid duct for guiding the fluid through the compressor element from a fluid duct inlet to a fluid duct outlet, the device comprising an adapter inlet duct and an adapter outlet duct interconnected by an adapter intermediate duct section surrounding at least one expansion chamber, the device having an acoustic impedance adapter at the fluid duct outlet, wherein the internal cross-sectional area of ​​the adapter inlet duct forms a minimum opening having a specific minimum equivalent inner diameter, the internal cross-sectional area of ​​the adapter intermediate duct section forms a maximum opening having a specific maximum equivalent inner diameter, and the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate duct section is substantially larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct.

[0019] A major advantage of such a compressor device according to the present invention is that, since an adapter for changing the acoustic impedance of the entire configuration is provided at the outlet of the fluid duct, the flow of the compressed or pressurized fluid in the adapter outlet duct is smoother than in the absence of such an acoustic impedance adapter.

[0020] In particular, the acoustic impedance adapter has at least one expansion chamber, which acts as a kind of intermediate buffer between the fluid duct outlet and the adapter outlet to smooth or equalize pressure fluctuations, pulsations, or imbalances in the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor element.

[0021] In this way, a more energy-efficient compressor device is obtained, and the discharge of compressed fluid from the compressor elements is promoted.

[0022] Typically, the compression of a fluid within a compressor element generates forward pressure pulsations, or downstream pressure pulsations, within the compressed fluid (fluid stream).

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention, the acoustic impedance adapter is such that the compressed fluid or the partially compressed fluid present in the compressor element is affected, and the reflected pressure pulsation wave coming from the acoustic impedance adapter in the rearward or upstream direction changes the acoustic impedance so as to at least partially compensate the forward pressure pulsation wave, i.e., the downstream pressure pulsation wave. Thus, the pressure of the compressed fluid on the upstream side of the adapter has a characteristic with less pulsation overall.

[0024] The acoustic impedance adapter affects the fluid pressure of the fluid that is being compressed or has already been compressed at the upstream position (in the fluid stream) of the compressor chamber itself, i.e., the acoustic impedance adapter. Such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention is very effective.

[0025] This is very different from what is known in the prior art as a so-called "silencer" or "pulsation filter". In fact, silencers and pulsation filters are devices that perform a conversion from what comes in to what goes out. What goes out generally has less than what comes in.

[0026] In the context of the present invention, what comes in is a flow of pressurized fluid or compressed fluid having a specific pressure that changes dynamically over time. In a silencer or filter, the flow of the incoming pressurized fluid or compressed fluid is converted into a flow of pressurized fluid or compressed fluid having a different dynamic behavior when flowing out. Thus, such a conversion is performed downstream of the actual compressor element.

[0027] Generally, in such a silencer or filter, in the pressure fluctuations of the flowing-out pressurized fluid or compressed fluid, specific interfering frequencies or specific harmful pulsations are filtered or their intensities are reduced. In this way, usually, noise or harmful vibrations are removed. However, there is a drawback that a lot of energy is lost during the conversion in such a silencer or filter, and thus the energy efficiency of the compressor device is reduced.

[0028] Instead, in the above-described embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention, there is provided an acoustic impedance adapter that affects the pressure state of the fluid to be compressed, or an acoustic impedance adapter that affects the pressure state of the fluid that has already been partially or fully compressed in the compressor chamber of the compressor element itself upstream of the adapter. In this way, the energy accumulated in the compressed fluid present in the acoustic impedance adapter is transmitted to the fluid present in the compressor element. There is little or no energy loss, the conditions for discharging the compressed fluid from the compressor element are improved, the overall intensity of the fluid pressure pulsation is reduced, and a smoother flow of the compressed fluid through the compressor element is obtained. In short, the energy efficiency of such a compressor device according to the present invention is higher, and the damage to other parts of the device due to the supply of the compressed fluid is less.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention, the length of the adapter inlet duct between the compressor element and the adapter intermediate duct portion is less than 4 times the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct.

[0030] Such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention is very effective because the acoustic impedance adapter is arranged at a fairly short distance from the compressor element itself, and thus reliably serves as an adapter that affects the passage of the fluid pressure within the compressor element itself.

[0031] In another preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention, the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate duct portion is greater than 2 times the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct.

[0032] A major advantage of such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention is that the expansion chamber formed in the acoustic impedance adapter is large enough to have the capacity necessary to generate a reflected pressure pulsation wave that can compensate for important pressure pulsations within the compressor element itself.

[0033] In yet another preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention, the internal cross-sectional area or opening of the adapter intermediate duct section forms an opening having an equivalent inner diameter at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct, and the ratio of the distance between this internal cross-sectional area or opening of the adapter intermediate duct section and the distal end of the adapter inlet duct divided by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct is less than 1.

[0034] A major advantage of such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the present invention is that the internal dimensions of the adapter intermediate duct section for forming the expansion chamber increase rapidly over a relatively short distance from the point where the adapter intermediate duct section and the adapter inlet duct are connected. In this way, the expansion chamber can influence the course of the fluid pressure.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a compressor assembly for compressing a fluid, the compressor assembly comprising a housing, a fluid duct for guiding a fluid through the compressor assembly from a fluid duct inlet to a fluid duct outlet, and one or more compressor stages within the fluid duct, at least one of the compressor stages being formed by a compressor device according to the present invention, which comprises an adapter for acoustic impedance, and a cooler for cooling the compressed fluid is provided in the fluid duct downstream of each compressor stage (in the fluid stream).

[0036] The advantage of such a compressor assembly according to the present invention is that it can provide a cooled, pressurized fluid or compressible fluid with low specific energy requirements (SER), i.e., in an energy-efficient manner.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor assembly according to the present invention, the compressor assembly comprises a low-pressure stage and a high-pressure stage, wherein an air-cooled intercooler is provided in the fluid duct downstream of the low-pressure stage, and an air-cooled final cooler is provided in the fluid duct downstream of the high-pressure stage, where the low-pressure stage comprises the compressor elements and acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention as described above, and / or the high-pressure stage comprises the compressor elements and acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention as described above.

[0038] Alternatively, or additionally, the application of an acoustic adapter, such as those described on the inlet side of the compressor element, is not excluded from the present invention. In this way, the filling of the compression chamber can be improved, and so-called acoustic superfilling can be applied.

[0039] The present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0040] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a possible embodiment of the compressor assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 6] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 7] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure is similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment of a compressor device having an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of a part of a compressor device according to the present invention, in which a flexible coupling is provided inside the adapter outlet duct. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view passing through a part of the compressor device shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is a partial perspective view of a heat exchanger or cooler and a combination of acoustic impedance adapters connected to the compressor elements of the compressor apparatus of the present invention, which are not shown in the figure. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view similar to the perspective view in Figure 11 for another embodiment of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the present invention. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view similar to the perspective view in Figure 11 for another embodiment of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view similar to the perspective view in Figure 11 for another embodiment of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view similar to the perspective view in Figure 11 for another embodiment of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the present invention. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view similar to the perspective view in Figure 11 for another embodiment of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0041] Figure 1 shows a compressor assembly 100 comprising several compressor devices 1 according to the present invention for compressing a fluid 2, in this case air 2 drawn in from the surroundings. The compressor assembly 100 comprises a housing 3, and a fluid duct 4 is provided to guide the fluid 2 through the compressor assembly 100 from the compressor assembly fluid duct inlet 5 to the compressor assembly fluid duct outlet 6.

[0042] Furthermore, the compressor assembly 1 is contained within the fluid duct 4 and comprises one or more compressor stages, in this case two compressor stages 7 and 8, which form part of the fluid duct 4. At least one of the compressor stages 7 and 8 is formed by the compressor device 1 according to the present invention. In the example of Figure 1, both compressor stages 7 and 8 are formed by such a compressor device 1 according to the present invention.

[0043] Such a compressor device 1 of the present invention is special in that it comprises a compressor element 9 and preferably has an acoustic impedance adapter 10 connected to the outlet side 11 of the compressor element 1. However, providing an acoustic impedance adapter 10 attached to the inlet 12 of such a compressor element 9 is not excluded from the present invention.

[0044] Downstream of each compressor stage 7 and 8 (in the fluid stream), coolers 14 and 15 for cooling the compressed fluid 13 are provided in the fluid duct 4, respectively.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 1, compressor stage 7 is the low-pressure stage, and compressor stage 8 is the high-pressure stage, and these are installed in series with each other. Downstream of the low-pressure stage 7, an air-cooled intercooler 14 is provided in the fluid duct 4, and downstream of the high-pressure stage 8, an air-cooled final cooler 15 is provided in the fluid duct 4.

[0046] Coolers 14 and 15 are air-cooled coolers installed in air channels 16 provided in the housing 3 of the compressor unit 1. The air channels 16 are separated from compartment 17 within the housing 3 in which the compressor unit 1 is installed by an intermediate wall 18.

[0047] The surrounding air 19 is drawn from the environment 20 by a fan 21 that forces the air 19 through the air channel 16 from the air channel inlet 22 to the air channel outlet 23. As it flows through the air channel 16, heat is transferred from the coolers 14 and 15 to the air 19.

[0048] Figure 2 schematically shows a part of a compressor device 1 for compressing a fluid 2 according to the present invention. The compressor element 9 of the compressor device 1 is schematically represented as a square, and its size is not entirely representative.

[0049] The compressor element 9 includes a compressor element fluid duct 24 for guiding the fluid 2 through the compressor element 9 from the compressor element fluid duct inlet 25 to the compressor element fluid duct outlet 26. According to the present invention, an acoustic impedance adapter 10 is provided at the fluid duct outlet 26 of the compressor element 9.

[0050] This acoustic impedance adapter 10 includes an adapter inlet duct 27 and an adapter outlet duct 28, part of which is shown only in Figure 2. The adapter inlet duct 27 and adapter outlet duct 28 are interconnected by an adapter intermediate duct section 29 that surrounds at least one expansion chamber 30.

[0051] In this case, both the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28 are linear, but this is not necessarily the case according to the present invention. The adapter inlet duct 27 extends in direction YY', and the adapter outlet duct 28 extends in direction ZZ'. These directions YY' and ZZ' may be collinear, but preferably they are parallel to each other while maintaining a constant offset distance O, but this is not necessarily the case.

[0052] The internal cross-sectional area 31 of the adapter inlet duct 27 in a plane perpendicular to the direction YY' extending between the compressor element 9 and the adapter intermediate duct section 29 forms a minimum opening 31 having a specific minimum equivalent inner diameter B. In this case, the adapter inlet duct 27 has an internal cross-sectional area 31 or opening 31 perpendicular to the direction YY' that is constant over its length, but this is not necessarily the case.

[0053] The adapter intermediate duct section 29 extends in direction AA' between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28. This direction AA' may, but is not necessarily, collinear with either or both of the directions YY' and ZZ' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28 extend.

[0054] Furthermore, the internal cross-sectional area 32 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 forms a maximum opening 32 having a specific maximum equivalent inner diameter C. This internal cross-sectional area 32 or opening 32 is typically defined in a plane perpendicular to the direction AA' in which the adapter intermediate duct section 29 extends between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28, or in a plane perpendicular to the aforementioned directions YY' and / or ZZ' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 and / or adapter outlet duct 28 extend.

[0055] According to the present invention, the maximum equivalent inner diameter C of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is substantially larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet duct 27 (C>>>B). In this way, it is ensured that the expansion chamber 30 is larger than the minimum opening 31 of the adapter inlet duct 27.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device 1 of the present invention, the maximum equivalent inner diameter C of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet duct 27.

[0057] Another aspect of the present invention is that the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is preferably located relatively close to the outlet 11 or 26 of the compressor element 9. In particular, according to the present invention, the length L of the adapter inlet duct 27 between the compressor element 9 and the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is preferably less than four times the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet duct 27. This means must ensure that the expansion chamber 30 can have a sufficiently significant effect on the fluid present in the compressor chamber of the compressor element 9 upstream of the adapter 10 in terms of acoustic impedance.

[0058] The internal cross-sectional area 33 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 forms an opening 33 having an equivalent inner diameter D that is at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet duct 28 (D ≥ 2 × B). This internal cross-sectional area 33 or opening 33 is typically defined in a plane perpendicular to the direction AA' in which the adapter intermediate duct section 29 extends between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28, or in a plane perpendicular to the aforementioned directions YY' and / or ZZ' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 and / or adapter outlet duct 28 extend.

[0059] A further preferred embodiment of the present invention specifies that the ratio R obtained by dividing the distance E between the internal cross-sectional area 33 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 and the distal end 34 of the adapter inlet duct 27 by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter 2 × B of the adapter inlet duct 27 is less than 1. 1 > R = E / (2 × B)

[0060] This means that the expansion chamber 30 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 rapidly increases in size as it moves away from the distal end 34 of the adapter inlet duct 27, thereby ensuring its effectiveness.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the adapter intermediate duct section 29 surrounds a single, essentially spherical expansion chamber 30 formed by a sphere of diameter C.

[0062] In the example shown in Figure 2, the internal cross-sectional area of ​​the adapter intermediate duct section 29 increases monotonically from the adapter inlet duct 27 towards the maximum internal cross-sectional area 32 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29. The internal cross-sectional area of ​​the adapter intermediate duct section 29 also decreases monotonically from the maximum internal cross-sectional area 32 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29 towards the adapter outlet duct 28. However, this is not necessarily the case according to the present invention.

[0063] Figure 3 shows a compressor device 1 according to the present invention, in which the adapter intermediate duct section 29 surrounds two or more expansion chambers, namely two expansion chambers 35 and 36 in this example.

[0064] In Figure 3, both expansion chambers 35 and 36 have a hemispherical shape. The shape is obtained by two hemispheres of a more or less spherical expansion chamber 32, as shown in Figure 1, and the two hemispheres are separated from each other by an intermediate spacer duct 37. In Figure 3, the intermediate spacer duct 37 extends along the extensions of the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28, and these ducts 27, 28 and 37 all have the same inner diameter B.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the adapter intermediate duct section 29 comprises a pair of expansion chambers 35 and 36 that are symmetrical with respect to a plane FF' perpendicular to the direction YY' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 extends and / or the direction ZZ' in which the adapter outlet duct 28 extends and / or the direction AA' in which the intermediate spacer duct 37 extends.

[0066] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention, which is similar to that of Figure 2 and also has an adapter intermediate duct section 29 surrounding a single expansion chamber 30 which is essentially spherical.

[0067] However, this time, the essentially spherical expansion chamber 30 is modified in some way. The connection portion 38 between the adapter outlet duct 28 and the spherical expansion chamber 30 is positioned somewhat inward within the spherical expansion chamber 30, and the outer wall 39 of the spherical expansion chamber 30 is connected to the adapter outlet duct 28 by an intermediate wall portion 40, which preferably has a cylindrical wall portion 41 and / or one or more flat wall portions 42 concentric with the adapter outlet duct 28.

[0068] Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 in that it again comprises a pair of essentially hemispherical expansion chambers 35 and 36 spaced apart from each other by an intermediate spacer duct 37.

[0069] In the example shown in Figure 5, the intermediate spacer duct 37 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction YY' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 extends, and / or the direction ZZ' in which the adapter outlet duct 28 extends, and / or the direction AA' in which the adapter intermediate section 29 extends between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28.

[0070] The expansion chambers 35 and 36 are now also positioned in the opposite direction, symmetrically arranged around the adapter inlet duct 27 and / or adapter outlet duct 28.

[0071] An embodiment of the compressor device 1 shown in Figure 6 according to the present invention is similar to the embodiment in Figure 2, and the adapter intermediate duct section 29 includes a substantially spherical single expansion chamber 30.

[0072] In the example shown in Figure 6, the adapter inlet duct 27 and / or adapter outlet duct 28 extend entirely through the adapter intermediate duct section 29 to interconnect the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28 by an internal duct section 43. The internal duct section 43 of the adapter inlet duct 27 and / or adapter outlet duct 28 extending into the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is perforated so that the compressed fluid 13 can expand throughout the expansion chamber 30. Perforations 44 are provided along the entire length of the internal duct section 43.

[0073] In another embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention, the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28 may also extend only partially into the adapter intermediate duct section 29. This is the case, for example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 12.

[0074] The embodiment of the compressor device 1 shown in Figure 7 according to the present invention is completely equivalent to the embodiment in Figure 6. However, in the example in Figure 7, a damping material 45 for damping gas pulsations, such as acoustic foam or steel wool, is provided in the expansion chamber 30 of the adapter intermediate duct section 29.

[0075] Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention, which is equivalent to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, having two expansion chambers spaced apart from each other by an intermediate spacer duct 37 extending in a direction AA' parallel to the directions YY' and ZZ' of the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28.

[0076] However, in Figure 8, only one expansion chamber 35 has a hemispherical shape, while the other expansion chamber 46 has a conical shape and is located on the side furthest from the compressor element 9. The dimensions of the conical shape decrease in the direction away from the compressor element 9.

[0077] The conical expansion chamber 46 is refilled with damping material 45, while the other hemispherical expansion chamber 35 remains empty.

[0078] The adapter outlet duct 28 is entirely integrated within the expansion chamber 46 and does not extend outside the adapter intermediate duct section 29.

[0079] Figures 9 and 10 show an embodiment of the acoustic impedance adapter 10 of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention, in which a flexible coupling 47 or a flexible spacer ring 47 is provided in the adapter outlet duct 28.

[0080] Alternatively, such a flexible coupling 47 or flexible spacer ring 47 can be provided inside the adapter inlet duct 27.

[0081] In this case, the adapter inlet duct 27 comprises three parts, namely, a first part and a second part connected by the flexible coupling 47 or flexible spacer ring 47. Clearly, in this case, the length L of the adapter inlet duct 27 should be considered to be the total length of the adapter inlet duct 27 formed by the three components.

[0082] Figures 11 to 16 show yet another different configuration of the combination of the acoustic impedance adapter 10 and the cooler 14 or 15 of the compressor device 1 according to the present invention.

[0083] In Figure 11, the adapter intermediate duct section 29 includes an expansion chamber that is mainly spherical, as in Figure 2, for example, whereas in Figures 12 and 14, the expansion chamber is more rectangular, box-shaped, or cubic.

[0084] In Figure 13, the adapter intermediate duct section 29 is equipped with an expansion chamber having an S-shaped cross-section, whereas in Figures 15 and 16, the expansion chamber is enclosed in a more rounded or cylindrical shape. In other bodies, the expansion chamber can form a prismatic shape, or even another more irregular shape.

[0085] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments of the compressor assembly 100 or compressor device 1 described above, and such a compressor assembly 1 or compressor device 1 can be applied and implemented in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1. Compressor device 2. Fluid (air) 3 Housing 4 Fluid duct 5. Compressor assembly fluid duct inlet 6. Compressor assembly fluid duct outlet 7. Compressor stage (low-pressure stage) 8. Compressor stage (high-pressure stage) 9 Compressor elements 10 Acoustic impedance adapters 11 Compressor element outlet 12. Inlet of compressor element 13 Compressible fluids 14 Air-cooled intercooler 15 Air-cooled final cooler 16 Air channels 17 plots within the housing 18 Intermediate wall 19. Surrounding air 20 Environment 21 Fans 22 Air channel inlet 23 Air channel outlet 24 Compressor element fluid duct 25 Compressor element fluid duct inlet 26 Compressor element fluid duct outlet 27 Adapter Inlet Duct 28 Adapter Outlet Duct 29 Adapter intermediate duct section 30 Spherical Expansion Chambers 31 Internal cross-sectional area (opening) 32 Internal cross-sectional area (opening) 33. Internal cross-sectional area (opening) of the adapter intermediate duct section 34 Distal end of adapter inlet duct 35 Hemispherical Expansion Chamber 36 Hemispherical Expansion Chamber 37 Intermediate spacer duct 38 Connection between the adapter outlet duct and the spherical expansion chamber 39 Outer wall of spherical expansion chamber 40 Intermediate wall section 41 Cylindrical wall section 42 Flat wall section 43 Internal duct section 44 Perforation 45 Damping materials 46 Conical Expansion Chamber 47 Flexible coupling (spacer ring) 100 Compressor Assembly AA' Direction Minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct. C Adapter Intermediate Duct Maximum Equivalent Inner Diameter D Adapter Intermediate Duct Section Internal Cross-sectional Area E: Distance between the internal cross-sectional area of ​​the adapter intermediate duct and the distal end of the adapter inlet duct. L Adapter Inlet Duct Length O Offset distance YY' direction ZZ' direction

Claims

1. A compressor device (1) comprising a compressor element (9) for compressing a fluid (2), and a fluid duct (24) for guiding the fluid (2) through the compressor element (9) from a fluid duct inlet (25) to a fluid duct outlet (26), wherein an acoustic impedance adapter (10) is provided at the fluid duct outlet (26), comprising an adapter inlet duct (27) and an adapter outlet duct (28) interconnected by an adapter intermediate duct section (29) surrounding at least one expansion chamber (30), and the internal cross-sectional area (31) of the adapter inlet duct (27) is a specific minimum equivalent inner diameter A compressor device (1) characterized in that it forms a minimum opening (31) having (B), the internal cross-sectional area (32) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) forms a maximum opening (32) having a specific maximum equivalent inner diameter (C), the maximum equivalent inner diameter (C) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) is larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter (B) of the adapter inlet duct (27), and the internal cross-sectional area or opening of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) decreases monotonically from the maximum internal cross-sectional area or opening (32) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) toward the adapter outlet duct (28).

2. Compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compression of the fluid (2) within the compressor element (9) generates forward pressure pulsation waves, i.e., downstream pressure pulsation waves, within the compressed fluid (13), and the adapter (10) modifies the acoustic impedance such that reflected pressure pulsation waves arriving from the adapter (10) in a rearward or upstream direction affect or at least partially compensate for the forward pressure pulsation waves, i.e., downstream pressure pulsation waves, and as a result, the pressure of the compressed fluid (13) upstream of the adapter (10) is generally less pulsating and / or exhibits a phase shift compared to a compressor device (1) without an adapter (10) of such acoustic impedance.

3. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length (L) of the adapter inlet duct (27) between the compressor element (9) and the adapter intermediate duct section (29) is less than four times the minimum equivalent inner diameter (B) of the adapter inlet duct (27).

4. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the maximum equivalent inner diameter (C) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter (B) of the adapter inlet duct (27).

5. The compressor device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the internal cross-sectional area (33) forms an opening (33) having an equivalent inner diameter (D) which is at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter (B) of the adapter inlet duct (27), and the ratio (R) obtained by dividing the distance (E) between the internal cross-sectional area (33) of the adapter intermediate duct portion (29) and the distal end (34) of the adapter inlet duct (27) by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter (B) of the adapter inlet duct (27) is less than 1.

6. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal cross-sectional area or opening of the adapter intermediate duct section (29) increases monotonically from the adapter inlet duct (27) toward the maximum internal cross-sectional area or opening (32) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29).

7. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter intermediate duct section (29) surrounds two or more expansion chambers (35, 36).

8. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter inlet duct (27) and / or the adapter outlet duct (28) partially extend into the adapter intermediate duct section (29).

9. The compressor device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the portion (43) of the adapter inlet duct (27) and / or the adapter outlet duct (28) extending into the adapter intermediate duct portion (29) is perforated.

10. The compressor device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the adapter inlet duct (27) and / or the adapter outlet duct (28) extend entirely through the adapter intermediate duct section (29) to interconnect the adapter inlet duct (27) and the adapter outlet duct (28) by an internal duct section (43), and the internal duct section (43) is at least partially perforated.

11. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a damping material (45) for damping gas pulsations, such as acoustic foam or steel wool, is provided in the expansion chamber (30, 35, 36, 46) of the adapter intermediate duct section (29).

12. The adapter intermediate duct section (29) has the following characteristics, namely, - The adapter intermediate duct section (29) is performed as a quarter-wavelength resonator. - The adapter intermediate duct section (29) is performed as a Helmholtz resonator. - The adapter intermediate duct section (29) mainly comprises expansion chambers (30, 35, 36, 46) having a spherical, hemispherical, conical, cubic, prismatic, cylindrical, rectangular, or box-shaped cross-section, or an S-shaped cross-section. - The adapter intermediate duct section (29) comprises a pair of expansion chambers (35, 36, 46) separated from each other by an intermediate spacer duct (37), and / or - The adapter intermediate duct section (29) comprises a plurality of expansion chambers (35, 36, 46) arranged symmetrically with respect to or around the adapter inlet duct (27) and / or the adapter outlet duct (28), or arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the adapter inlet duct (27) and / or the adapter outlet duct (28) extend (YY', ZZ'), or the direction in which the adapter intermediate duct section (29) or the intermediate spacer duct (37) extend (AA'). The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by having one or more of these features.

13. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a flexible coupling (47) or a flexible spacer ring (47) is provided in the adapter inlet duct (27) or the adapter outlet duct (28).

14. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressor element (9) is a tooth compressor.

15. The compressor element (9) is Having a nominal flow rate in the range of -40 to 140 l / s, and / or, - It has a rotor with a nominal rotor speed range of -3000 to 9000 rpm. The compressor device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is of a type having one or more of the nominal operating conditions.

16. A compressor assembly (100) for compressing a fluid (2), comprising a housing (3), a fluid duct (4) for guiding a fluid (2) through a compressor device (1) from a fluid duct inlet (5) to a fluid duct outlet (6), and one or more compressor stages (7, 8) in the fluid duct (4), wherein at least one of the compressor stages (7, 8) is formed by the compressor device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein coolers (14, 15) for cooling the compressed fluid (13) are provided in the fluid duct (4) downstream (in the fluid stream) of each compressor stage (7, 8).

17. A compressor assembly (100) according to claim 16, comprising a low-pressure stage (7) and a high-pressure stage (8), wherein an air-cooled intercooler (14) is provided in the fluid duct (4) downstream of the low-pressure stage (7), and an air-cooled final cooler (15) is provided in the fluid duct (4) downstream of the high-pressure stage (8), wherein the low-pressure stage (7) comprises a compressor element (9) and an acoustic impedance adapter (10), and / or the high-pressure stage (8) comprises a compressor element (9) and an acoustic impedance adapter (10).

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