System for managing air compressors

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, the provided system for managing air compressors comprises: at least one compressor; a compressor control unit for supporting the operation of the compressor; and a first power situation determination unit for generating an input signal for the compressor control unit by referring to at least one from among power price information and power supply information.

Description

System for managing air compressors

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for managing an air compressor.

[0002] To reduce energy-related costs, various technologies have been proposed to improve energy efficiency. A representative method for improving energy efficiency is recycling (or reusing) thermal energy.

[0003] During the air compression process using an air compressor, a significant amount of compression heat is generated. Recently, the economic value of the compression heat generated during the process of compressing and storing air has been recognized, leading to various attempts to utilize this compression heat, and demand for it is also growing significantly.

[0004] Conventional technologies utilizing compressed air include systems that draw power from transmission grids and self-generation systems, drive industrial blowers / compressors, and supply compressed air to demand sites such as water treatment systems and microbial digesters. However, these conventional technologies suffer from inefficient power utilization because they operate based on a 24-hour, evenly distributed power supply.

[0005] Accordingly, the inventor(s) of the present invention propose a technology that utilizes an air compressor to compress air and generate heat in a situation where electricity is used intensively, such as a situation where the electricity price falls below a certain price or a situation where the supply of electricity exceeds demand, with reference to the electricity price situation and the electricity supply situation, and then allows the produced high-temperature compression heat to be reused in various ways in a compression heat utilization unit.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to solve all of the problems of the above-mentioned prior art.

[0007] In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a system including a power situation judgment unit that monitors power supply status and power price status to enable power to be used efficiently.

[0008] In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a system including a compression utilization device that reuses compression heat generated using an air compressor.

[0009] In addition, another object of the present invention is to improve the energy use efficiency of compression heat by efficiently managing a compressed air storage unit and a plurality of compression utilization devices according to the power situation.

[0010] A representative configuration of the present invention to achieve the above purpose is as follows.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a system is provided, including at least one compressor, a compressor control unit for supporting operation of the compressor, and a first power situation determination unit for generating an input signal to the compressor control unit by referring to at least one of power price information and power supply information.

[0012] In addition, other systems for implementing the present invention are further provided.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system including a power situation judgment unit that monitors power supply status and power price status to enable power to be used efficiently.

[0014] In addition, the present invention can provide a system including a compression utilization device that reuses compression heat generated using an air compressor.

[0015] In addition, the present invention can improve the energy use efficiency of compression heat by efficiently managing a compressed air storage unit and a plurality of compression utilization devices according to the power situation.

[0016] FIGS. 1 to 6 are drawings exemplarily showing an air compressor management system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The following detailed description of the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be modified and implemented from one embodiment to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each embodiment may also be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is to be understood to encompass the scope of the claims and all equivalents thereof. Like reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar elements throughout the several aspects.

[0018] Compressed air utilization system configuration

[0019] Figures 1 to 6 are drawings exemplarily showing the internal configuration of a compressed air utilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a compressed air utilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a compressor (30), a compressor control unit, and a first power situation determination unit (40).

[0021] Specifically, referring to FIG. 1, a compressor control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention can perform a function of supporting operation of the compressor (30) when receiving a signal from the first power situation determination unit (40).

[0022] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of compressors (30) may be configured in parallel, and some or all of the compressors may be operated in an intermittent manner. For example, some compressors may receive electricity from a power supply facility and operate normally, while the remaining compressors that are not operating normally may be on standby and operated by a compressor control unit upon receiving a signal from the first power status determination unit (40).

[0023] Meanwhile, the first power situation judgment unit (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention can generate an input signal to the compressor control unit (35) to support the operation of the compressor (30) when it is efficient to use power intensively by obtaining current power price information and predicted power price information from the power price prediction system (50), i.e., when the power price is lower than a preset threshold, or when the power price is predicted to be lower than a preset threshold.

[0024] In addition, the power price prediction system (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention may use various algorithms used in time series regression analysis, such as a multiple linear regression model, a symbolic regression analysis model, a convolutional neural network, a recurrent neural network, an LSTM (Long short time memory) model, a GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit) model, etc., but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0025] Meanwhile, the first power situation determination unit (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention can obtain information on the power supply situation from the power balancing system (60). Then, the first power situation determination unit (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention can generate an input signal to the compressor control unit to support the operation of the compressor when it is determined that it is efficient to use power intensively based on the obtained information, for example, when the power supply exceeds the power demand. In addition, the power balancing system (60) according to one embodiment of the present invention can use a Plus-DR Signal Receiver, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, a compressed air storage unit (70) according to one embodiment of the present invention can store compressed air discharged from a compressor (30) and transported through a facility for transporting compressed air, such as a pipeline. In addition, the compressed air storage unit (70) according to one embodiment of the present invention can be a single or multiple storage facilities having a fixed shape or a changeable shape, and when storing compressed air in multiple storage tanks, air can be stored by sequentially filling one tank or by simultaneously filling multiple tanks.

[0027] Meanwhile, a compressor (30) according to one embodiment of the present invention compresses air and discharges the compressed air, and the discharged compressed air or the compressed air stored in the compressed air storage unit can transfer heat to the compression heat utilization unit (300) through a cooler (this may include a cooler such as an air cooler, a water cooler, a glycol chiller, etc.).

[0028] FIG. 3 is a drawing exemplarily showing a process in which compressed air discharged from a compressor (30) according to one embodiment of the present invention and compressed air stored in a compressed air storage unit (70) are transferred to a compression heat utilization unit (300) and reused.

[0029] Continuing with reference to FIG. 4, the components of the heat pump (310) included in the compression heat utilization unit (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The heat pump (310) may include a heat pump compressor for compressing and discharging a refrigerant, a water heater for assisting in heating water by utilizing the refrigerant, an expansion valve for assisting in lowering the pressure of the refrigerant utilized from the water heater, a heat pump compressor control unit for assisting in the operation of the heat pump compressor, and a second power situation determination unit for generating an input signal to the heat pump compressor control unit by referencing at least one of power price information and power supply information. In addition, the heat pump compressor control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention may perform a function of assisting in the operation of the heat pump compressor (330) when receiving a signal from the second power situation determination unit (340).

[0030] To explain further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of heat pump compressors (330) may be configured in parallel, and some or all of the heat pump compressors (330) may be configured to be intermittently operated. For example, some of the heat pump compressors (330) may receive electricity from a power supply facility and operate normally, and the remaining heat pump compressors that are not operating normally may be on standby and then operated by a heat pump compressor control unit upon receiving a signal from a second power status determination unit (340).

[0031] Meanwhile, the second power situation judgment unit (340) according to one embodiment of the present invention may obtain current power price information and predicted power price information from the power price prediction system (350) and, when it is efficient to use power intensively, that is, when the power price falls below a preset threshold, or when the power price is predicted to fall below a preset threshold, generate an input signal to the heat pump compressor control unit to support the operation of the heat pump compressor (330). In addition, the power price prediction system (50) according to one embodiment of the present invention may use various algorithms used in time series regression analysis, such as a multiple linear regression model, a symbolic regression analysis model, a convolutional neural network, a recurrent neural network, an LSTM (Long short time memory) model, a GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit) model, etc., but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0032] Meanwhile, the second power situation judgment unit (340) according to one embodiment of the present invention obtains information on the power supply situation from the power balancing system (360) and, when it is efficient to use power intensively, i.e., when the power supply exceeds the power demand, generates an input signal to the heat pump compressor control unit to support the operation of the heat pump compressor (330). In addition, the power balancing system (360) according to one embodiment of the present invention may use a Plus-DR Signal Receiver, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0033] Returning to the process of the heat pump (310) according to one embodiment of the present invention reusing the compressed air discharged from the compressor (30), when a refrigerant is supplied to the heat pump compressor (330), the heat pump compressor (330) can compress the refrigerant and discharge it. The refrigerant discharged from the heat pump compressor (330) is supplied to the water heater (370) to provide heat for producing hot water, and then is transferred to the expansion valve (380), where the pressure is lowered through the expansion valve (380). Thereafter, the refrigerant is transferred to the cooler (301), where it absorbs the heat of the compressed air discharged from the compressor (30) to vaporize part or all of it, and the cycle of supplying the refrigerant to the heat pump compressor (330) is repeated. Meanwhile, the refrigerant according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, but is not limited to, R410a, R134a, R407c, R32, etc.

[0034] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when one or more heat pumps (310) are installed and some or all of them are driven, hot water heated from the water heater (370) may be stored in a separate heat storage unit or TES (Thermal Energy Storage), but the separate space where hot water is stored is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0035] Meanwhile, the compression heat utilization unit (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an absorption refrigerator (320).

[0036] Continuing, referring to FIG. 5, a process in which the absorption chiller (320) reuses compressed air will be described. The absorption chiller (320) according to one embodiment of the present invention can discharge used hot water, and the used hot water discharged from the absorption chiller (320) can receive heat from the compressed air discharged from the compressor (30) through the cooler (302) and supply heat to the absorption chiller, and the absorption chiller (320) can receive a heat source and produce cold water.

[0037] The compression heat utilization unit (300) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in addition to the heat pump and absorption refrigerator listed above, a TES, a heat storage tank, a bioreactor, a digestion tank, and a microbial culture facility, but is not necessarily limited to those listed above.

[0038] Control method of compression heat utilization section

[0039] Below, a method for efficiently managing the compression heat utilization unit in response to power price fluctuations and power supply fluctuations will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the power supply exceeds the power demand and exceeds a preset threshold while the first compressor (31) is constantly in operation, or when the power price falls below the preset threshold, the first power situation determination unit generates an input signal to the compressor control unit so that the second compressor is operated by the compressor control unit, and the first compressor (31) is coupled with an absorption chiller (320) to constantly operate to produce compressed air and cold water, and the second compressor (32) is coupled with a heat pump (310) to intermittently operate to produce compressed air and hot water.

[0042] Second Example

[0043] Referring to FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the power supply exceeds the power demand and exceeds a preset threshold while the first compressor (31) is constantly in operation, or the power price falls below the preset threshold, the first power situation determination unit generates an input signal to the compressor control unit so that the second compressor is operated by the compressor control unit, and the first compressor (31) is combined with the heat pump (310) to constantly produce compressed air and hot water, and the second compressor (32) is combined with the absorption chiller (320) to intermittently produce compressed air and cold water.

[0044] Third Example

[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the power supply exceeds the power demand and exceeds a preset threshold while the first compressor (31) is constantly in operation, or when the power price falls below the preset threshold, the first power situation determination unit generates an input signal to the compressor control unit so that the second compressor is operated by the compressor control unit, and the first compressor (31) is combined with an absorption chiller (320) to constantly generate compressed air and chilled water, and the second compressor (32) can also be operated to intermittently generate additional compressed air and chilled water by combining with an additional second absorption chiller.

[0046] Example 4

[0047] Referring to FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the power supply exceeds the power demand and exceeds a preset threshold while the first compressor (31) is constantly in operation, or when the power price falls below the preset threshold, the first power situation determination unit generates an input signal to the compressor control unit so that the second compressor is operated by the compressor control unit, and the first compressor (31) is combined with the heat pump (310) to constantly generate compressed air and hot water, and the second compressor (32) is combined with an additional second heat pump to intermittently generate additional compressed air and hot water.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described above with specific details such as specific components and limited examples and drawings, these are provided only to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and changes based on this description.

[0049] Therefore, the idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and not only the scope of the patent claims described below but also all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the scope of the patent claims are considered to fall within the scope of the idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

1. As a system for managing an air compressor, At least one compressor, A compressor control unit that supports the operation of the above compressor and A first power situation determination unit that generates an input signal for the compressor control unit by referring to at least one of power price information and power supply information. System.

2. In paragraph 1, At least one compressed air storage unit in which compressed air discharged from the compressor is stored System.

3. In paragraph 1, At least one compression heat utilization unit that utilizes the compression heat of compressed air discharged from the compressor System.

4. In paragraph 3, The above compression heat utilization unit includes at least one heat pump that utilizes compression heat. System.

5. In paragraph 4, The above heat pump, A heat pump compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant, A water heater that helps heat water by utilizing the above refrigerant, An expansion valve that assists in lowering the pressure of the refrigerant utilized from the water heater; A heat pump compressor control unit that supports the operation of the above heat pump compressor, and A second power situation determination unit that generates an input signal for the heat pump compressor control unit by referring to at least one of power price information and power supply information. System.

6. In paragraph 5, At least one heat storage unit in which water heated from the water heater is stored System.

7. In paragraph 3, The above compression heat utilization unit includes at least one absorption refrigerator utilizing compression heat. System.

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