Compression Device Dual Shaft Sealing High-Pressure Gas Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compression devices face challenges in preventing leakage of high-pressure compressed gas to the bearing side, leading to decreased compressor performance and bearing lifetime due to corrosion components and gas dissolution into lubrication oil, especially in high-pressure applications.

Innovation Solution

A compression device design featuring a first shaft-sealing part and a second shaft-sealing part, with independent supply lines for injection oil, lubrication oil, sealing gas, and using a fourth supply line to ensure the second shaft-sealing part is supplied with sealing oil, enhancing sealing between the rotor chamber and the bearing, and utilizing a pressure control valve to maintain sealing gas pressure higher than the intermediate part pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single sealing structure is used between the compression chamber and bearing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing performance deteriorates under high-pressure conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing structure complexityVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sealing function into two separate shaft-sealing parts: a first shaft-sealing part supplied with sealing gas and a second shaft-sealing part supplied with sealing oil. This segmentation allows each sealing component to be optimized for its specific sealing medium, achieving reliable high-pressure sealing without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the same oil is shared for both injection and lubrication, then the device complexity is reduced, but the lubrication oil quality deteriorates due to corrosion component dissolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil supply system complexityVSAvoidlubrication oil quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements independent supply lines for injection oil and lubrication oil, separating the two oil systems. This prevents corrosion components from compressed gas from contaminating the lubrication oil, maintaining its quality and bearing lubricity while avoiding excessive system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the lubrication oil supply function from the injection oil system by providing a separate supply line for lubrication oil to the bearing. This isolation protects the lubrication oil from contamination by corrosion components in the compressed gas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a mechanical seal or carbon ring seal is used, then the sealing performance is improved, but the compressed gas leakage to bearing side cannot be completely stopped under high-pressure conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidsealing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sealing gas as an intermediary substance supplied to the first shaft-sealing part to prevent compressed gas from reaching the bearing side. This intermediary sealing mechanism provides reliable protection against high-pressure gas leakage without requiring complex mechanical seals or carbon ring seals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents leakage of compressed gas and corrosion component dissolution into lubrication oil, maintaining compressor performance and extending bearing lifetime even in high-pressure conditions.

Implementation Method 1

sealing is provided between the rotor chamber and the bearing by supplying sealing gas to the first shaft-sealing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

sealing is provided between the rotor chamber and the bearing by supplying sealing oil to the second shaft-sealing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 3

the corrosion component in the compressed gas dissolves into the lubrication oil via the injection oil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3453880B1Compression device
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP3453880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3453880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3453880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A compression device includes: a compressor including a casing, a rotor that is housed in a rotor chamber inside the casing and compresses gas by rotating, a bearing that is provided inside the casing and supports a rotor shaft so that the rotor is rotatable, and a first shaft-sealing part and a second shaft-sealing part that are provided to line up between the rotor chamber and the bearing in the casing to seal a periphery of the rotor shaft; a first supply line adapted to supply injection oil to the rotor chamber; a second supply line that is provided independent of the first supply line to supply lubrication oil to the bearing; a third supply line adapted to supply sealing gas to the first shaft-sealing part; and a fourth supply line adapted to supply the second shaft-sealing part with sealing oil to be used for sealing.