Oil-Injected Compressor Layout With Cooled Oil Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil-injected compressor devices require large, expensive oil separators due to the need for storing warm oil, which affects the service life and operational costs, and limit device compactness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an oil storage within the oil injection pipe downstream of the oil cooler, allowing for a smaller oil separator and immediate oil injection at start-up, with options for integration in the oil cooler or motor shell for enhanced compactness and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large oil separator is used to store sufficient oil for system supply, then the device can maintain adequate oil supply during operation, but the device size increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage function is segmented between two components: a reduced-size oil separator and an oil storage chamber located in the compressor housing. This segmentation allows the system to maintain adequate total oil supply while reducing the volume of the expensive pressure vessel oil separator.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil storage chamber is nested within the compressor housing structure, utilizing existing space rather than requiring a separate external storage component. This nesting approach maximizes space efficiency and reduces overall device volume.
2Quantity of substance
If a large oil separator is used to store sufficient oil, then the device can maintain adequate oil supply, but the device compactness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil storage chamber is merged with the compressor housing structure, combining two functions (compression and oil storage) into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for separate external oil storage tanks and improves device compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor housing serves multiple functions: it contains the compression mechanism and simultaneously houses the oil storage chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and improves overall device compactness.
3Device complexity
If oil is stored in the oil separator at elevated temperature, then the system maintains simple storage, but the oil service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the oil before it enters the storage chamber. By cooling the oil in advance (through the oil cooler integrated into the injection line), the system extends oil service life without adding complex temperature control mechanisms to the storage chamber itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil cooler acts as an intermediary component between the hot oil from the separator and the storage chamber. It mediates the temperature transition, allowing the storage chamber to receive cooled oil while maintaining a simple storage design.
4Device complexity
If all oil is stored in the oil separator, then the system has simple storage configuration, but the startup oil injection speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply system is segmented into two sources: the oil separator and the oil storage chamber. During startup, the system can draw oil from both sources simultaneously or prioritize the storage chamber, enabling faster oil injection compared to relying solely on the oil separator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling and storage of oil in the storage chamber before startup. This preliminary preparation ensures that cooled oil is already available in the storage chamber, enabling immediate fast injection at startup without waiting for oil to cool from the separator.
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
Reduces the size and cost of the oil separator, extends oil service life, and enhances component performance and startup efficiency by providing cooled oil directly to bearings and components.
Implementation Method 1
an oil cooler is incorporated into the oil injection pipe... the oil has passed through the oil cooler before it enters the storage
Implementation Method 2
the oil-injected into the compressor device is separated and stored in the oil separator
Data Source
AI summary
Oil-injected compressor device (1) provided with at least one oil-injected compressor element (2) with an inlet (5) for gas to be compressed and an outlet (7) for compressed gas, whereby the outlet (7) is connected to an oil separator (9), whereby the oil-injected compressor device (1) is further provided with an oil injection pipe (14) leading from the oil separator (9) to the oil-injected compressor element (2), whereby an oil cooler (15) is incorporated into the oil injection pipe (15), characterized in that a storage (17) for oil is provided in the oil injection pipe (14) downstream of an inlet (16) of the oil cooler (15).