Compressor Cooling Layout with Independent Oil, Gas, and Housing Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressor installations with cooling systems face challenges in achieving optimal cooling across all coolers, leading to sub-optimal performance due to varying cooling requirements and the need for manual adjustment of coolant inflow.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a compressor installation with individual control means for each cooler (oil cooler, compressed gas cooler, and housing cooler) to independently control coolant flows, allowing for optimal cooling output for each cooler, even when connected to a common primary cooling circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If all coolers are connected to a common primary cooling circuit in parallel, then cooling efficiency is improved, but optimal cooling cannot be achieved for all coolers simultaneously due to varying cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling control by providing individual control means (such as control valves) for each cooler connected to the common primary cooling circuit. This allows each cooler to have its coolant flow independently adjusted according to its specific cooling requirements, resolving the contradiction between utilizing a common cooling circuit and achieving optimal cooling for each cooler.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of coolant inflow to individual coolers is provided, then cooling adaptation is improved, but time consumption and operator skill dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service control by equipping each cooler with its own control means that can automatically adjust coolant flow based on cooling requirements. This eliminates the need for manual intervention by technicians, reducing time consumption and eliminating dependency on operator skills while maintaining adaptability to varying cooling demands.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual cooling circuits are provided for each cooler, then optimal cooling for each cooler is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling circuits by connecting all coolers to a single common primary cooling circuit, reducing system complexity. At the same time, it maintains individual control capability through control means at each cooler, achieving optimal cooling for each cooler without the complexity of completely separate cooling circuits.
4Productivity
If coolant flow rate in the primary circuit is adapted to account for varying cooling requirements, then overall cooling performance is improved, but optimal cooling in one cooler may lead to excessive or insufficient cooling in another cooler
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by providing individual control means at each cooler location, allowing the coolant flow to be independently adjusted for each cooler's specific needs. This ensures that each cooler receives the appropriate amount of coolant according to its local cooling requirements, preventing both excessive and insufficient cooling while maintaining high overall cooling performance.
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
This approach enables continuous adaptation of coolant flows to each cooler, ensuring optimal operating conditions and minimizing overall recooling requirements, while also allowing for efficient use of cooling water and reduced electrical power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A compressed gas cooler, which is disposed in a part of a line system that conducts the compressed gas, in particular the compressed air, can be provided. A heat exchanger can in particular be provided here, through which a cooling medium, or coolant, in particular water, likewise flows.
Implementation Method 2
Often, oil is also required when generating the compressed gas, in particular for lubricating the components of the compressor. Such oil is likewise heated and can be cooled by an oil cooler which can in particular have a heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 3
Housing coolers for cooling a housing of the compressor, or part thereof, can be provided for cooling, said housing coolers often also being referred to or embodied as jacket coolers. In the latter, a cooling medium, which can synonymously also be referred to as coolant, in particular water, can flow through the housing cooler and cool the housing as a result.
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor installation includes a compressor for compressing gas to generate a compressed gas, and a cooling installation having an oil cooler for cooling oil heated by the compressor, a compressed gas cooler for cooling the gas completely or partially compressed to the compressed gas, and a housing cooler for cooling a housing or part of the housing of the compressor. The oil cooler, the compressed gas cooler, and the housing cooler are each prepared to achieve the cooling by a coolant flow from a liquid coolant. In each case, the coolant flow of the oil cooler, the coolant flow of the compressed gas cooler, and the coolant flow of the housing cooler is an individual, actuatable control means to individually control each of the coolant flows such that a cooling output in each case is individually controllable for the oil cooler, the compressed gas cooler, and the housing cooler.