Compressor Cooling Jacket with Fan-Driven Overpressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling solutions for compressors are inefficient due to heated air being used to cool both heat exchangers and hot surfaces, leading to reduced cooling efficiency, increased energy demand, noise, and exposure to external contaminants, while also posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a jacket enclosing the compressor, featuring an air intake opening connected to a fan that creates overpressure, and strategically placed air outlet openings to direct airflow effectively for cooling both the output air and compressor components, including intermediate heat exchangers and additional elements like cylinder walls and crankcases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same air is used to cool both heat exchangers and hot surfaces, then the cooling device structure is simplified, but the cooling efficiency of hot surfaces decreases since the cooling air is already heated
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two separate air flow paths: one dedicated to cooling heat exchangers and another dedicated to cooling hot surfaces. The jacket creates a separate enclosed space with its own air intake and cooling outlets, isolating the cooling of hot surfaces from the heat exchanger cooling process, thereby maintaining high cooling efficiency for both functions simultaneously.
2Productivity
If open uncovered compressor structures are employed to increase air replacement, then cooling efficiency increases, but noise increases and the compressor is more exposed to external influences
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is enclosed in a jacket that acts as a protective shell. This jacket includes dedicated air intake openings and cooling air outlet openings that control air flow while maintaining an enclosed structure. This protects the compressor from external contaminants, water splashes, and reduces noise, while still providing adequate cooling through the controlled air flow paths.
3Quantity of substance
If a relatively large fan is used to compensate for air loss, then sufficient cooling air is provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor's own operation drives the cooling system. The compression process creates pressure differential that naturally drives cooling air through the jacket and over the hot surfaces. The jacket's sealed design ensures air is forced through the cooling paths without requiring a large external fan, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate cooling air volume.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency by ensuring cold air directly cools critical components, reduces noise and external exposure, and improves safety by containing the cooling process within an airtight jacket, optimizing airflow to balance heat exchanger and compressor element cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a fan in connection with the air intake opening, which fan during operation causes an overpressure inside the jacket
Implementation Method 2
the overpressure in the jacket leads to air flow for cooling of the output heat exchanger and cooling of the necessary parts of the compressor
Implementation Method 3
for cooling of output air from the compressor the output heat exchanger is mounted in the first air outlet opening
Implementation Method 4
air flow for cooling of the output heat exchanger and cooling of the necessary parts of the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling device for a compressor 100 which is provided with an intermediate heat exchanger 112 and an output heat exchanger 102 for cooling of compressed gas. The cooling device is enclosed by a jacket 200. The jacket has an air intake opening 202, connected to a radial fan 105 which provides an overpressure inside the jacket 200. The heat exchangers 102, 112 are mounted in air outlet openings 204, 206 in the jacket, with the result that the overpressure in the jacket 200 leads to cooling of the heat exchangers 102, 112. The jacket further comprises an additional outlet opening 208 for discharge of air used for cooling other elements of the compressor, such as cylinder walls, covers/tops and crankcases. The relationship between the different cooling processes can be influenced by the design of the openings 204, 206, 208 in the jacket 200.