Compressor Cooling System With Offset Coolers And Independent Blowers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor systems face inefficiencies in cooling both lubricant and compressed air, leading to potential overheating and reduced performance, with separate oil and air coolers requiring synchronized fan control, limiting independent adjustment of cooling air flow and increasing manufacturing and assembly costs.

Innovation Solution

The compressor system features two independently controllable blowers supplying separate cooling chambers for the lubricant and compressed air coolers, allowing independent operation to optimize cooling air flow based on specific requirements, with the coolers arranged offset to facilitate efficient media routing and easy assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate oil and air coolers are used with synchronized fan control, then both lubricant and compressed air can be cooled, but independent adjustment of cooling air flow is limited and manufacturing/assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent adjustment of cooling air flowVSAvoidSynchronized fan control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into two independent cooling circuits: one for the oil cooler and one for the air cooler. Each circuit has its own blower that can be controlled independently, allowing separate adjustment of cooling air flow to each cooler based on specific requirements without synchronized control complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If coolers are positioned on the same plane located together on the outside, then waste heat dissipation is efficient, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveWaste heat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidManufacturing and assembly cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The coolers are arranged in different spatial planes rather than on the same plane. The oil cooler is positioned in a first plane while the air cooler is positioned in a second plane, allowing both to dissipate heat efficiently while simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes through this dimensional arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enables efficient and energy-saving cooling of both lubricant and compressed air, reducing the risk of overheating and improving system performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness and ease of integration and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a lubricant cooler for cooling a lubricant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a compressed air cooler for cooling the generated compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a blower unit for supplying cooling air to the lubricant cooler and the compressed air cooler

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3277958B2Compressor system for generating compressed air, as well as method for operating a compressor system that generates compressed air
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 GARDNER DENVER DEUTLAND
  • EP3277958B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3277958B2 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a compressor system for generating compressed air. It comprises a drive (01), a driven compressor (02), a lubricant cooler (09), a compressed air cooler (12) and a blower unit. The blower unit has at least two blowers (06, 07) that can be controlled independent of one another, which convey cooling air to first and second cooling chambers (08, 11) that are separated from one another, wherein the first cooling chamber (08) conveys the cooling air to the lubricant cooler (09), and the second cooling chamber (11) conveys the cooling air to the compressed air cooler (12). The lubricant cooler (09) and the compressed air cooler (12) have an arrangement that is offset to one another in such a way that the axes of their inflow and outflow flanges (13), arranged on their lateral walls, are located in different planes. The invention also relates to a method for operating a compressor system that generates compressed air, wherein at least two control signals that are independent of one another are provided for two blowers (06, 07).