Compressor Seal Chamber Bypass for Pressure-Balanced Wear Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piston compressors experience high wear due to high pressure differences and dry running, leading to limited piston speeds and prolonged refuelling times, especially when compressing hydrogen for fueling applications.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design with a stationary part and an oscillating part featuring multiple axially arranged chambers and seals, incorporating a leakage path with a bypass to evenly distribute pressure across seals, minimizing wear by allowing controlled leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high pressure differences are used for hydrogen compression, then compression efficiency is improved, but seal wear increases disproportionately due to exceeding the pv limit
Solution Approach 1:
The compression space is divided into multiple chambers (first, second, third chambers) with multiple seals arranged in sequence. This segmentation distributes the high pressure difference across multiple seals rather than concentrating it on a single seal, preventing any individual seal from exceeding the pv limit while maintaining overall compression efficiency.
2Reliability
If piston speed is limited to avoid exceeding pv limit, then seal wear is reduced, but refuelling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the compression space into multiple chambers with multiple seals, the system can operate at higher piston speeds without individual seals exceeding the pv limit. The distributed pressure load allows faster operation while maintaining acceptable wear levels, thus reducing refuelling time.
Solution Approach 2:
Bypass channels are introduced as intermediary pathways that connect adjacent chambers. These bypasses allow controlled pressure equalization between chambers, reducing the pressure differential across individual seals and enabling higher operating speeds without excessive wear.
3Reliability
If multiple seals are arranged in sequence to distribute pressure, then device complexity increases, but wear per seal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression space is divided into multiple chambers with multiple seals arranged in sequence. This segmentation distributes the high pressure difference across multiple seals rather than concentrating it on a single seal, preventing any individual seal from exceeding the pv limit while maintaining overall compression efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Bypass channels are introduced as intermediary pathways that connect adjacent chambers. These bypasses allow controlled pressure equalization between chambers, reducing the pressure differential across individual seals and enabling higher operating speeds without excessive wear.
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
The solution enables high-pressure gas compression at increased speeds without exceeding the pv limit, reducing seal wear and enhancing refuelling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The inventors have recognised that, in particular in the case of high pressure differences, it is preferable to distribute the pressure difference (the difference between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side) more homogeneously across the individual seals via a sealing arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor having a stationary part and a part oscillating along a main axis (X) as well as a leakage path (L) extending between the stationary part and the oscillating part in the axial direction, wherein multiple chambers, which are arranged axially in succession and extend annularly around the main axis (X), are defined between the stationary part and the oscillating part, wherein a seal, which closes or reduces the leakage path (L) is arranged in at least one chamber. The compressor has at least one bypass which fluidically interconnects two chambers.