Piston Compressor Spacer Arms for Thermal Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing a reciprocating compressor that can efficiently compress fluids with high temperature differences between the inlet and outlet without incurring significant thermal stresses or distortion, while being economically viable and maintaining minimal contact surfaces for reduced heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A piston compressor design featuring a cylinder and piston with a labyrinth seal, a carrier housing, and a spacer with support arms that connect the cylinder to the carrier housing, allowing for thermal energy exchange via these arms to manage temperature differences, and utilizing materials with high thermal conductivity like aluminum to maintain temperature equilibrium and minimize distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cylinder is rigidly connected to the carrier housing, then structural stability is improved, but thermal stress and distortion increase due to high temperature differences
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid connection between the cylinder and carrier housing is divided into multiple support arms (first support arm, second support arm, third support arm, fourth support arm) that are distributed around the cylinder. This segmentation allows thermal expansion and contraction in different directions, reducing thermal stress while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different support arms are positioned at different locations around the cylinder to provide localized support and accommodate thermal deformation. The support arms are strategically placed to maintain alignment while allowing for thermal stress relief in critical areas.
2Strength
If the contact surface between cylinder and carrier housing is increased, then structural rigidity is improved, but heat transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is segmented into multiple discrete support arms rather than a continuous large contact area. This reduces the total contact surface area and thus minimizes heat transfer, while the distributed arrangement of support arms maintains structural rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms act as intermediary elements between the cylinder and carrier housing, providing mechanical support while limiting thermal contact. The support arms mediate the connection in a way that prioritizes structural stability over thermal conduction.
3Temperature
If thermal energy exchange is increased, then temperature equilibrium is improved, but thermal stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal energy exchange is segmented into multiple pathways through different support arms rather than a single concentrated path. This distributes the thermal stress across multiple locations while maintaining temperature equilibrium through the support structure.
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 compressor operates safely and reliably across large temperature differences with minimal thermal stress, maintaining component alignment and reducing heat transfer through reduced contact surfaces, enabling efficient and cost-effective operation with high-speed capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
thermal energy, caused by a thermal difference present between the cylinder and the carrier housing, is exchanged via a plurality of support arms
Implementation Method 2
utilizing materials with high thermal conductivity like aluminum to maintain temperature equilibrium and minimize distortion
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a piston compressor the compressor having a cylinder as well as a piston arranged therein, a carrier housing with a crosshead mounted in the carrier housing, a spacer which connects the cylinder to the carrier housing, as well as a piston rod extending in a longitudinal direction (L) which connects the crosshead to the piston, wherein the spacer has a plurality of support arms, wherein the support arms are connected to and support the cylinder. The method supplies an inlet fluid (FE) at a temperature in the range between −162° C. and −40° C. to the cylinder via the inlet valve, and expels the fluid located in the cylinder via the outlet valve, wherein the outlet fluid (FA) is heated in the cylinder by compression by a temperature difference in the range between 100° C. and 150° C.