Gas Compressor Overpressure Valve Buffering for Quiet Pressure Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas compressing elements, such as screw compressors and vacuum pumps, experience overcompression or undercompression due to varying ambient conditions, leading to energy waste, mechanical stress, and noise nuisance from vibrating overpressure valves.

Innovation Solution

The element incorporates multiple passages with overpressure valves that open and close based on preset pressure differences, featuring an internal buffer space with a constriction to attenuate valve opening, reducing vibrations and noise by distributing pressure loads across multiple valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a single overpressure valve is used to release compressed gas, then the pressure can be relieved, but vibrations and noise occur due to sudden pressure changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrations and noiseVSAvoidpressure control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single overpressure valve into multiple smaller overpressure valves (first overpressure valve and second overpressure valve). Each valve handles a portion of the pressure relief, which reduces the sudden pressure change and associated vibrations and noise while maintaining effective pressure control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a buffer volume that预先 accumulates compressed gas before it reaches the overpressure valves. This preliminary accumulation smooths out pressure fluctuations and reduces the impact of sudden pressure changes, thereby reducing vibrations and noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the internal pressure ratio in the compression chamber is increased to meet varying ambient pressure requirements, then the desired pressure ratio across the element can be achieved, but overcompression occurs leading to energy waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure ratio adjustmentVSAvoidenergy waste from overcompression
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses overpressure valves that automatically open when a preset pressure is exceeded, providing a feedback mechanism that prevents overcompression. The valves close when pressure drops below the preset value, maintaining optimal pressure levels and avoiding energy waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows adjustment of the preset pressure values for the overpressure valves, enabling adaptation to different ambient conditions and pressure ratio requirements without causing overcompression and energy waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the internal pressure ratio in the compression chamber is decreased to match lower ambient pressures, then energy waste is reduced, but undercompression occurs failing to meet desired pressure ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidpressure ratio adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The overpressure valves provide continuous feedback control, opening when pressure exceeds the preset value and closing when it drops below, ensuring the pressure ratio adapts to ambient conditions without undercompression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The preset pressure parameters of the overpressure valves can be adjusted to match different ambient pressure conditions, maintaining optimal compression efficiency across varying operating environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 minimizes energy waste, reduces mechanical stress, and eliminates noise nuisance by stabilizing pressure fluctuations, ensuring efficient and quiet operation across varying ambient conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a first pressure difference between a pressure in the first working chamber in said first position and a pressure at the outlet exceeds a first preset value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

upon opening the first passage, this variable volume is reduced, and gas is carried from the internal buffer space through the constriction to the outlet, and so that, upon closing the first passage, this variable volume increases, and gas is carried from the outlet through the constriction to the internal buffer space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression and expansion: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4348050B1Element for compressing a gas and method for controlling such element
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER NV
  • EP4348050B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4348050B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Element for compressing a gas with a housing (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4), which housing (2) encloses a compression chamber (5) with an outlet port (7) connected to the outlet, wherein in the compression chamber (5) a rotor (8) is mounted so that the compression chamber (5) is divided into working chambers, wherein the element (1) is provided with a passage (10) between the outlet and a working chamber in the compression chamber (5) which is not in adjacent contact with the outlet port (7), which passage (10) is provided with an overpressure valve (11) to open the passage (10) when a pressure difference between the working chamber and the outlet (4) exceeds a preset value, characterized in that the overpressure valve (11) comprises a valve body (12) that encloses a buffer space (13) with a variable volume that is in fluid connection with the outlet through a constriction (14), so that this volume is reduced and gas from the buffer space (13) flows through the constriction (14) to the outlet upon opening the passage (10).