Reciprocating Compressor Discharge Valve Pulsation Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating compressors experience high pressure pulsation levels in discharge valve systems, leading to potential damage, and existing solutions to mitigate this issue, such as increasing valve chamber volume or adding external space, are limited by space constraints.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a vessel with a volume connected to the discharge valve system via a conduit, which acts as a buffer for pressure pulsations and operates as a Helmholtz acoustic filter, reducing pressure peaks and extending the lifespan of the discharge valve system without increasing the compressor's overall dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the volume of the valve chamber is increased to reduce pressure pulsations, then the pulsation levels are reduced, but the overall dimensions of the compressor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the volume requirement into two separate components: the compact valve chamber within the compressor and the external buffer vessel. This segmentation allows the valve chamber to remain small while the buffer vessel provides the necessary volume for pulsation reduction, resolving the contradiction between compactness and pulsation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the solution into a spatial dimension by connecting the valve chamber to an external buffer vessel through a conduit. This dimensional extension allows the system to achieve the required volume for pulsation reduction without increasing the footprint or overall dimensions of the compressor itself.
2Reliability
If external buffer volume is added to reduce pressure peaks, then the pressure pulsations are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a buffer vessel as an intermediary element between the valve chamber and the discharge system. This intermediary component absorbs pressure pulsations and protects the valve system from damage, adding functionality without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing a buffer vessel connected through a conduit to manage pressure pulsations. This approach leverages gas compression and expansion dynamics to reduce pressure peaks, providing a relatively simple and effective solution compared to mechanical alternatives.
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 effectively reduces pressure pulsations by acting as a filter, suppressing frequencies above the cut-off frequency, thereby minimizing damage to the discharge valve system and increasing its lifespan without requiring larger machine dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the additional space is created to serve as a buffer for pressure pulsations and the small volume in the conduit acts like a spring in opposite phase with pulsations in the valve chamber
Implementation Method 2
the connection between said valve chamber and said volume in the vessel will operate as a Helmholtz acoustic filter or low pass filter resulting in the desired pulsation reduction
Data Source
AI summary
A reciprocating compressor comprising a cylinder and a piston dividing the cavity in the cylinder into a first and a second chamber being connected through respective suction valve systems and discharge valve systems to a suction duct and a discharge duct. The suction and discharge valve systems each including a housing defining a valve chamber and a valve body, whereby the compressor is further provided with a vessel defining a volume in fluid connection with a valve chamber of one of the discharge valve systems by a conduit.