Coolant circulation system for multi-stage compressor assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid compressors face inefficiencies due to increased temperatures from pressure increase, leading to suboptimal performance as intercoolers accumulate debris, causing partial or total clogging and inefficient cooling, which can result in higher working fluid temperatures before entering subsequent compression stages.
Innovation Solution
A fluid compressor system with multiple air-ends and intercoolers, utilizing a coolant circulation system with throttle valves to regulate coolant flow, ensuring efficient cooling across stages by modulating coolant flow based on temperature ranges, thereby maintaining optimal working fluid temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If intercoolers are used to cool compressed fluid between stages, then the temperature of the working fluid is reduced, but debris accumulation causes partial or total clogging leading to inefficient cooling and higher working fluid temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow rate of coolant through throttle valves to match the cooling requirements of each intercooler. By changing the coolant flow parameter based on operational conditions, the system maintains effective heat exchange without debris clogging affecting performance, thus resolving the contradiction between temperature reduction and cooling efficiency reliability
2Temperature
If multiple intercoolers are used in parallel, then cooling capacity is increased, but the complexity of the coolant circulation system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system is segmented into multiple independent circuits, each serving a specific intercooler with its own throttle valve. This segmentation allows each cooling circuit to be independently controlled and optimized, increasing overall cooling capacity while managing system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic control through throttle valves that automatically adjust coolant flow distribution to each intercooler based on real-time temperature and flow requirements. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to handle multiple intercoolers efficiently without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control mechanisms
3Temperature
If coolant flow is increased to improve cooling, then temperature control is enhanced, but energy consumption and system pressure drop increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic flow control through throttle valves that automatically adjust coolant flow rate based on the actual cooling demand of each intercooler. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal temperature control while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption and pressure drop by providing only the required cooling capacity, not excessive flow
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 system enhances the efficiency of fluid compression by maintaining desired temperature ranges across multiple compression stages, preventing clogging and ensuring consistent performance by dynamically adjusting coolant flow through throttle valves.
Implementation Method 1
a first throttle valve between the first coolant outlet and the coolant collecting header, the first throttle valve configured to regulate a coolant flow discharged by the first intercooler
Implementation Method 2
a first intercooler located between the first air-end and the second air-end and having a first coolant inlet and a first coolant outlet, the first intercooler configured to cool the working fluid discharged by the first air-end before entering the second air-end
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid compressor system (100) configured to supply a compressed working fluid including at least a first air-end (101) and a second air-end (102), a first and second intercooler (108, 110), and a coolant circulation system (106) having at least one throttle valve (130). The first and second intercoolers (108, 110) are configured to cool the compressed working fluid delivered by the first and second air-ends (101, 102) of the fluid compressor system (100), respectively. The coolant circulation system (106) includes a coolant supplying header (114) and a coolant collecting header (112), where the coolant supplying header (114) supplies a coolant to the first intercooler (108) and the second intercooler (110), and the coolant collecting header (112) collects the coolant from the first intercooler (108) and the second intercooler (110). The at least one throttle valve (130) regulates a coolant flow discharged by one of the first intercooler (108) or the second intercooler (110) prior to entering the coolant collecting header (112).