Liquid-feed type gas compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-feed-type gas compressors face challenges in accurately monitoring the liquid surface height in gas-liquid separators due to minimal pressure and temperature differences between gases and liquids, leading to unreliable detection methods.
Innovation Solution
A system with a sampling line connected to a predetermined height in the gas-liquid separator, equipped with pressure or temperature detectors, and a controller that determines the fluid type based on set values, allowing for accurate monitoring of the liquid surface height by exploiting the distinct pulsation patterns of gases and liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pressure detector is set at a predetermined height position in the oil separator to detect oil surface height, then the detection method is simple, but the detection is unreliable because the pressure difference between air and oil is minimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sampling line as an intermediary component that connects the oil separator to the detector. This sampling line allows the detection of fluid characteristics (pressure or temperature) from the separator without requiring direct placement of the detector at the oil-gas interface, thereby enabling reliable detection while maintaining system simplicity.
2Device complexity
If a temperature detector is set at a predetermined height position in the oil separator to detect oil surface height, then the detection method is simple, but the detection is unreliable because the temperature difference between air and oil is minimal
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling line serves as a mediator that transports fluid samples from the oil separator to the detector. This approach allows temperature detection without direct contact with the oil-gas interface, enabling accurate differentiation between oil and gas phases while keeping the detection system simple.
3Measurement precision
If an optical detector is set at a predetermined height position to detect oil presence, then the detection method is direct, but erroneous detection occurs because oil flows down and adheres to the detector
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling line acts as an intermediary that separates the detector from the main oil flow path. By routing a sample of the fluid through the sampling line to the detector, the system avoids direct contact between the detector and the flowing oil, thereby preventing oil adhesion and erroneous detection while maintaining the ability to detect oil presence accurately.
4Device complexity
If the oil surface height in the oil separator is not monitored, then the system is simpler, but the compression performance deteriorates when the amount of stored oil becomes deficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where detectors continuously monitor the fluid characteristics in the oil separator and provide signals to a control unit. When the oil level or oil-gas ratio falls outside acceptable parameters, the control unit can trigger alarms or adjust system operations, ensuring compression performance is maintained while adding only minimal system complexity.
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
Enables precise monitoring of the liquid surface height by distinguishing between gas and liquid flows based on pressure or temperature changes, reducing erroneous detection and ensuring timely lubrication replenishment.
Implementation Method 1
a sampling line whose inlet side is connected to a predetermined height position of the gas-liquid separator and that allows fluid from the predetermined height position of the gas-liquid separator to flow by pressure difference between the inlet side and an outlet side
Implementation Method 2
a detector that detects pressure or temperature of the fluid that flows in the sampling line
Implementation Method 3
a controller that determines which of the gas and the liquid the fluid that flows in the sampling line is by carrying out at least one of determination of whether the pressure or the temperature detected by the detector exceeds a first set value set in advance in some cases and determination of whether the pressure or the temperature detected by the detector falls below a second set value set to be smaller than the first set value in advance in some cases
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid-feed-type gas compressor that can monitor the liquid surface height in a gas-liquid separator is provided. An oil-feed-type air compressor includes: an oil separator that separates oil from compressed air discharged from a compressor main body 1 and stores the oil therein; a sampling line whose inlet side is connected to a predetermined height position of the oil separator and that allows fluid from the predetermined height position of the oil separator to flow by the pressure difference between the inlet side and the outlet side; a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the fluid that flows or has flown in the sampling line; a controller that determines which of air and oil the fluid that flows in the sampling line is by carrying out determination of whether the pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a set value P1 in some cases and determination of whether the pressure falls below a set value P2 in some cases; and an informing device that informs a determination result of the controller.