Compression device and method and refrigeration machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centrifugal compression devices with multiple motors are inefficient in heat management, leading to increased energy consumption and unsatisfactory performance due to the conventional cooling methods used, which are not well-suited for architectures with multiple motors.
Innovation Solution
A gas circuit with a fourth line that recovers gas from the first motor and directs it to the inlet of the second motor to cool it, reducing heating, and a fifth line that recovers gas from the second motor to return it to the first compressor, utilizing a single gas flow to cool multiple motors in series, thereby optimizing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional cooling methods are used for multiple motors, then each motor is cooled independently, but the energy consumption increases and the system becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling functions for multiple motors into a single integrated cooling circuit. The cooling gas flows sequentially through multiple motors (first motor, second motor, etc.) in series, allowing one cooling system to serve multiple motors simultaneously. This reduces the number of separate cooling circuits needed and decreases overall energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling for all motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling gas circuit is designed to perform multiple cooling functions simultaneously. A single cooling gas flow path is configured to cool multiple different motors (first motor, second motor, and potentially additional motors) along its route. This multi-functional approach allows the same cooling system to serve various components throughout the compression device, improving efficiency and reducing redundancy.
2Reliability
If separate cooling circuits are used for each motor, then each motor receives adequate cooling, but the device complexity and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cooling functions are combined into a single cooling circuit. The cooling gas flows through a unified pathway that sequentially passes through multiple motors, ensuring each motor receives adequate cooling without requiring separate independent cooling circuits. This reduces the number of cooling circuits from multiple separate systems to one integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling gas flows continuously through multiple motors in sequence without interruption. The cooling action is maintained throughout the entire gas path, with the cooling gas progressively cooling each motor it encounters. This continuous cooling action ensures reliable thermal management across all motors while using a single uninterrupted cooling circuit.
3Reliability
If multiple independent cooling systems are implemented, then each motor is cooled independently, but the volume of equipment required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling systems into one consolidated cooling circuit, significantly reducing the total volume of cooling equipment required. Instead of having separate cooling circuits for each motor (which would require multiple independent systems and associated equipment), a single cooling gas pathway serves multiple motors, reducing the overall equipment volume while maintaining cooling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling circuit is designed as a universal system that can cool multiple motors simultaneously through its multi-functional design. The same cooling gas pathway and associated equipment serve multiple different motors throughout the compression device, maximizing the utility of each component and minimizing the total equipment volume needed for reliable cooling of all motors.
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 solution reduces the power required to cool multiple motors by half, achieving a 6% reduction in energy consumption compared to prior art, while maintaining efficient cooling and reducing thermal losses, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the compression device.
Implementation Method 1
transferring a fraction of the gas compressed in said compressor into said at least one first motor in order to limit the heating thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A device for centrifugal compression of a working gas comprising a plurality of centrifugal compressors forming a plurality of compression stages and a plurality of drive motors for driving the compressors, the device comprising a gas circuit comprising a first pipe for supplying gas to be compressed into the first compressor, the gas circuit comprising a second pipe for discharging the gas compressed therein, the second pipe being connected to an inlet of a second compressor in order to carry out a second compression, the gas circuit comprising a third, cooling, pipe for transferring a fraction of the gas compressed in said compressor into said at least one first motor in order to limit heating thereof, the gas circuit comprising a fourth pipe for recovering the gas that has circulated in the first motor and a downstream end connected to an inlet of a second motor for transferring the gas into same in order to limit the heating of second motor.