Parallel Gas Cooler Split-Body Design to Reduce Compressor Module Size

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor modules face challenges in reducing the size of the gas cooler while maintaining its cooling performance, which is essential for compactness and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The compressor module design incorporates a high-pressure gas cooler divided into split bodies with parallel arrangements and optimized dimensions, allowing for a smaller diameter and length of the high-pressure casings, while maintaining the cooling performance through extended heat exchange units and balanced gas flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the gas cooler size is reduced to make the compressor module more compact, then the overall module size decreases, but the cooling performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor module sizeVSAvoidcooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas cooler is divided into multiple heat exchange units arranged in parallel. Each unit has a smaller individual size, but collectively they provide sufficient cooling area. The gas flow is split into multiple streams that pass through different heat exchange units simultaneously, maintaining overall cooling performance while reducing the maximum dimension of any single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchange units are arranged in a parallel configuration across multiple dimensions rather than extending in a single long direction. This parallel arrangement allows the cooling surface area to be distributed spatially, reducing the length and volume of individual components while maintaining total heat exchange capacity through optimized spatial utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the heat exchange unit length is increased to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidheat exchange unit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using one extremely long heat exchange unit, the system employs multiple shorter units arranged in parallel. Each unit has a manageable length that is easier to manufacture and assemble, while the parallel configuration collectively provides the required total heat exchange area and cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple heat exchange units are combined in parallel to achieve the cumulative cooling effect of a single long unit. The parallel arrangement merges the cooling capacity of several shorter units, providing equivalent or superior performance while reducing individual component complexity and manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enables a more compact compressor module with improved cooling performance, reduced pressure loss, and lower manufacturing costs, while ensuring the cooling efficiency of both low- and high-pressure gases.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchange unit (46) which cools the gas introduced into the high-pressure casing (41)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the heat exchange unit (46) which cools the gas introduced into the high-pressure casing (41)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the gas cooler (40) which cools the gas compressed by the compressor (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4053408B1Compressor module and compressor module designing method
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTIES COMPRESSOR CORP
  • EP4053408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4053408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4053408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A compressor module includes: a compressor; and a high-pressure gas cooler which cools gas discharged from the compressor, wherein the high-pressure gas cooler includes a plurality of gas cooler partial bodies, wherein each gas cooler partial body includes a high-pressure casing which is formed in a cylindrical container shape extending in a horizontal direction and to which the gas is introduced and a high-pressure heat exchange unit which is installed in the high-pressure casing and cools a gas passing in one direction orthogonal to a center axis of the high-pressure casing, and wherein the gas cooler partial bodies are arranged in parallel so that the center axes of the high-pressure casings are parallel to each other, the gas sequentially flows through the gas cooler partial bodies.