Radial Cooling Air Flow in Piston Compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-cooled piston compressors face inefficiencies in cooling air flow distribution and require axial passages for the crankshaft, leading to suboptimal cooling and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
The compressor features a radial cooler arrangement with cooling air flowing transverse to the crankshaft axis, allowing for even cooling air distribution and eliminating the need for axial crankshaft passages, with a compact design that integrates the fan and drive unit on the same side, enabling uniform air flow through multiple coolers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolers are arranged on the outlet side of compressor stages with axial fan configuration, then cooling function is provided, but passages for the crankshaft have to be provided at both axial ends of the crankshaft housing, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling air flow direction from axial to radial dimension. The coolers are arranged radially around the crankshaft, with cooling air flowing in the radial direction through the crankshaft housing, eliminating the need for axial passages at both ends of the crankshaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The crankshaft housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it houses the crankshaft, provides radial passages for cooling air flow, and supports the radial arrangement of coolers. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate axial passages.
2Temperature
If coolers are arranged in front of and/or behind the axial fan, then cooling is provided, but not all coolers can be flown evenly with cold ambient air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from axial fan-based cooling to radial cooling air flow. The fan is positioned to draw cooling air radially inward through the crankshaft housing, ensuring uniform distribution to all radially arranged coolers, with all openings facing the environment for equal access to ambient air.
3Ease of manufacture
If axial fan and drive unit are arranged on opposite sides, then standard configuration is used, but more space is required and structure is less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fan and drive unit into the same crankshaft housing, with both components arranged on the same side. The fan is positioned to utilize the radial space around the crankshaft, allowing compact integration without requiring separate axial ends, thus reducing overall compressor size.
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 configuration ensures optimal cooling by evenly supplying fresh ambient air to all coolers, reducing complexity and enhancing efficiency by eliminating the need for axial crankshaft passages and allowing for a more compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler (14), which has an internal flow path through which the compressed gas can be guided to cool it down
Implementation Method 2
at least one fan, which generates a flow of cooling air through the at least one cooler
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a piston compressor having a compressor unit (4) which has at least one cylinder (12) with a piston driven by a crankshaft (10) and at least one cooler (14) which has an internal flow path which communicates with the outlet the at least one cylinder (12) is connected, wherein the cooler (14) is arranged such that it is flowed through in a direction (B) radially to the rotational axis (X) of the crankshaft (10) of cooling air.