Screw Compressor Air Regulator Control Piston
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Screw compressors with regulators closed in the base state experience high-inertia starting due to strong spring forces, leading to unfavorable control quality and rate.
Innovation Solution
An air regulator with a control apparatus dynamically connected to a spring-loaded valve element, using pre-separator pressure to immediately close the regulator upon compressor start, eliminating the need for strong spring forces and incorporating a diversion apparatus for continuous cleaning and lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the regulator is closed in the base state using strong spring forces, then high-inertia starting is prevented, but control quality and control rate deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A control piston is introduced as an intermediary element between the spring force and the valve element. The control piston has a control surface that is acted upon by system pressure, allowing the pressure to counterbalance the spring force and enable precise control of the valve element without requiring excessively strong spring forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic pressure from the system to act on the control surface of the control piston. This pneumatic action provides a controllable force that opposes the spring force, enabling precise regulation of the valve element position and improving control quality while maintaining the ability to prevent high-inertia starting.
2Reliability
If strong spring forces are used to close the regulator during starting, then high-inertia starting is avoided, but the structure becomes more complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The control piston serves as a mediator that transforms the relationship between spring force and valve actuation. By introducing this intermediate component with a pressure-actuated control surface, the system achieves reliable prevention of high-inertia starting while maintaining a compact and relatively simple structure, as the control piston integrates multiple functions in a single element.
3Device complexity
If the regulator is open in the base state, then spring forces are reduced, but high-inertia starting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control piston is designed to be preliminarily acted upon by system pressure building up in the compressor. As pressure increases during compression, it acts on the control surface of the piston, progressively counterbalancing the spring force and preparing the valve element for precise control before full operation begins, thereby preventing high-inertia starting.
Solution Approach 2:
System pneumatic pressure is utilized to act on the control surface of the control piston, providing a force that counterbalances the spring force. This pneumatic mechanism enables the regulator to maintain an open base state with reduced spring forces while still preventing high-inertia starting through pressure-dependent valve control.
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 solution prevents high-inertia starting, achieves precision control behavior, and suppresses pressure piling during idling, with a simplified structure and versatile triggering options, ensuring improved control quality and rate without the need for excessive spring forces.
Implementation Method 1
the control piston, depending on the pre-separator pressure in interaction with a pilot control apparatus, actuates the valve element of the air regulator such that the regulator is immediately forced to assume its closed position when the compressor is started
Implementation Method 2
a regulator housing with a valve element which is spring-loaded on one side
Data Source
AI summary
An air regulator for compressor, in particular for a screw compressor, of the type that has an oil separator device comprising a pre-separator, is provided in a regulator housing containing a valve element which is spring-loaded on one side and can be actuated by means of a piston arrangement. A control device is operatively connected to the air regulator and includes a control piston which, depending on the pre-separator pressure, actuates the valve element of the air regulator in co-operation with a pre-control device in such a way that the regulator immediately and forcibly assumes the closed position upon starting the compressor, while the regulator assumes the open position in an unloaded initial state.