Screw Compressor Slide Valve Actuation via Synchronized Hydraulic Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw compressors with single hydraulic cylinders and ordinary slide valves experience slow operation and poor responsivity in volume control, limiting the ability to adjust gas discharge effectively without increasing piston diameter or complicating equipment.
Innovation Solution
A screw compressor design featuring a pair of screw rotors with a slide valve and multiple hydraulic cylinders, where the hydraulic cylinders on the suction and discharge sides operate in synchronization to provide a driving force to the slide valve, allowing for improved responsivity without enlarging the piston diameter or adding pressurizing means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single hydraulic cylinder is used to actuate the slide valve, then the structure is simple, but the operation responsivity and volume control speed are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The single hydraulic cylinder is segmented into multiple hydraulic cylinders (first hydraulic cylinder on suction side, second hydraulic cylinder on discharge side) that operate in parallel. Each cylinder independently actuates the slide valve from different sides, providing combined driving force that significantly increases the operation speed and responsivity without requiring excessive increase in piston diameter or oil pressure
2Power
If the piston diameter is increased to improve slide valve responsivity, then the driving force increases, but the structural limits of the screw compressor are reached
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hydraulic cylinders are merged to work together in parallel, with their driving forces combining to actuate the slide valve. This approach achieves the required driving force through the cumulative effect of multiple smaller cylinders rather than relying on a single large-diameter piston, thereby avoiding structural limitations of the screw compressor housing
3Power
If pressurizing means are added to increase oil pressure for improving slide valve responsivity, then the driving force increases, but the equipment configuration becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple parallel cylinders operating at standard oil pressure, eliminating the need for additional pressurizing means. The combined driving force from multiple cylinders at normal pressure equals or exceeds the force from a single cylinder with pressurizing equipment, thereby simplifying the overall equipment configuration
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 enhances the quick operation and volume control responsiveness of the slide valve, preventing structural issues and equipment complexity, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving the slide valve forward and backward, the plural hydraulic cylinders imparting, in synchronization with each other, a driving force to the slide valve in the same direction
Data Source
AI summary
A screw compressor according to the present invention includes a slide valve adapted to move forward and backward in parallel with the axis of a pair of screw rotors and also includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving the slide valve forward and backward, the plural hydraulic cylinders imparting, in synchronization with each other, a driving force to the slide valve in the same direction. With this configuration, it is possible to quicken an operation of the slide valve and improve the responsivity in volume control without increasing the diameters of pistons of the hydraulic cylinders for actuating the slide valve and without complicating equipment.