Variable Lubricant Supply for Screw Compressor Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Screw compressors face challenges in maintaining optimal lubricant circulation levels, as existing systems often require excessive lubricant to ensure sufficient heat dissipation, especially during high-load operations, which can be inefficient and wasteful.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a second lubricant supply system that can be activated or deactivated based on the compressor's operating state, allowing for adaptive lubricant circulation, with the option to increase lubricant flow during high-load operations and reduce it during normal-load operations, utilizing pressure differences to determine lubricant quantities and employing a controllable lubricant cooling device for efficient heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a continuously operated lubricant supply device is used to ensure sufficient heat dissipation under maximum load, then the heat dissipation performance is improved, but the lubricant consumption increases and energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant supply device is designed with variable flow capability, allowing it to adjust the lubricant circulation rate dynamically based on the compressor's operating conditions. The device can operate at different flow rates depending on whether the compressor is under high load or normal load, thereby optimizing the balance between heat dissipation requirements and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the lubricant flow rate parameter according to operating conditions. Under high load, the flow rate is increased to ensure adequate heat dissipation, while under normal load, the flow rate is reduced to minimize energy consumption. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining heat dissipation performance and improving energy efficiency.
2Temperature
If a large quantity of lubricant is constantly circulating to ensure sufficient cooling under maximum load, then the cooling capability is improved, but the lubricant consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant supply device dynamically adjusts the quantity of lubricant circulating through the system based on real-time operating conditions. During high-load operation, the device increases lubricant flow to maintain cooling capability, while during normal-load operation, it reduces lubricant flow to minimize consumption, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooling capability and lubricant quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic or intermittent lubricant circulation rather than continuous constant-flow circulation. The lubricant supply device can be activated or deactivated, or adjusted to different flow rates, based on whether the compressor is operating under high load or normal load conditions, optimizing both cooling effectiveness and lubricant consumption.
3Reliability
If the lubricant supply device is activated continuously to maintain adequate lubrication, then the lubrication reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant supply device is designed with dynamic control capability, allowing it to adjust its operation based on the compressor's load conditions. During high-load operation, the device maintains higher flow rates to ensure adequate lubrication and cooling, while during normal-load operation, it reduces flow rates to minimize energy consumption, thereby balancing lubrication reliability with energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the lubricant flow rate parameter according to operating conditions to optimize the balance between lubrication reliability and energy consumption. By adjusting the flow rate parameter dynamically, the system ensures adequate lubrication when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.
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 allows for optimized lubricant usage, ensuring adequate cooling during high-load operations while minimizing lubricant circulation in normal-load operations, thereby improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a continuously operated lubricant supply device which is designed so that the lubricant circulated in it ensures sufficient heat dissipation from the housing of the screw compressor
Implementation Method 2
the amount of lubricant flowing through the first lubricant supply system is determined by a pressure difference between a pressure in the lubricant sump and a pressure at a supply opening to the at least one screw rotor
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to improve a screw-type compressor, comprising a housing, at least one screw rotor which is arranged in a compressor housing of the housing, a lubricant sump which is arranged on the high-pressure side and in which lubricant is collected, and a lubricant feed device which feeds lubricant out of the lubricant sump to the at least one screw rotor, to such an extent that, with sufficient lubrication, the quantity of circulating lubricant can be kept as low as possible, it is proposed that the lubricant feed device comprises a first lubricant feed system and a second lubricant feed system, that the first lubricant feed system feeds lubricant to the at least one screw rotor during operation of the screw-type compressor, and that the second lubricant feed system additionally feeds lubricant to the at least one screw rotor, and in the process can be activated and can be deactivated.