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EP-4328447-B1 - COMPRESSOR INSTALLATION

EP4328447B1EP 4328447 B1EP4328447 B1EP 4328447B1EP-4328447-B1

Inventors

  • DE RAEMAEKER, PIETER

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230727

Claims (13)

  1. Compressor installation (1) provided with at least one compressor element (2) with an associated oil circuit (10), wherein the compressor element (2) is provided with an outlet (9) with an outlet line (8) connected thereto, wherein the compressor installation (1) is further provided with a dryer (2) for drying a compressed gas originating from the compressor element (2), wherein the dryer (3) is of the type that uses a drying agent or desiccant, wherein the dryer (3) is provided with a drying section (14) and with a regeneration section (15), wherein the drying section (14) is provided with a first inlet (16a) for compressed gas to be dried and a first outlet (16b) for dried compressed gas, wherein the first inlet (16a) is connected to said outlet line (8) for the supply of compressed gas to be dried, wherein the regeneration section (15) is provided with a second inlet (17a) and a second outlet (17b) for regeneration gas, wherein a regeneration line (18) is provided between said second inlet (17a) and a first point (19) of the outlet line (8) for branching off a portion of the compressed gas, wherein at said second outlet (17b) a return line (20) is connected that connects the second outlet (17b) to a second point (21) on the outlet line (8), wherein, in the return line (20), a primary portion (27) of a heat exchanger (28) is incorporated for cooling the regeneration gas, characterized in that , the regeneration line (18) is provided for branching off a portion of the compressed gas to be dried; the second point (21) on the outlet line (8) is provided downstream of said first point (19); a secondary portion (29) of the heat exchanger (28) is incorporated into the oil circuit (10) of the compressor element.
  2. Compressor installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the oil circuit (10) is provided with an oil reservoir (11) and with an oil pump (12) for circulating the oil from the oil reservoir (11), wherein the oil circuit (10) is further provided with an oil line (13) that runs from the oil reservoir (11) to a cooling jacket of the compressor element (2), then to the secondary portion (29) of said heat exchanger (28) and then back to the oil reservoir (11).
  3. Compressor installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the oil circuit (10) is provided with an oil reservoir (11) and with an oil pump (12) for circulating the oil from the oil reservoir (11), wherein the oil circuit (10) is further provided with an oil line (13) that runs from the oil reservoir (11) to the secondary portion (29) of said heat exchanger (28), then to the compressor element (2) for its lubrication and then back to the oil reservoir (11).
  4. Compressor installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the oil line (13) runs from the oil reservoir (11) first to a cooling jacket of the compressor element (2) before it runs to the secondary portion (29) of said heat exchanger (28).
  5. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an oil cooler (30) is incorporated into the oil circuit (10) for cooling the oil, wherein this oil cooler (30) is incorporated into the oil line (13), upstream of the secondary portion (29) of the heat exchanger (28) of the oil circuit (10).
  6. Compressor installation according to claim 5, characterized in that a bridging line (31) is provided over the oil cooler (30).
  7. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electric heater is incorporated into the regeneration line (18).
  8. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that aftercooler (25) and optionally also a liquid separator (26) is incorporated into the outlet line (8) between the first point (19) and the second point (21).
  9. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dryer (3) is provided with a housing (23) in which the drying section (14) and the regeneration section (15) are located, wherein a drum (24), containing the drying agent, is arranged in the housing (23), which drum (24) is connected to driving means such that the drying agent can be moved successively through the drying section (14) and the regeneration section (15).
  10. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dryer (3) comprises a number of vessels filled with the drying agent, of which at least one vessel forms the drying section (14) and at least one vessel forms the regeneration section (15), wherein the dryer (3) further comprises a valve system connecting the outlet line (8), the regeneration line (18) and optionally the return line (20) to said vessels, wherein said valve system is such that at least one vessel is always being regenerated, while the other vessels dry the compressed gas, wherein by controlling the valve system the vessels are each in turn being regenerated.
  11. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a venturi ejector (22) is incorporated into the outlet line (8) at the location of said second point (21).
  12. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a blower is incorporated into the outlet line (8) at the location of said second point (21).
  13. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor installation (1) is provided with two compressor elements (2) that are connected in series, wherein an intercooler (4) is incorporated between both compressor elements (2) for cooling the compressed gas.

Description

The present invention relates to a compressor installation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a compressor installation provided with at least one compressor element with associated oil circuit, which is provided with a dryer for drying the compressed gas, that is connected to an outlet line of the compressor element. The oil circuit can be used only to lubricate, for example, the bearings of the compressor element and to cool the compressor element, but it can also be used to inject oil into the compressor element for lubrication and sealing. This dryer is of the type that uses a drying agent or desiccant and is provided with a drying section and a regeneration section. The drying section has a first inlet for compressed gas to be dried and a first outlet for dried compressed gas, wherein the first inlet is connected to the outlet line for the supply of compressed gas to be dried. The regeneration section has a second inlet and a second outlet for regeneration gas. A regeneration line is provided between said second inlet and a first point of the outlet line for branching off a portion of the compressed gas to be dried, wherein said second outlet is connected to a return line connecting the second outlet to a second point on the outlet line downstream of said first point. The regeneration line will branch off a part of the compressed gas to be dried and convey it to the regeneration section as a regeneration gas to regenerate the drying agent in this regeneration section. After regeneration, the regeneration gas must be cooled before being returned to the compressed gas to be dried via the return line. Therefore, a cooler is provided in this return line to cool the regeneration gas. Such compressor devices are already known wherein said cooler is either air-cooled, i.e. an air-air cooler, or is water-cooled, i.e. a water-air cooler. A disadvantage of an air-air cooler for cooling the regeneration air is that many conduits are required to get the regeneration air to the cooler section of the compressor device. After all, for many air-cooled compressor installations, all or many of the coolers of the compressor installation, i.e. intercoolers, aftercoolers, oil coolers,..., are grouped at a location in the installation, called the cooling arrangement, where they are cooled with the ambient air by means of one or more fans. The extra conduits ensure that the device becomes more extensive. In addition, not only must an additional cooler be provided in this cooler arrangement, but in addition, in some cases, if the coolers are grouped in a cooler arrangement, this cooler of the regeneration gas is placed before the intercooler and aftercooler, such that the latter already receive partially heated ambient air and therefore must be dimensioned larger in order to achieve the same cooling. A disadvantage of a water-air cooler for cooling the regeneration air is that one is dependent on a water supply that is provided by the user of the compressor device. Therefore, it must be possible for the user to provide a sufficient amount of water at a sufficiently low temperature. If he cannot guarantee this possibility, the proper functioning of the compressor device cannot be guaranteed. The document WO2020/183251 A1 discloses a compressor installation according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention aims to provide a solution to said and other disadvantages. The object of the present invention is a compressor installation according to claim 1. Instead of using air or water to cool the regeneration gas, said heat exchanger will use another medium present in the compressor installation, namely the oil from the oil circuit. In other words, the heat exchanger in the return line forms a cooler of the regeneration gas that is an oil-cooled cooler, or an oil-air cooler, instead of an air-cooled or water-cooled cooler. An advantage is that such a compressor device will be more compact compared to an air-cooled compressor device wherein an additional air-air cooler must be provided together with the necessary conduits. This is not the case for said heat exchanger, which can be incorporated into the oil circuit of the installation. Moreover, in the case of an air-cooled compressor installation, where the coolers are grouped in a cooler arrangement, the coolers no longer have to be dimensioned larger. Another advantage is that one is no longer dependent on a supply of cooling medium to be provided by the user, as is the case for a water-cooled cooler for the regeneration gas. Yet another advantage is that a dryer with a heat exchanger in the return line that is cooled by water has the same construction as a dryer with a heat exchanger that is cooled by oil. It is known that the regeneration air can be set up to 200°C, exposing the oil in the heat exchanger to this temperature. Such a high temperature could adversely affect the life of the oil. However, since the oil is continuously circulated in the oil