Multi-stage compressor unit and method for adjusting the rotational speed of the motors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021102554-A1
Application number	US-201917041007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2019
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	Apr 8, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-stage compressor unit including at least a first compressor stage including a first compressor element driven through a first gear-transmission and a second compressor stage including a second compressor element driven through a separate second gear-transmission. The first and second gear transmissions include a driving gear and a driven gear configured to be a multiplier, each of the driven gears is connected to a shaft of a rotor of the first compressor element or second compressor element respectively, where the first motor and the second motor re adapted to drive the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage separately. The gear ratio between the driven gear and the driving gear of either one of the first gear transmission and second gear transmission is situated between two and six.

First claim

1 .- 29 . (canceled)

30 . A multi-stage compressor unit comprising:
an inlet and a compressed gas outlet, at least a first compressor stage comprising a first compressor element driven by a first motor through a first gear-transmission and a second compressor stage comprising a second compressor element driven by a second motor through a separate second gear-transmission, wherein each of said first and said second gear transmissions comprises a driving gear connected to the first motor or the second motor respectively, and a driven gear configured to be a multiplier, each of said driven gear being connected to a shaft of a rotor of said first compressor element or said second compressor element respectively, wherein the first motor and the second motor are adapted to drive the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage separately, wherein a gear ratio between the driven gear and the driving gear of either one of said first gear transmission and said second gear transmission is situated between two and six.

31 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , further comprising a cooling unit for cooling a compressed gas exiting the first compressor element or the second compressor element.

32 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 31 , further comprising a controller unit connected to the first motor through a first communication link and to the second motor through a second communication link.

33 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 32 , wherein the multi-stage compressor unit comprises a first pressure sensor and/or a first temperature sensor positioned at the compressed gas outlet of the first compressor element and a second pressure sensor and/or a second temperature sensor positioned at the compressed gas outlet of the second compressor element and the controller unit is adapted to receive measurement data from said pressure sensor(s) and/or temperature sensor(s) through a third communication link.

34 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , wherein at least one of said first motor and/or second motor is configured such that the product of the nominal power, in kW, and the square of the nominal speed, in rpm, is situated in a range between 0.0006×10E12 and 0.025×10E12.

35 . The multi-stage compressor according to claim 30 , wherein at least one of said motors is configured such that the product of the maximum power, in kW, and the square of the maximum speed, in rpm, is situated in a range between 0.0006×10E12 and 0.025×10E12.

36 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , wherein at least one of said compressor elements and the motor driving this at least one compressor element, are oriented transversally relative to the direction of longest side of the multi-stage compressor unit.

37 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , wherein said multi-stage compressor unit further comprises a first cubicle comprising one or more frequency convertors, and a second cubicle comprising control electronics, said first and second cubicle being separated from one another.

38 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , wherein at least one of said first motor or second motor is cooled with the same liquid as the first compressor element or second compressor element that is driven by this first motor or second motor.

39 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 38 , wherein the at least one motor and the compressor element that are cooled with the same liquid comprise a cooling circuit comprising said liquid, said cooling circuit being configured such that this motor and the associated compressor element are cooled in series.

40 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 30 , wherein a compressed gas outlet of at least one of said first compressor element or second compressor element is connected to a cooling unit, and positioned on top of this cooling unit.

41 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 40 , wherein the first motor driving the first compressor element is positioned together with the first compressor element on top of the cooling unit and/or the second motor driving the second compressor element, and the second compressor element is positioned on top of the second cooling unit.

42 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 41 , wherein said at least one of said first compressor element or second compressor element is connected to the respective first motor or second motor by means of a second connection part, said second connection part being configured to support this first compressor element or second compressor element.

43 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 38 , wherein a cooling outlet of at least one of said first motor or second motor that is cooled in series with at least one of said first compressor element or second compressor element, is connected to a cooling inlet of a cooling unit.

44 . The multi-stage compressor unit according to claim 38 , wherein a cooling inlet of said at least one of said first motor or second motor that is cooled in series with at least one of said first compressor element or second compressor element, is connected to a cooling outlet of a cooling unit.

45 . A multi-stage compressor unit comprising:
at least a first compressor element and a second compressor element and at least a first motor and a second motor for driving, each separately, another one of said first compressor element and said second compressor element through a separate first gear-transmission and a separate second gear-transmission, each of said first gear-transmission and said second gear-transmission comprising a driving gear connected to a respective motor of said first motor or said second motor, and a driven gear being connected to a shaft of a rotor of one of said first compressor element or said second compressor element, wherein a ratio between a number of teeth of the driving gear and a number of teeth of the driven gear of either one of said first gear-transmission and said second gear-transmission is situated between two and six.

46 . A method for adjusting the rotational speed of the motors of a multi-stage compressor unit, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
providing a first compressor stage comprising a first compressor element and driving said first compressor element by means of a first motor through a first gear-transmission; providing a second compressor stage comprising a second compressor element and driving said second compressor element separately from the first compressor element by means of a second motor through a separate second gear-transmission; connecting a driving gear of each of the first gear-transmission and second gear-transmission to the first motor or second motor respectively; connecting a driven gear of each of the first gear-transmission and second gear-transmission to a shaft of a rotor of said first compressor element or second compressor element respectively; and setting a gear ratio between the driving gear and the driven gear of either one of said first gear-transmission and said second gear-transmission between two and six.

47 . The method according to claim 46 , further comprising the step of connecting a compressed gas outlet of the first compressor stage to an inlet of a cooling unit and a gas outlet of the cooling unit to an inlet of the second compressor stage and measuring a pressure at the compressed gas outlet of the first compressor stage and at the compressed gas outlet o

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• De Bontridder Thomas Willem I

Classifications

• F04C29/045

  of the electric motor in hermetic pumps · CPC title

• F04C29/042

  by injecting a fluid (injection of fluid for sealing, cooling or lubrication F04C29/0007) · CPC title

• F04C29/04

  Heating; Cooling (of machines or engines in general F01P); Heat insulation (heat insulation in general F16L59/00) · CPC title

• F04C29/0071

  Couplings between rotors and input or output shafts acting by interengaging or mating parts, i.e. positive coupling of rotor and shaft · CPC title

• F04C29/005

  Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions · CPC title