Method for operating a piston compressor, and piston compressor

A piston compressor (100) comprising:

• a reciprocating piston (111) in a cylinder (110), wherein an inlet valve (112) and an outlet valve (113) are provided in the cylinder (110) for introducing and discharging a medium (b) that is to be compressed and conveyed by the compressor,
• a hydraulic drive (120, 121) with a hydraulic piston (120) by means of which the reciprocating piston (111) is moved to and fro with the use of a hydraulic medium (a) in a first volume (141), positioned between the reciprocating piston (111) and the hydraulic piston (120), with which a side of the reciprocating piston (111) facing the hydraulic drive (120, 121) can be loaded,
• a first measuring device (160) by means of which a position of the hydraulic piston (120) and/or a rotational angle (φ) of a shaft (121) provided for moving the hydraulic piston (120), and a second measuring device (161,162) by means of which a position (x) of the reciprocating piston (111) and/or a pressure (p) in the first volume (141) can be determined, and
• a hydraulic damping unit (140) by means of which movement of the reciprocating piston (111) can be limited as needed, using the hydraulic medium (a), said hydraulic damping unit comprising a second volume (142) at least partially bounded by the reciprocating piston (111),
• wherein the piston compressor (100) is configured to feed the hydraulic medium (a) into the first volume (141) and/or to discharge the hydraulic medium (a) from the first volume (141) when required, in a manner which is dependent upon the position of the hydraulic piston (120) and/or the rotational angle (φ) of the shaft (121) provided for moving the hydraulic piston (120) in relation to the position (x) of the reciprocating piston (111) and/or the pressure (p) in the first volume (141),
• said piston compressor (100) further comprising
• a first valve (150) by means of which the second volume (142) can be connected to the first volume (141), and a second valve (155) by means of which the hydraulic medium (a) can be discharged from the first volume (141) into a reservoir (130) for the hydraulic medium, and/or
• a third valve (153) by means of which the first volume (141) can be connected to the reservoir (130) for the hydraulic medium.