Method for regulating a fan in a compressor unit and compressor unit with fan regulated in such manner
AssigneeAtlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
InventorDavid Henri Florent Pauwels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for regulating a fan in a compressor unit which comprises at least one compressor element (1), a motor (2), and a cooler (14,17) which comprises at least one radiator (13,16) and a fan (18) cooperating therewith, driven by an electric motor (19), whereby the motor (2) of the compressor element (1) is driven at a speed varying in function of its load and also the number of revolutions of the motor (19) of the fan (18) is regulated in function of the required cooling, however, such that condensation of moisture by exaggerated cooling is avoided. The unit comprises means (21) for regulating the speed of the motor (1) in the aforementioned manner.
Claims14
- A method for regulating a fan in a compressor unit comprising at least one compressor element, at least one motor with electronically adjustable speed which drives this compressor element, and at least one cooler which comprises at least one radiator and at least one fan cooperating therewith, driven by an electric motor, whereby the motor of the compressor element is driven at a speed varying in function of its load, and the number of revolutions of the motor of the fan is regulated in function of the necessary cooling, however, such that condensation of moisture due to exaggerated cooling is avoided.
- The method of claim 1, in which the speed of the motor of the fan is regulated in function of the speed of the motor of the compressor element.
- The method of claim 2, in which the speed of the motor of the fan is regulated in function of the speed of the motor which drives the compressor element, such that the ratio of the speeds of both motors takes a course according to an empirically determined curve.
- The method of claim 3, in which the speed of the motor of the fan is regulated in function of the speed of the motor which drives the compressor element, such that the ratio of the speeds of both motors takes a course according to a curve which, with increasing speed up to approximately 80% of the maximum speed of the motor of the compressor element, represents a linear ratio.
- A compressor unit comprising at least one compressor element, at least one motor with electronically adjustable speed which drives this compressor element at a speed varying in function of its load, and at least one cooler which comprises as least one radiator and at least one fan cooperating therewith and driven by an electric motor, in which the motor of the ventilator is a motor with an electronically adjustable speed and is controlled by means for regulating its speed in function of the required cooling, such that its speed varies in function of the required cooling, whereas condensation of moisture by exaggerated cooling is avoided.
- The compressor unit of claim 5, in which the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan are coupled to the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving the compressor element.
- The compressor element of claim 6, in which the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving the compressor element comprise a frequency transformer and also the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan comprise a frequency transformer and that both frequency transformers are coupled to each other directly or by means of a control system.
- The compressor unit of claim 6, in which the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan are coupled such to the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving the compressor element that the ratio of the speeds of both motors takes a course according to an empirically determined curve.
- The compressor unit of claim 8, in which the curve, at increasing speeds up to approximately 80% of the maximum speed of the motor of the compressor element, represents a linear ratio.
- The compressor unit of claim 5, further comprising a compressor element cooled by means of oil, onto which a pressure conduit connects in which an oil separator is mounted, whereby this oil separator is connected to the compressor element by a return conduit for oil in which the radiator of an oil cooler with a fan is mounted, and this fan is the fan which is coupled to said means for regulating its speed.
- The compressor unit of claim 10, in which the curve, at increasing speeds up to approximately 80% of the maximum speed of the motor of the compressor element, represents a linear ratio and means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan of the oil cooler mounted in the return conduit between the oil separator and the compressor element are coupled to the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the compressor element such that the fan revolves at a speed which is a well-defined percent-age of its maximum speed, which is a function of the percentage of its maximum speed at which the compressor element revolves.
- The compressor unit of claim 5, further comprising several stages and at least one low-pressure compressor element and a high-pressure compressor element and, in the inter-mediate conduit connecting the two compressor elements, the radiator of an inter-mediate cooler with a fan is mounted and this fan is the fan coupled to said means for regulating the speed thereof.
- The compressor unit of claim 12, in which the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan are coupled to the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving the compressor element and the means for regulating the motor of the fan are coupled to the means for regulating the motor of one of the compressor elements.
- The compressor unit of claim 13, in which the means for regulating the speed of the motor of the fan are coupled such to the means for regulating the speed of the motor driving the compressor element that the ratio of the speeds of both motors takes a course according to an empirically determined curve and the means for regulating the motor of the fan are coupled to the means for regulating the motor of the high-pressure compressor element, in such a manner that the speed of the fan varies in function of the speed of this compressor element, according to a curve which preferably is linear.