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AssigneeAtlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
InventorDanny Etienne Andree Vertriest
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The invention relates to a method for regulating a compressor installation with at least one compressor element (6) driven by a motor and, in the pressure conduit (11) thereof, a dryer (2) of the type comprising a pressure vessel (24) with a drying zone (3) and a regeneration zone (4), and a rotor (25) continuously rotated in this pressure vessel (24) by a motor (33), which rotor is filled with a regenerable drying agent. A portion of the compressed air is supplied, by means of a branch (15), to the regeneration zone (4) and, after cooling down and separation of the condensed water, is fed back to the pressure conduit (11). The speed of both motors (9, 33) is regulated by a regulation device (13) in function of the pressure in the pressure conduit (11).
-Method for regulating a compressor installation with at least one compressor element (6) and, in the pressure conduit (11) thereof, at least one cooler (17), at least one water separator (18) and a dryer (2) of the type comprising a pressure vessel (24) with a drying zone (3) and a regeneration zone (4), a rotor (25) rotating in this pressure vessel (24), which rotor is filled with a regenerable drying agent, whereby the compressor element (6) is driven by an electric motor (9), a portion of the compressed air delivered by this compressor element (6) is branched off in the cooler (17) before being cooled, is supplied, by means of a branch (15), to the regeneration zone (4) and, after cooling down and separation of the condensed water, is fed back to the pressure conduit (11), and whereby the rotor (25) in the dryer (2) is continuously rotated by means of an electric motor (33), such that the drying agent is continuously moved from the drying zone (3) to the regeneration zone (4) and back to the drying zone (3), characterized in that the speed of the motor (9) driving the compressor element (6) is regulated in function of the consumption of compressed gas, whereas the speed of the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) is regulated in function of at least one parameter of the compressed gas which is fed through the dryer (2).
-Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the speed of the motor (9) of the compressor element (6) is regulated such that the pressure measured at the outlet of the compressor element (6,7) or at the outlet of the dryer (2) remains approximately constant
-Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the speed of the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) is regulated in function of the consumption of compressed air.
-Method according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the motor (9) driving the compressor element (6) as well as the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) are regulated by one and the same regulation device (13) in function of the consumption.
-Method according to claim 4, characterized in that this regulation device (13) regulates the speed of the motors (19 and 33) in function of the pressure prevailing in the pressure conduit (11), either between the compressor element (6) and the dryer (2), or at the outlet of the dryer (2), whereby then the measured pressure is acting as the parameter.
-Method according to any of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the speed of the motor (33) of the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) is regulated in function of the temperature drop in the regeneration zone (4) of the dryer (2), whereby thus the temperatures at the inlet and the outlet of the regeneration zone (4) form the parameters for the regulation of the speed of the motor (33) of the rotor (9).
-Compressor installation with at least one compressor element (6) driven by an electric motor (9) and in the pressure conduit (11) of said element at least one cooler (17), at least one water separator (18) and a dryer (2) of the type comprising a pressure vessel (24) with a drying zone (3) and a regeneration zone (4), a rotor (25) rotating in this pressure vessel (24), which rotor is filled with a regenerable drying agent, and an electric motor (33) for continuously rotating this rotor (25), such that the drying agent successively is moved through the drying zone (3) and the regeneration zone (4), whereby a branch (15) extends from the portion of the pressure conduit (11) which is situated between the compressor element (6) and the cooler (17) towards the inlet of said regeneration zone (4), and a return conduit (21) extends from the outlet of this regeneration zone (4) over a cooler (22) and a second water separator (23) back to the pressure conduit (11), characterized in that the motor (9) driving the compressor element (6), as well as the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) is a motor with adjustable speed, whereby the motor (9) driving the compressor element (6) is coupled to a regulation device (13) which regulates the speed of this motor (9) in function of the consumption, whereas the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) also is coupled to a regulation device (13,38) which regulates the speed of this motor (9) in function of at least one parameter of the compressed gas which is fed through the drying zone (3) or the regeneration zone (4) of the dryer (2).
-Compressor installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the motor (9) driving the compressor element (6), as well as the motor (33) driving the rotor (25) of the dryer (2) are coupled to one and the same regulating device (13) which regulates the speed of both motors (9,33) in function of the consumption.
-Compressor installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the regulating device (13) is coupled to a pressure gauge (12) installed in the pressure conduit (11) between the compressor element (6) and the dryer (2) preferably between the water separator (18) and the dryer (2), or at the outlet of the dryer (2), whereby then the measured pressure is the parameter
-Compressor installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the regulation device (13) is coupled to a pressure gauge (12) installed in the pressure conduit (11) at the outlet of the dryer (2), whereby then the measured pressure is the parameter.
-Compressor installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the regulation device (14) regulating the speed of the motor (33) which drives the rotor (25) of the dryer (2), is coupled to temperature meters (39,40) which are situated upstream and downstream of the regeneration zone (4) of the dryer (2), respectively.
-Compressor installation according to any of the claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a multistage compressor with more than one compressor element and that said compressor element (6) driven by the motor (9) is the last or the high-pressure stage.
-compressor installation according to any of the claims 7 to 12, characterized in that it comprises an ejector pipe (19) in the pressure conduit (11), after the cooler (17) and the water separator (18), and that the return conduit (21) gives out onto the vacuum portion of said ejector pipe (19).