Temperature control for compressor

A method for cooling a coolant for a gas compressor, the method comprising:

• introducing a coolant into a gas compressor, the compressor structured to generate a flow of compressed gas, such that the coolant is substantially dispersed in the compressed gas flow;
• separating the coolant entrained in the compressed gas flow from the compressed gas using a dryer and a first separator in fluid communication with the compressor;
• routing the coolant separated from the compressed gas flow to a cooling circuit, the cooling circuit comprising:
• an accumulator to accumulate the coolant separated from the compressed gas flow, the accumulator structured to receive coolant via a passage that is independent of the passage of compressed gas flow such that the compressed gas flow does not flow through the accumulator,
• a pump in fluid communication with the accumulator and the compressor, the pump structured to introduce the coolant into the compressor, and thereby into the flow of compressed gas, and to circulate the coolant through the coolant circuit,
• an intercooler in thermal communication with the dryer and in fluid communication with the accumulator and the pump, the intercooler structured to transfer heat from the coolant circuit to the compressed gas flow via the dryer, and
• a valve disposed between the accumulator and the intercooler, the valve structured to enable at least a portion of the coolant in the coolant circuit to flow through the intercooler depending on a temperature of the coolant relative to low and high temperature limits;
• monitoring the coolant temperature;
• actuating the valve when the coolant temperature exceeds the high temperature limit to enable at least a portion of the coolant in the coolant circuit to flow from the accumulator, through the intercooler, and to the pump;
• actuating the valve when the coolant temperature is below the low temperature limit to bypass the intercooler and enable coolant to flow from the accumulator to the pump;
• as a result of activating the valve when the coolant temperature exceeds the high temperature limit;
• transferring heat from the coolant to an outlet flow of compressed air from the compressor.

A gas compression system, the system comprising:

• a gas circuit, the gas circuit comprising:
• a compressor structured to generate a flow of compressed gas, the compressed gas flow including an entrained coolant therein,
• a first intercooler disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor and structured to lower a gas temperature of the compressed gas flow and to form a condensate, wherein the condensate includes at least a portion of the entrained coolant,
• a first separator disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the first intercooler and structured to separate the condensate from the compressed gas flow,
• an integrated dryer disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the first separator and structured to further lower the temperature of the compressed gas flow and to form additional condensate, wherein the integrated dryer includes a dryer in fluid communication with a second separator, the second separator structured to separate the additional condensate from the compressed gas flow, and in thermal communication with a second intercooler through which the coolant flows, and
• a compressed gas outlet disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the integrated dryer;
• and
• a coolant circuit, the coolant circuit comprising:
• an accumulator structured to accumulate the coolant separated by the first and second separators, the accumulator also structured to receive coolant via a passage that is separate from a passage that conveys the compressed gas flow such that the accumulator is not in compressed gas flow communication with the compressor, the accumulator further structured to supply coolant to the coolant circuit,
• a pump in fluid communication with the accumulator and the compressor of the gas circuit, the pump structured to introduce the coolant into the compressor, and thereby into the flow of compressed gas, and to circulate the coolant through the coolant circuit,
• the second intercooler in thermal communication with the dryer of the gas circuit and in fluid communication with the accumulator and the pump, the second intercooler structured to transfer heat from the coolant circuit to the compressed gas flow via the dryer, and
• a valve disposed between the accumulator and the second intercooler, the valve structured to enable at least a portion of the coolant in the coolant circuit to flow through the second intercooler depending on a temperature of the coolant relative to prescribed low and high temperature limits.