阅读说明：本技术 压缩机设备和用于递送压缩气体的方法 (Compressor installation and method for delivering compressed gas ) 是由 F·范内德尔卡塞尔 T·波特斯 于 2020-04-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：压缩机设备,具有注液式压缩机装置(2),压缩机装置具有压缩机元件(3),出口管(5)连接到压缩机元件(3)的出口(6),出口管(5)中的液体分离器(8)包括用于压缩气体的入口(9a)和出口(9b)及用于分离出液体的出口(10),干燥器(12)连接到出口管(5)且用干燥剂(14)干燥压缩机装置(2)的压缩气体,干燥器(12)有干燥区段(13b)和再生区段(13a),再生区段有用于再生气体的入口(19a)和出口(19b),再生管(20)连到入口(19a),热交换器(21)设在再生管(20)中且具有再生气体被引导穿过的初级区段(22a),其特征在于,热交换器(21)的次级区段(22b)安装在压缩机装置(2)中,压缩机设备(1)设有用于管制注射到压缩机元件(3)中的液体量的管制构件(23)。(Compressor installation with a liquid-injected compressor device (2) having a compressor element (3), an outlet pipe (5) connected to an outlet (6) of the compressor element (3), a liquid separator (8) in the outlet pipe (5) comprising an inlet (9a) and an outlet (9b) for compressed gas and an outlet (10) for separated liquid, a dryer (12) connected to the outlet pipe (5) and drying the compressed gas of the compressor device (2) with a drying agent (14), the dryer (12) having a drying section (13b) and a regeneration section (13a) with an inlet (19a) and an outlet (19b) for regeneration gas, a regeneration pipe (20) connected to the inlet (19a), a heat exchanger (21) being provided in the regeneration pipe (20) and having a primary section (22a) through which the regeneration gas is conducted, characterized in that, the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is mounted in the compressor device (2), and the compressor apparatus (1) is provided with a regulating member (23) for regulating the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element (3).)

1. A compressor apparatus having: a compressor device (2) of the liquid injection type, having at least one compressor element (3) of the liquid injection type; an outlet pipe (5) connected to the outlet (6) of the compressor element (3), a liquid separator (8) being mounted in the outlet pipe (5), the liquid separator comprising an inlet (9a) and an outlet (9b) for compressed gas and an outlet (10) for separated liquid; and a dryer (12) connected to the outlet pipe (5), the dryer drying the compressed gas from the compressor device (2) using a drying agent (14); the dryer (12) has a drying section (13b) and a regeneration section (13a) with an inlet (19a) and an outlet (19b) for a regeneration gas; a regeneration pipe (20) connected to an inlet (19a) of the regeneration section (13 a); a heat exchanger (21) is provided in the regeneration pipe (20) to heat the regeneration gas with the primary section (22a) through which the regeneration gas is guided; characterized in that the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is mounted in the compressor device (2) and the compressor installation (1) also has a throttling member (23) for throttling the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element (3).

2. -compressor installation according to claim 1, characterised in that, downstream of the liquid separator (8), the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is mounted in the outlet pipe (5).

3. -compressor installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the outlet (10) for the separated liquid is connected to the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21).

4. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the check member (23) is formed by an adjustable valve (24) or an adjustable nozzle.

5. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the compressor installation (1) is provided with a control unit (25) for controlling the throttling member (23), the control unit (25) being intended to throttle the amount of liquid injected on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:

-a desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet (6);

-a desired temperature of the gas at the inlet (19a) or outlet (19b) of the regeneration section (13 a);

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the inlet (18a) of the dryer (12);

-a stage of a dryer (12);

-a running time and/or a loading time and/or an unloading time of the compressor device (2);

-the speed of the drive (4).

6. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compressor installation (1) is provided with a control unit (25) for controlling the check member (23), the control unit (25) checking the amount of liquid injected by reducing the liquid injection periodically for a fixed period of time.

7. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compressor device (2) is provided with two injection circuits (26a, 26b), the first injection circuit (26a) extending from the outlet (10) for separated liquid of the liquid separator (8) to the compressor element (3), the second injection circuit (26b) extending from the outlet (10) for separated liquid of the liquid separator (8) to the bearing of the compressor device (2).

8. The compressor installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is installed in the first injection circuit (26 a).

9. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one compressor element (3) is driven by a drive (4).

10. Compressor installation according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor installation (1) is configured such that the entire flow of compressed gas from the compressor element (3) is directed to the inlet (18a) of the drying section (13 b).

11. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a shunt tube (27) is provided at the outlet (18b) of the drying section (13b), which shunt tube is connected to the regeneration tube (20) for the outflow of regeneration gas at the outlet (18b) of the drying section (13 b).

12. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outlet (19b) of the regeneration section (13a) is connected to the outlet pipe (5) of the compressor device (2) via a return pipe (28) at a point (P) near the inlet (18a) of the drying section (13 b).

13. -compressor installation according to claim 12, characterised in that in the return pipe (27) there is installed a cooler (28) and optionally a liquid separator (29 a).

14. -compressor installation according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the return pipe (28) is connected to the outlet pipe (5) via a venturi ejector (30).

15. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the dryer (12) is provided with a housing (15), in which the drying section (13b) and the regeneration section (13a) are located, in which housing (15) a drum (16) containing the drying agent (14) is arranged, which drum (16) is connected with drive means (17) such that the drying agent (14) can move successively through the drying section (13b) and the regeneration section (13 a).

16. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the dryer (12) comprises a plurality of containers (31) filled with desiccant (14), at least one container (31) forming the drying section (13b) and at least one container (31) forming the regeneration section (13a), the dryer (12) further comprising a valve system (32) connecting the outlet pipe (5), the regeneration pipe (20) and optionally the return pipe (28) and the shunt pipe (27) with the containers (31), the valve system (32) allowing at least one container (31) to be regenerated all the time, while the other containers (31) dry the compressed gas, the containers (31) being regenerated one after the other by throttling the valve system (32).

17. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that an aftercooler (7) and optionally a liquid separator are installed in the outlet pipe (5).

18. A method for supplying compressed gas from a liquid-injected compressor device (2) having at least one liquid-injected compressor element (3) with a compressed gas outlet (6), which compressed gas is conducted through a drying agent (14) in a drying section (13b) for drying the compressed gas and subsequently regenerating the drying agent in a regeneration section (13a) by means of a regeneration gas conducted through the regeneration section (13a), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: heating the regeneration gas with heat at the outlet (6) of the liquid-injected compressor device (2) before the regeneration gas is led through the regeneration section (13a), and the method further comprises the step of throttling the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element (3).

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the amount of liquid injected is throttled based on one or more of the following criteria:

-a desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet (6);

-a desired temperature of the gas at the inlet (19a) or outlet (19b) of the regeneration section;

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the inlet (18a) of the dryer (12);

-a stage of a dryer (12);

-a running time and/or a loading time and/or an unloading time of the compressor device (2);

-the speed of the drive (4).

20. Method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the amount of liquid injected is throttled by reducing the liquid injection periodically for a fixed period of time.

21. The method according to any of the preceding claims 18 to 20, characterized in that a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 17 is used.

22. A method for supplying compressed gas from a liquid-injected compressor device (2) having at least one liquid-injected compressor element (3) with a compressed gas outlet (6), which compressed gas is conducted through a drying agent (14) in a drying section (13b) for drying the compressed gas and subsequently regenerating the drying agent in a regeneration section (13a) by means of a regeneration gas conducted through the regeneration section (13a), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: the regeneration gas is heated by means of heat at the outlet (6) of the liquid-injected compressor device (2) before it is led through the regeneration section (13a), and the method further comprises the step of throttling the temperature of the liquid injected into the compressor element (3).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the temperature of the injection fluid is moderated based on one or more of the following criteria:

-a desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet (6);

-a desired temperature of the gas at the inlet (19a) or outlet (19b) of the regeneration section;

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the inlet (18a) of the dryer (12);

-a stage of a dryer (12);

-a running time and/or a loading time and/or an unloading time of the compressor device (2);

-the speed of the drive (4).

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the temperature of the injection liquid is moderated by periodically reducing the temperature over a fixed period of time.

25. A compressor apparatus, the compressor apparatus having: a compressor device (2) of the liquid injection type, having at least one compressor element (3) of the liquid injection type; an outlet pipe (5) connected to the outlet (6) of the compressor element (3), a liquid separator (8) being mounted in the outlet pipe (8), the liquid separator comprising an inlet (9a) and an outlet (9b) for compressed gas and an outlet (10) for separated liquid; and a dryer (12) connected to the outlet pipe (12), the dryer drying the compressed gas from the compressor device (2) using a drying agent (14); the dryer (12) is provided with a drying section (13b) and a regeneration section (13a) having an inlet (19a) and an outlet (19b) for a regeneration gas; a regeneration pipe (20) connected to an inlet (20a) of the regeneration section (19 a); a heat exchanger (21) is arranged in the regeneration pipe (20) to heat the regeneration gas with a primary section (22a) through which the regeneration gas is conducted, characterized in that a secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is mounted in the compressor device (2), and the compressor apparatus (1) is further provided with a throttling member for throttling the temperature of the liquid injected into the compressor element (3).

26. -compressor installation according to claim 25, characterised in that, downstream of the liquid separator (8), the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is mounted in the outlet pipe (5).

27. -compressor installation according to claim 25, characterised in that the outlet (10) for the separated liquid is connected to the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21).

28. The compressor apparatus of any one of the preceding claims 25 to 27, wherein the throttling means for throttling temperature comprises an adjustable valve.

29. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 28, characterised in that the compressor installation (1) is provided with a control unit (25) for controlling a throttling member for throttling the temperature, the control unit (25) being intended to throttle the temperature of the injection liquid on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:

-a desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet (6);

-a desired temperature of the gas at the inlet (19a) or outlet (19b) of the regeneration section (13 a);

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the inlet (18a) of the dryer (12);

-a stage of a dryer (12);

-a running time and/or a loading time and/or an unloading time of the compressor device (2);

-the speed of the drive (4).

30. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 29, characterised in that the compressor installation (1) is provided with a control unit (25) for controlling a throttling member for throttling the temperature, the control unit (25) throttling the temperature of the injection liquid by periodically reducing the temperature of the injection liquid within a fixed period of time.

31. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims 25 to 30, characterised in that the compressor device (2) is provided with two injection circuits (26a, 26b), the first injection circuit (26a) extending from the outlet (10) for separated liquid of the liquid separator (8) to the compressor element (3) and the second injection circuit (26b) extending from the outlet (10) for separated liquid of the liquid separator (8) to the bearing of the compressor device (2).

32. -compressor installation according to claim 31, characterised in that the secondary section (22b) of the heat exchanger (21) is installed in the first injection circuit (26 a).

33. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 32, characterised in that at least one compressor element (3) is driven by a drive (4).

34. The compressor installation according to any of the foregoing claims 25-33, characterised in that the compressor installation (1) is configured such that the entire flow of compressed gas from the compressor element (3) is directed to the inlet (18a) of the drying section (13 b).

35. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 34, characterised in that a shunt tube (27) is provided at the outlet (18b) of the drying section (13b), which shunt tube is connected to the regeneration pipe (20) for the outflow of regeneration gas at the outlet (18b) of the drying section (13 b).

36. Compressor installation according to any one of the preceding claims 25 to 35, characterised in that the outlet (19b) of the regeneration section (13a) is connected to the outlet pipe (5) of the compressor device (2) via a return pipe (28) at a point (P) near the inlet (18a) of the drying section (13 b).

37. -compressor installation according to claim 36, characterised in that in the return pipe (28) there is installed a cooler (28) and optionally a liquid separator (29 a).

38. -compressor installation according to claim 36 or 37, characterised in that the return pipe (28) is connected to the outlet pipe (5) via a venturi ejector (30).

39. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 38, characterised in that the dryer (12) is provided with a housing (15) in which the drying section (13b) and the regeneration section (13a) are located, a drum (16) containing a drying agent (14) being arranged in the housing (15), the drum (14) being connected with drive means (17) so that the drying agent (17) can move successively through the drying section (13b) and the regeneration section (13 a).

40. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 38, characterised in that the dryer (12) comprises a plurality of containers (31) filled with desiccant (14), at least one container (31) forming the drying section (13b) and at least one container (31) forming the regeneration section (13a), the dryer (12) further comprising a valve system (32) connecting the outlet pipe (5), the regeneration pipe (20) and optionally the return pipe (28) and the shunt pipe (27) with the containers (31), the valve system (32) allowing at least one container (31) to be regenerated all the time, while the other containers (31) dry the compressed gas, the containers (31) being regenerated one after the other by throttling the valve system (32).

41. -compressor installation according to any one of the previous claims 25 to 40, characterised in that an aftercooler (7) and optionally a liquid separator are installed in the outlet pipe (5).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for supplying compressed gas.

Background

The known compressor device is provided with a compressor device, an outlet pipe for compressed gas and a dryer connected to the outlet pipe, which dryer uses a drying agent for drying the compressed gas from the compressor device, which dryer is provided with a drying section and a regeneration section.

The drying section has a desiccant to dry the compressed gas guided therethrough and is provided with an inlet connected to the compressor device outlet pipe and an outlet also serving as compressor device outlet for supplying compressed and dried gas to a downstream network to which a compressed gas user can be connected.

When the compressed gas to be dried flows through the drying agent in the drying section, the moisture of the compressed gas is drawn into the drying agent by adsorption or absorption.

In the regeneration section, it is known to regenerate a desiccant that has been used to dry the compressed gas and is saturated or partially saturated with moisture extracted from the gas to be dried.

The desiccant in the regeneration section is regenerated by a regeneration gas that is directed therethrough via an inlet and an outlet of the regeneration section.

For a hydroless compressor installation, a so-called "hot of compression" dryer (HOC dryer) can be used, in which the regeneration gas is branched off directly from the compressor installation outlet pipe (for example at the compressor installation outlet).

The diverted regeneration gas has a sufficiently high temperature to be able to extract moisture from the desiccant to be regenerated.

A disadvantage of this known device is that the regenerating gas has a high absolute humidity and that the desiccant still contains a certain amount of moisture after regeneration, so that when used to dry the gas at a later stage, its capacity to draw up moisture is reduced and therefore needs to be regenerated again very quickly.

In addition, the liquid injection compressor device itself is not suitable for regeneration using the heat of compression, since the temperature at the outlet of the compressor device is generally so low here that the compressed gas cannot or cannot sufficiently dry the drying agent to be regenerated.

Another disadvantage of the flooded compressor arrangement is that the compressed gas at the outlet of the compressor arrangement contains a certain amount of liquid which can contaminate the desiccant.

One solution to avoid contamination of the desiccant is to direct the entire flow of compressed gas from the compressor device to the drying section after the compressed gas is first cooled and passed through a liquid separator.

Subsequently, at the outlet of the drying section, a regeneration gas can be branched off, which is heated by means of a heat exchanger, for example by using the heat of the compressed gas at the outlet of the compressor device or by using the heat of the injected liquid.

The problems that arise in this way are: for the operation of the compressor device and the life of the liquid, the temperature of the liquid at the outlet of the compressor device must be kept as low as possible, preferably below 80 ℃; however, in order to be able to regenerate the desiccant properly, the temperature of the regeneration gas is preferably higher than 100 ℃, even more preferably higher than 120 ℃.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to one or more of the above-mentioned and other drawbacks.

To this end, the invention relates to a compressor installation having: a charge compressor device having at least one charge compressor element; an outlet pipe connected to the outlet of the compressor element, in which outlet pipe a liquid separator is mounted, which liquid separator comprises an inlet and an outlet for compressed gas and an outlet for separated liquid; and a dryer connected to the outlet pipe and drying the compressed gas from the compressor device using a desiccant; the dryer is provided with a drying section and a regeneration section having an inlet and an outlet for a regeneration gas; the regeneration pipe is connected to an inlet of the regeneration zone; a heat exchanger is arranged in the regeneration pipe to heat the regeneration gas with the primary section through which the regeneration gas is conducted, characterized in that the secondary section of the heat exchanger is mounted in the compressor device and the compressor apparatus is further provided with a throttling member for throttling the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element.

This provides the following advantages: by throttling the injection of liquid to the compressor element, the temperature of both the liquid and the gas at the outlet of the compressor element can be throttled.

By e.g. injecting less liquid, the temperature will be higher and thus more heat can be used to heat the regeneration gas.

By integrating the secondary section in the outlet pipe or allowing it to be connected to an outlet for the separated liquid, the heat of the gas and the respective liquid can be used to heat the regeneration gas.

Another advantage is that: the heat will be removed by means of a heat exchanger so that no separate liquid cooler or after-cooler for the compressed gas is needed to remove this heat, or the after-cooler can be much smaller in size.

The operation of such a compressor device is comparable to known devices for drying compressed gas, which is led through a drying section.

The dryer can be implemented in different ways, for example it can consist of a housing in which both the drying section and the regeneration section are located; or may consist of two or more vessels, at least one vessel forming the drying section and at least one vessel forming the regeneration section.

The throttling means for throttling the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element or in other words the throttling means for throttling the injection of liquid can be implemented in different ways, for example by means of an adjustable valve or an adjustable nozzle.

In a practical embodiment, the compressor device is provided with a control unit for controlling the throttling member, which will throttle the injection liquid amount based on one or more of the following criteria:

-the desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet;

-the desired temperature of the gas at the inlet or outlet of the regeneration section;

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the dryer inlet;

-a stage of a dryer;

-the running time and/or loading time and/or unloading time of the compressor device;

-the speed of the drive.

It is also possible that the control unit will moderate the amount of injected liquid by reducing the liquid injection for a fixed time (e.g. ten minutes) every regular period (e.g. one hour) so that the temperature is temporarily increased at the outlet, thus enabling the desiccant to be regenerated appropriately every regular period.

If the desiccant is installed in a dryer comprising different respective containers, the liquid injection may be reduced at the end of the regeneration step of the containers to increase the temperature of the final regeneration.

Preferably, the liquid injection will be throttled based on the temperature of the regeneration gas required to dry the desiccant.

The invention also relates to a method for supplying compressed gas from an injection compressor device, the compressor device having at least one injection compressor element, the compressor element having a compressed gas outlet, the compressed gas being conducted through a drying agent in a drying section for drying the compressed gas, the drying agent being subsequently regenerated in a regeneration section by means of a regeneration gas conducted through the regeneration section, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: the heat at the outlet of the ejector compressor device is used to heat the regeneration gas before it is led through the regeneration section, and the method further comprises the step of throttling the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element.

The method has the advantages that: considering that the temperature at the outlet of the compressor device can be controlled by throttling the amount of injected liquid, the regeneration gas can be brought to a sufficiently high temperature so that all or almost all of the moisture can be adsorbed or absorbed. In this way, it is ensured that sufficient heat is available so that the regeneration gas is sufficiently heated.

Preferably, the volume of injected liquid is throttled based on one or more of the following criteria:

-the desired temperature of the gas or liquid at the outlet;

-the desired temperature of the gas at the inlet or outlet of the regeneration section;

-a desired dew point;

-temperature and/or humidity of the environment;

-temperature, humidity and/or pressure at the dryer inlet;

-a stage of a dryer;

-the running time and/or loading time and/or unloading time of the compressor device;

-the speed of the drive.

The amount of injected liquid can also be throttled by reducing the liquid injection for a fixed time (for example ten minutes) every regular period (for example one hour), so that the temperature temporarily increases at the outlet, thus enabling the desiccant to be regenerated appropriately every regular period.

If the desiccant is installed in a dryer comprising different respective containers, the liquid injection may be reduced at the end of the regeneration step of the containers to increase the temperature of the final regeneration.

In a preferred embodiment, the method is performed using an apparatus according to the invention.

The invention also relates to an alternative method according to claim 22, possibly in combination with claim 23 or 24. This alternative method provides the same advantages as the method according to the invention described above.

The invention also relates to an alternative compressor installation according to one or more of claims 25 to 42. Such an alternative compressor device also presents similar advantages as the compressor device according to the invention described above.

Drawings

In order to better illustrate the characteristics of the invention, some preferred variants of the compressor installation according to the invention and of the method for supplying compressed gas according to the invention are described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a compressor installation according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1;

figures 3 and 4 show a variant of figure 2;

figure 5 schematically shows a compressor installation according to the invention;

figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of figure 5,

fig. 7 and 8 show a modification of fig. 6.

Detailed Description

The compressor installation 1 according to the invention, which is schematically shown in fig. 1, comprises a compressor device 2, which in this case has a compressor element 3, which in this case is driven by a drive 4.

The drive 4 is, for example, an electric motor, but may also be another type of drive, such as a heat engine, a turbine wheel, etc.

It is not excluded that the compressor device 2 comprises more than one compressor element 3 and/or more than one driver 4.

The compressor device 2 comprises an outlet pipe 5 which is connected to an outlet 6 of the compressor element 3.

An after cooler 7 is mounted in the outlet duct 5 for cooling the compressed air, which is however not essential for the invention. Downstream of the after cooler 7, a liquid separator is optionally installed in the outlet pipe 5.

According to the invention, the compressor device 2 is a liquid-injected compressor device 2, wherein a liquid, for example oil, is injected in the compressor element 3. Other types of liquids, such as water or polymers, may also be injected.

In the outlet pipe 5, upstream of the after cooler 7, an oil separator 8 is mounted, which has a compressed gas inlet 9a and outlet 9b and an outlet 10 for separated oil.

Downstream of the after-cooler 7, a filter 11 is also mounted in the outlet pipe 5.

The compressor device 1 also comprises a so-called regeneration section 13a, which is part of the dryer 12, which dryer comprises a drying section 13b in addition to the regeneration section 13 a.

A desiccant 14 has been added in both the regeneration section 13a and the drying section 13 b.

In the example shown, the dryer 12 has a housing 15 within which the drying section 13b and the regeneration section 13a are located.

A drum 16 containing a drying agent is arranged in the housing 15, the drum 16 being connected to a drive member 17 such that the drying agent 14 can move successively through the drying section 13b and the regeneration section 13 a.

The drying agent 14 in the drying section 13b will serve for drying the compressed gas which is conducted through it, for which purpose the drying section 13b is provided with: an inlet 18a connected to the outlet pipe 5 of the compressor device 2; and an outlet 18b serving as an outlet for supplying the compressed and dried gas.

In this example, the entire flow of compressed gas from the compressor element 3 is directed to the inlet 18a of the drying section 13 b.

According to the invention, the regeneration section 13a is provided with an inlet 19a and an outlet 19b and a regeneration pipe 20 connected to the inlet to direct regeneration gas through the regeneration section 13a in order to be able to regenerate the moist desiccant 14 located in the regeneration section 13 a.

A heat exchanger 21 is arranged in this regeneration pipe 20 to heat the regeneration gas with a primary section 22a through which the regeneration gas is conducted, wherein a secondary section 22b of this heat exchanger 21 is installed in the compressor device 2.

In the example of fig. 1, the outlet 10 for the separated liquid is connected to the secondary section 22b of the heat exchanger 21.

This means that the separated hot oil is directed to the secondary section 22b so that it can heat the regeneration gas flowing through the primary section 22 a.

According to the invention, the compressor device 1 is further provided with a throttling member 23 to throttle the amount of liquid injected into the compressor element 3.

The check member 23 can be implemented in various different ways. In this case by means of an adjustable valve 24, which can control the supply of oil. The check member may also be an adjustable nozzle.

The adjustable valve 24 is provided with a control unit 25 to control it.

As can be seen from fig. 1, the oil separator 8, the secondary section 22b of the heat exchanger 21, and the check member 23 form an injection circuit 26. Nor does it exclude that an oil cooler is installed in the injection circuit 26, for example downstream of the heat exchanger 21.

In the example shown, the regeneration pipe 20 is connected via a shunt tube 27 to the outlet 18b of the drying section 13b for tapping regeneration gas at the outlet 18b of the drying section 13 b. In other words, a part of the dried compressed gas is used as the regeneration gas.

The outlet 19b of the regeneration section 13a is connected to the outlet pipe 5 of the compressor device 2 at a point P near the inlet 18a of the drying section 13b via a return pipe 28.

A cooler 29 is installed in the return pipe 28 for cooling the regenerated regeneration gas, and a liquid separator 29a is also installed so as to be able to remove liquid that may condense.

The outlet pipe 5 is also connected to the return pipe 28 via a venturi ejector 30.

Instead of a venturi ejector, a so-called blower or booster can also be used to recombine the used regeneration gas with the gas to be dried.

The operation of the compressor installation 1 is very simple, as follows.

The compressor element 3 will compress a gas, such as air, in a known manner.

During operation, oil will be injected in the compressor element 3 to lubricate, cool and seal it.

The temperature of the gas and oil at the outlet 6 of the compressor element 3 will depend on such factors as the amount of oil injected.

With the control unit 25, the amount of oil injected through the adjustable valve 24 will be throttled based on the regeneration gas temperature required to dry the desiccant 14.

The minimum temperature of the oil at the outlet 6 will correspond to this desired temperature of the regeneration gas, for example at least 100 ℃.

Thus, the control unit 25 ensures that just enough liquid is injected so that the oil at the outlet 6 reaches a temperature of 100 ℃.

The compressed gas will pass through the oil separator 8 via the outlet pipe 5 for separating the injected oil from the compressed gas.

The gas is then passed through an after-cooler 7 in which the compressed gas will be cooled to about 30 ℃, optionally after the after-cooler through a liquid separator to enable separation of the condensed liquid, and finally also through a filter 11 to filter out any eventual impurities.

The outlet pipe 5 leads all cooled and purified compressed gas to the inlet 18a of the drying section 13b of the dryer.

As the gas passes through the drying section 13b, the desiccant 14 will draw moisture from the gas. In other words, the desiccant 14 will become moist.

When the now dry gas leaves the drying section 13b, it will be conveyed to, for example, a user network (not shown in the figure).

A portion of this drying gas will be directed to the regeneration pipe 20 via the shunt pipe 27.

This so-called regeneration gas will pass through the primary section 22a of the heat exchanger 21 to heat the regeneration gas.

By means of the heat exchanger 21 hot oil will be used to heat the regeneration gas.

The regeneration gas will be heated from about 30 c to about 100 c, which is sufficient for regeneration.

At the same time, the oil will cool from 100 ℃ to about 35 ℃ and be re-injected into the compressor element 3 via the adjustable valve 24.

Via the regeneration pipe 20, the regeneration gas is led to the inlet 19a of the regeneration section 13a, where it will flow through the moist desiccant 14 in the regeneration section 13 a.

The regeneration gas will regenerate the desiccant 14, which means that the moisture extracted from the moist desiccant 14 or the desiccant 14 itself will be dried.

Subsequently, the dried drying agent 14 is moved by means of the drive means 17 of the drum 16 into the drying section 13b, while the moist drying agent 14 ends up in the regeneration section 13 a.

The regeneration gas, which also contains moisture after passing through the regeneration section 13a and has a temperature of about 70 ℃, will be guided via the return pipe 28 to the inlet 18a of the drying section 13b and thus dried. This regeneration gas passes through a cooler 29 and is cooled to about 30 c and passes through a liquid separator 29a before being recombined with the compressed gas from the compressor device 2 via a venturi ejector 30.

Although in the above examples throttling means are throttled in order to obtain the required temperature of the regeneration gas, throttling on the basis of one or more other parameters is not excluded.

The amount of injected liquid can also be throttled based on environmental parameters or the gas dew point.

To moderate the liquid injection, the parameters of the compressor device 2 or the dryer 12 can also be taken into account.

Fig. 2 shows a variant according to fig. 1, in which case the dryer 12 is implemented in a different manner.

Instead of rotating or revolving the drum 16, the dryer 12 now comprises a plurality of containers 31 filled with the drying agent 14.

In the example shown there are two vessels 31, but it is also possible to have three, four or more vessels 31, at least one vessel 31 forming the drying section 13b and at least one vessel forming the regeneration section 13 a.

In addition to the container 31, the dryer 12 also comprises a valve system 32 which connects at least a part of the outlet pipe 5, the regeneration pipe 20 and in this case also the return pipe 28 and the shunt pipe 27 to the container 31.

The valve system 32 comprises two separate valve groups 33a, 33 b.

The valve system 32 is a system of different pipes and valves that can be throttled so that at least one container 31 is always regenerated, while the other containers 31 dry the compressed gas, the containers 31 being successively regenerated in turn by throttling the valve system 32.

Cooler 29, venturi ejector 30, return line 28, and a portion of shunt tube 27 are integrated into valve system 32, but this is not essential to the invention.

The compressor installation 1 in fig. 2 is further provided with two injection circuits 26a, 26b, wherein the first injection circuit 26a extends from the outlet 10 for separated liquid of the liquid separator 8 to the compressor element 3 and the second injection circuit 26b extends from the outlet 10 for separated liquid of the liquid separator 8 to the bearings of the compressor device 2.

In this example, the secondary section 22b of the heat exchanger 21 is installed in the first injection circuit 26 a.

An oil cooler 34 is installed in the second injection circuit 26 b.

In this example, the adjustable valve 24 is mounted in two injection circuits 26a, 26 b. However, this is not essential to the invention.

In this way, the separated oil will be split, wherein a part is injected into the compressor unit 3 via the heat exchanger 21 and another part is delivered to the bearings via the oil cooler 34.

By means of the adjustable valve 24, the amount of oil to both the compressor element 3 and to the bearings can be throttled.

As for the other aspects, the operation is similar to that of the compressor installation 1 in fig. 1 described above.

Obviously, in all the embodiments described in fig. 1 and below, two injection circuits 26a, 26b can also be applied.

Fig. 3 shows a variant of fig. 2, in which the regeneration gas is not branched off from the dried compressed gas, but comes from an external source 35.

The regeneration gas is also no longer conveyed via the return pipe 28 to the inlet 18a of the drying section 14b, but is removed or discharged after regeneration of the drying agent, for example by means of a discharge valve 36.

There is also only one injection circuit 26, as shown in fig. 1.

In this embodiment there is no liquid separator 29 a.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which the regeneration gas is also tapped off at the outlet 18b of the drying section 13b, as shown in FIG. 2; but the regeneration gas is discharged after regeneration, for example by means of a discharge valve 36, as shown in fig. 3. There is also only one injection circuit 26 in this example, as shown in fig. 1.

In fig. 4 there is also no liquid separator 29 a.

In other respects, the embodiment of fig. 3 and 4 is the same as that of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of fig. 1, in this case the primary section 22a of the heat exchanger 21 being mounted in the outlet pipe 5 downstream of the liquid separator 8.

The outlet 10 for the separated oil of the oil separator 8 is connected to an oil cooler 34, which is in turn connected to the adjustable valve 24.

The regeneration gas will be heated by the heat of the compressed gas via the heat exchanger 21.

The separated oil will be cooled by an oil cooler 34.

With respect to other aspects, operation is similar to that of FIG. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a variant of fig. 1, in this case an embodiment of the dryer 12 as in fig. 2 to 4.

Instead of rotating or revolving the drum 16, the dryer 12 now comprises a plurality of containers 31 filled with the drying agent 14.

In the example shown there are two vessels 31, but it is also possible to have three, four or more vessels 31, at least one vessel 31 forming the drying section 13b and at least one vessel 31 forming the regeneration section 13 a.

In addition to the container 31, the dryer 12 also includes a valve system 32 that connects the outlet pipe 5, the regeneration pipe 20, the return pipe 28, and the shunt pipe 27 to the container 31.

The valve system 32 comprises two separate valve groups 33a, 33 b.

As shown in fig. 2, the valve system 32 is a system of different pipes and valves, which can be adjusted so that at least one container 31 is always regenerated, while the other containers 31 dry the compressed gas, in this case the containers 31 being successively regenerated in turn by throttling the valve system 32.

Cooler 29, venturi ejector 30, return line 28, and a portion of shunt tube 27 are integrated into valve system 32, however this is not essential to the invention.

In this example there is no liquid separator 29 a.

As for the other aspects, the operation is similar to that of the compressor installation 1 in fig. 5 described above.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of fig. 6, in which the regeneration gas is not branched off from the dried compressed gas, but comes from an external source 35 as shown in fig. 3.

The regeneration gas is also no longer conveyed via the return line 28 to the inlet 18a of the drying section 13b, but is removed or discharged after regenerating the drying agent 14, for example by means of a discharge valve 36.

In this example there is no liquid separator 29 a.

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment, in which the regeneration gas is also tapped off at the outlet 18b of the drying section 13b, as shown in fig. 6; but the regeneration gas is discharged after regeneration, for example by means of a discharge valve 36, as shown in fig. 7. This corresponds to the situation as shown in fig. 4.

In this example also there is no liquid separator 29 a.

In other respects, the embodiment of fig. 7 and 8 is the same as that of fig. 6.

It should be appreciated that the specific embodiment of the valve system 32 in fig. 2-4 and 6-8 is not limiting to the invention and may be implemented in many different ways.

The invention is, however, by no means limited to the embodiments described as examples and shown in the drawings, and the compressor installation and the method for supplying compressed gas according to the invention can be implemented in various variants without departing from the scope of the invention.