CN219827144U

CN219827144U - Compressor device and compressor assembly for compressing a fluid

Info

Publication number: CN219827144U
Application number: CN202320683055.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·瓜迪亚
Original assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower NV
Current assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower NV
Priority date: 2022-03-30
Filing date: 2023-03-30
Publication date: 2023-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-30
Also published as: BE1030415A1; BE1030415B1; WO2023187481A1; CN116892515A

Abstract

A compressor device and a compressor assembly for compressing a fluid. The compressor device (1) comprises a compressor element (9) provided with an acoustic impedance adapter (10) at a fluid conduit outlet (26), the acoustic impedance adapter comprising an adapter inlet conduit (27) and an adapter outlet conduit (28) connected to each other by means of an adapter intermediate conduit portion (29), which encloses at least one expansion chamber (30), wherein a largest opening (32) of the adapter intermediate conduit portion (29) having an equivalent diameter (C) is significantly larger than a smallest opening (31) of the adapter inlet conduit (27) having an equivalent diameter (B). This improves the overall energy efficiency of the compressor device and the compressor assembly.

Description

Compressor device and compressor assembly for compressing a fluid

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a compressor device for compressing a fluid or a pressurized fluid, typically a gaseous fluid, such as air or another gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, helium or hydrogen, and a compressor assembly for compressing a fluid. However, the present utility model does not exclude the use of a compressor device for compressing or pressurizing a denser fluid, such as water vapor or the like.

Furthermore, the compressor device of the present utility model comprises a fluid conduit for guiding fluid from the fluid conduit inlet through the compressor device to the fluid conduit outlet.

The compressor device is typically a positive displacement type of compressor device, such as a tooth compressor, a twin-lobe compressor, or a rotary compressor (such as a rotary screw compressor), or the like. However, the present utility model does not exclude that the compressor device is still another compressor device.

The utility model also relates to a compressor device designed to run under certain nominal operating conditions. Typically, the rated flow of the compressor device according to the utility model is between 40 and 140 l/s. Additionally or alternatively, the compressor device according to the utility model has a rotor or a rotary element (for example an externally threaded rotor or an internally threaded rotor) which is operated at a nominal rotor speed in the range between 3000 and 9000 rpm. However, the present utility model does not exclude the design of other types of compressor devices, the nominal operating range of which is not within the above-mentioned range. The present utility model does not exclude that compressor devices designed for a certain rated operating flow or rated operating speed are operated at other flow or other operating speeds.

The utility model also relates to a compressor assembly comprising one or more compressor stages, and wherein at least one of the compressor stages is formed by a compressor device according to the utility model.

The compressor device according to the utility model is typically connected in series in order to form the compressor assembly according to the utility model, but the utility model does not exclude other configurations.

Typically, uncompressed ambient air is drawn in at the fluid conduit inlet of such a compressor assembly of the present utility model, which ambient air is converted to compressed air by different compression levels in the compressor assembly, which compressed air is supplied to a user of compressed or pressurized air (or pressurized fluid in the more general case) at the fluid conduit outlet of the compressor assembly.

More particularly, the present utility model relates to such a compressor assembly comprising means for cooling, preferably at least partially air-cooled means. To this end, the compressor assembly according to the utility model comprises means, for example, for forcing an air flow in the air channel from the air channel inlet through the housing to the air channel outlet.

Furthermore, the compressor assembly according to the utility model generally comprises one or more heat exchangers positioned in the air passage for transferring heat from the heat exchangers to the air forced through the air passage by means of the means for forcing an air flow. These heat exchangers are typically intended for cooling a pressurized fluid and for transferring heat accumulated in the compressed fluid or pressurized fluid during compression to ambient air flowing through the associated heat exchanger(s).

Hot compressed or pressurized fluid is not suitable for supply to consumers of compressed or pressurized fluid not only because of its high temperature, but also, for example, because too much humidity has accumulated therein.

Typically, a heat exchanger is provided after each compression stage in the compression assembly for cooling the fluid before providing it to the next compression stage or to a consumer of compressed or pressurized fluid.

Background

Recently, efforts have been made to reduce fossil fuel consumption and to convert it into a more environmentally friendly energy source. The high price of fossil fuels is currently a great stimulus for changing behavior. Another aspect of this transition is that there is a trend to reduce energy consumption.

In addition, in the context of industrial production and manufacturing, there is a strong need to reduce costs associated with energy consumption. In the context of the present utility model in the field of compressor technology, energy consumption is a big problem and many efforts have been made to improve the energy efficiency of the compressor arrangement and compressor assembly concerned.

In addition, it is well known that in a rotary-type compressor device, vibration and pressure pulsation occur in a compressed fluid, depending on the rotational speed of a compressor rotor. These vibrations and pressure pulsations create noise and may cause damage to the compressor device and the compressor assembly itself and to the components surrounding the compressor device and the compressor assembly.

Another frequently encountered problem associated with these vibrations and pressure pulsations is that the compressed or pressurized fluid is not optimally emptied or the uncompressed fluid is not supplied to the compression chambers of the associated compressor device in an efficient manner.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present utility model to overcome one or more of the problems described above and/or other problems that may also be present.

In particular, it is a primary object of the present utility model to improve the overall energy efficiency of the compressor device and compressor assembly.

To this end, a compressor device is provided, comprising a compressor element for compressing a fluid, the compressor element comprising a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from a fluid conduit inlet through the compressor element to a fluid conduit outlet, wherein an acoustic impedance adapter is provided at the fluid conduit outlet, the acoustic impedance adapter comprising an adapter inlet conduit and an adapter outlet conduit connected to each other by means of an adapter intermediate conduit portion, the adapter intermediate conduit portion enclosing at least one expansion chamber, wherein an inner cross section of the adapter inlet conduit forms a minimum opening with a certain minimum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein an inner cross section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms a maximum opening with a certain maximum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is substantially larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

In one configuration, compression of the fluid in the compressor element generates a forward or downstream pressure pulsation wave in the compressed fluid, and the acoustic impedance adapter changes acoustic impedance in a manner such that the compressed or partially compressed fluid present in the compressor element is affected and such that reflected pressure pulsation waves from the acoustic impedance adapter in a backward or upstream direction at least partially affect or compensate for the forward or downstream pressure pulsation wave, such that the pressure of the compressed fluid downstream of the acoustic impedance adapter has generally less pulsation characteristics and/or exhibits phase shifts than a compressor device without such acoustic impedance adapter.

In one configuration, the length of the adapter inlet conduit between the compressor element and the adapter intermediate conduit portion is less than four times the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

In one configuration, the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

In one configuration, the internal cross-section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms an opening having an equivalent inner diameter that is at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit, and a ratio defined by the distance between the internal cross-section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion and the distal end of the adapter inlet conduit divided by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit is less than 1.

In one configuration, the internal cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion increases monotonically from the adapter inlet conduit to the largest internal cross section or largest opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion.

In one configuration, the internal cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion monotonically decreases from the largest internal cross section or largest opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion toward the adapter outlet conduit.

In one configuration, the adapter intermediate conduit portion encloses more than one expansion chamber.

In one configuration, the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit extend partially into the adapter intermediate conduit portion.

In one configuration, the portion of the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit extending into the adapter intermediate conduit portion is perforated.

In one configuration, the adapter inlet duct and/or the adapter outlet duct extends completely through the adapter intermediate duct portion, so that the adapter inlet duct and the adapter outlet duct are connected to each other by means of an inner duct portion of the adapter inlet duct and/or the adapter outlet duct in the adapter intermediate duct portion, and the inner duct portion is at least partially perforated.

In one configuration, a damping material for damping gas pulsations is provided in the expansion chamber of the adapter intermediate conduit portion.

In one configuration, the damping material is acoustic foam or steel wool.

In one configuration, the adapter intermediate conduit portion has one or more of the following features:

-the adapter intermediate pipe section is implemented as a quarter wave resonator;

-the adapter intermediate conduit portion is implemented as a helmholtz resonator;

-said adaptor intermediate pipe section comprises an expansion chamber, which is spherical, hemispherical, conical, cubic, prismatic, cylindrical, rectangular or box-shaped or has an S-shaped cross-section;

-said adaptor intermediate conduit portion comprises a pair of expansion chambers separated from each other by means of an intermediate spacing conduit; the method comprises the steps of,

-the adapter intermediate conduit portion comprises a plurality of expansion chambers positioned symmetrically with respect to or around the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit or with respect to a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit extends or to the direction in which the adapter intermediate conduit portion or intermediate spacing conduit extends.

In one configuration, the adapter inlet conduit or the adapter outlet conduit is provided with a flexible coupling or a flexible spacer ring.

In one configuration, the compressor element is a tooth compressor.

In one configuration, the compressor element is of a type having one or more of the following rated operating conditions:

-said compressor element has a rated flow in the range between 40l/s and 140 l/s; the method comprises the steps of,

-said compressor element has a rotor rated for a rotor speed in the range between 3000rpm and 9000 rpm.

There is also provided a compressor assembly for compressing a fluid, the compressor assembly comprising a housing, a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from a fluid conduit inlet through the compressor assembly to a fluid conduit outlet, one or more of the fluid conduit, at least one of the compressor stages being formed by a compressor device according to the preceding, wherein a cooler for cooling the compressed fluid is provided in the fluid conduit downstream of each compressor stage.

In one configuration, the compressor assembly includes a low pressure stage and a high pressure stage, wherein an air-cooled intercooler is disposed in the fluid conduit downstream of the low pressure stage, and wherein an air-cooled aftercooler is disposed in the fluid conduit downstream of the high pressure stage, wherein the low pressure stage includes the compressor element and the acoustic impedance adapter and/or the high pressure stage includes the compressor element and the acoustic impedance adapter.

To this end, the utility model first relates to a compressor device comprising a compressor element for compressing a fluid, the compressor element comprising a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from a fluid conduit inlet through the compressor element to a fluid conduit outlet, wherein an acoustic impedance adapter is provided at the fluid conduit outlet, the acoustic impedance adapter comprising an adapter inlet conduit and an adapter outlet conduit connected to each other by means of an adapter intermediate conduit portion, the adapter intermediate conduit portion enclosing at least one expansion chamber, wherein an inner cross-sectional area of the adapter inlet conduit forms a minimum opening with a certain minimum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein an inner cross-sectional area of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms a maximum opening with a certain maximum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is significantly larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

A great advantage of such a compressor device according to the utility model is that it is provided with an adapter at the outlet of its fluid conduit for modifying the acoustic impedance of the complete arrangement such that the flow of compressed or pressurized fluid at the outlet conduit of the adapter is smoother than without such an acoustic impedance adapter.

In particular, the acoustic impedance adapter has at least one expansion chamber that acts as an intermediate buffer between the fluid conduit outlet and the adapter outlet for smoothing or smoothing out pressure fluctuations, pulsations or imbalances of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor element.

In this way, a more energy efficient compressor device is obtained and the compressed fluid is stimulated to empty from the compressor element.

Typically, compression of the fluid in the compressor element generates forward or downstream (in the fluid flow) pressure pulsation waves in the compressed fluid.

In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model, the acoustic impedance adapter modifies the acoustic impedance such that the compressed or partially compressed fluid present in the compressor element is affected and such that the reflected pressure pulsation wave in the backward or upstream direction from the acoustic impedance adapter at least partially compensates for the forward or downstream pressure pulsation wave such that the pressure of the compressed fluid downstream of the adapter has an overall smaller pulsation characteristic.

Such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model is very advantageous in that the acoustic impedance adapter influences the fluid pressure of the fluid being compressed or already compressed in the compressor chamber itself, i.e. in a position upstream (in the fluid flow) of the acoustic impedance adapter.

This is very different from the so-called "silencers" or "pulsation filters" known in the art. In fact, silencers and pulsation filters are devices that make a transition from something that is in to something that is out. There is typically less egress than ingress.

In the context of the present utility model, an incoming "thing" is a pressurized or compressed fluid stream having a pressure that varies dynamically over time. In a muffler or filter, this incoming pressurized or compressed fluid flow is converted into an outgoing flow of pressurized or compressed fluid having another dynamic behavior. Thus, the relevant transition occurs downstream of the actual compressor element.

Typically, in such silencers or filters, certain disturbance frequencies or certain unwanted pulsations in the pressure fluctuations of the outgoing flow of the pressurized or compressed fluid concerned are filtered out or their intensity is reduced. In this way, electrical noise or harmful vibrations are eliminated. However, a disadvantage is that a lot of energy is lost during the transition of such a muffler or filter and thus the energy efficiency of the compressor device is reduced.

In contrast, the above-described embodiments of the compressor device according to the utility model are provided with acoustic impedance adaptors which influence the pressure state of the fluid which has been partially or completely compressed or is to be compressed in the compression chamber of the compressor element itself upstream of the adaptor. In this way, the energy accumulated in the compressed fluid present in the acoustic impedance adapter is transferred to the fluid present in the compressor element. There is little or no energy loss while improving the conditions for evacuating the compressed fluid from the compressor element, reducing the overall strength of the fluid pressure pulsations, and achieving a smoother flow of the compressed fluid through the compressor element. In short, such a compressor device according to the utility model is more energy efficient and the supply of compressed fluid is less harmful for other parts of the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model, the length of the adapter inlet duct between the compressor element and the adapter intermediate duct portion is less than four times the smallest equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet duct.

Such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model is very advantageous in that the acoustic impedance adapter is positioned at a relatively short distance from the compressor element itself, so that it certainly performs its role as an adapter for the process of influencing the fluid pressure in the compressor element itself.

In a further preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model, the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

A great advantage of such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model is that the expansion chamber formed in the acoustic impedance adapter is large enough to have the required capacity for forming reflected pressure pulsation waves which can compensate for important pressure pulsations of the compressor element itself.

In a further preferred embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model, the inner cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms an opening having an equivalent inner diameter which is at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit, and the ratio defined by the distance between this inner cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion and the distal end of the adapter inlet conduit divided by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit is smaller than 1.

A great advantage of such an embodiment of the compressor device according to the utility model is that the internal dimensions of the adapter intermediate conduit portion for forming the expansion chamber increase rapidly over a relatively short distance from the location where the adapter intermediate conduit portion is connected to the adapter inlet conduit. In this way, the expansion chamber may provide an impact on the process of fluid pressure that is high enough to be effective.

The utility model also relates to a compressor assembly for compressing a fluid, comprising a housing, a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from an inlet of the fluid conduit through the compressor assembly to an outlet of the fluid conduit, one or more compressor stages in the fluid conduit, wherein at least one of the compressor stages is formed by a compressor device according to the utility model, which compressor device comprises an associated acoustic impedance adapter, and wherein downstream (in the fluid flow) of each compressor stage a cooler for cooling the compressed fluid is provided in the fluid conduit.

An advantage of such a compressor assembly according to the utility model is that the cooled, pressurized or compressed fluid can be provided with a low Specific Energy Requirement (SER), i.e. in an energy-efficient manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the compressor assembly according to the utility model, the compressor assembly comprises a low pressure stage and a high pressure stage, wherein downstream of the low pressure stage an air-cooled intercooler is provided in the fluid conduit, and wherein downstream of the high pressure stage an air-cooled aftercooler is provided in the fluid conduit, wherein the low pressure stage comprises a compressor element according to the utility model and an acoustic impedance adapter as described before and/or the high pressure stage comprises a compressor element according to the utility model and an acoustic impedance adapter as described before.

Alternatively or additionally, the utility model does not exclude the application of said acoustic adapter at the inlet side of the compressor element. In this way, the filling of the compression chamber can be improved and so-called acoustic overfilling can be applied.

Drawings

The utility model will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a possible embodiment of a compressor assembly according to the present utility model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a compressor assembly with an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present utility model; and, in addition, the processing unit,

FIGS. 3-8 are illustrations of an alternate embodiment of a compressor assembly with an acoustic impedance adapter according to the present utility model similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of a compressor device according to the present utility model, wherein a flexible coupling is provided in the adapter outlet conduit;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the compressor assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a combination of acoustic impedance adapters connected to a heat exchanger or cooler and to a compressor element of the compressor device of the present utility model not shown; and, in addition, the processing unit,

fig. 12 to 16 are perspective views similar to those of fig. 11 for other embodiments of the compressor element of the compressor device according to the utility model.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates a compressor assembly 100 according to the utility model, comprising some compressor device 1 according to the utility model for compressing a fluid 2, in this case air 2 extracted from the surrounding environment. The compressor assembly 100 comprises a housing 3 in which a fluid conduit 4 is provided for guiding a fluid 2 from a compressor assembly fluid conduit inlet 5 through the compressor assembly 100 to a compressor assembly fluid conduit outlet 6.

Furthermore, the compressor assembly 1 comprises one or more compressor stages, in this case two compressor stages 7 and 8, which are included in the fluid conduit 4 and form part of the fluid conduit 4. At least one of the compressor stages 7 and 8 is formed by the compressor device 1 according to the utility model. In the example of fig. 1, two stages 7 and 8 are formed by such a compressor device 1 according to the utility model.

The compressor device 1 of this kind of the utility model is peculiar in that it comprises a compressor element 9 and that it has an acoustic impedance adapter 10, which is preferably connected to the outlet side 11 of the compressor element 1. However, the present utility model does not exclude the provision of an acoustic impedance adapter 10 mounted at the inlet 12 of such a compressor element 9.

Downstream (in the fluid flow) of each compressor stage 7 and 8, a cooler is provided in the fluid conduit 4, a cooler 14 and a cooler 15, respectively, for cooling the compressed fluid 13.

In the example of fig. 1, compressor stage 7 is a low pressure stage and compressor stage 8 is a high pressure stage, which are mounted in series with each other. Downstream of the low pressure stage 7 an air-cooled intercooler 14 is provided in the fluid line 4, and downstream of the high pressure stage 8 an air-cooled aftercooler 15 is provided in the fluid line 4.

The coolers 14 and 15 are air-cooled coolers which are arranged in an air channel 16 in the housing 3 of the compressor device 1. The air channel 16 is separated from a compartment 17 in the housing 3, in which the compressor device 1 is arranged, by means of an intermediate wall 18.

Ambient air 19 is drawn from the environment 20 by means of a fan 21 which forces the air 19 through the air channel 16 from an air channel inlet 22 to an air channel outlet 23. During flow through the air passage 16, heat is transferred from the coolers 14 and 15 to the air 19.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a part of a compressor device 1 according to the utility model for compressing a fluid 2. The compressor element 9 of the compressor device 1 is schematically represented as square and is not at all representative in size.

The compressor element 9 comprises a compressor element fluid conduit 24 for guiding a flow of fluid 2 from a compressor element fluid conduit inlet 25 through the compressor element 9 to a compressor element fluid conduit outlet 26. According to the utility model, an acoustic impedance adapter 10 is provided at the fluid conduit outlet 26 of the compressor element 9.

The acoustic impedance adapter 10 includes an adapter inlet conduit 27 and an adapter outlet conduit 28, a portion of which is shown only in fig. 2. The adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28 are connected to each other by means of an adapter intermediate conduit portion 29, which encloses at least one expansion chamber 30.

In this case both the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28 are rectilinear, but this need not be the case according to the utility model. The adapter inlet duct 27 extends in the direction YY 'and the adapter outlet duct 28 extends in the direction ZZ'. These directions YY 'and ZZ' may be collinear, but preferably they are parallel to each other at an offset distance O, but this need not even be the case.

The inner cross section 31 of the adapter inlet conduit 27 in a plane perpendicular to the direction YY' in which the adapter inlet conduit 27 extends between the compressor element 9 and the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 forms a minimum opening 31 having a certain minimum equivalent inner diameter B. In this case, the adapter inlet duct 27 has an internal cross section 31 or opening 31 perpendicular to said direction YY', which internal cross section 31 or opening 31 is constant over its length, but this is not necessarily the case.

The adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 extends in the direction AA' between the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28. This direction AA ' may be collinear with either or both of directions YY ' and ZZ ' along which the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28 extend, but this need not be the case.

Furthermore, the inner cross section 32 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 forms a maximum opening 32 having a certain maximum equivalent inner diameter C. The internal cross section 32 or opening 32 is generally defined in a plane perpendicular to the direction AA ' in which the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 extends between the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28, or perpendicular to the above-mentioned directions YY ' and/or ZZ ' in which the adapter inlet conduit 27 and/or the adapter outlet conduit 28 extend.

According to the utility model, the maximum equivalent inner diameter C of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 is significantly larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter B (C > > > B) of the adapter inlet conduit 27. This ensures that the expansion chamber 30 is larger than the smallest opening 31 of the adapter inlet conduit 27.

In a preferred embodiment of the compressor device 1 of the utility model, the maximum equivalent inner diameter C of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet conduit 27.

Another aspect of the utility model is that the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 is preferably positioned relatively close to the outlet 11 or 26 of the compressor element 9. In particular, it is preferred according to the utility model that the length L of the adapter inlet conduit 27 between the compressor element 9 and the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 is less than four times the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet conduit 27. This measure must ensure that the expansion chamber 30 can have a sufficiently important influence on the fluid present in the compressor chamber of the compressor element 9 upstream of the acoustic impedance adapter 10.

The inner cross section 33 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 forms an opening 33, the equivalent inner diameter D of said opening 33 being at least twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter B of the adapter inlet conduit 28 (D.gtoreq.2xB). This internal cross section 33 or opening 33 is again generally defined in a plane perpendicular to the direction AA ' in which the adapter intermediate duct portion 29 extends between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28, or perpendicular to the above-mentioned directions YY ' and/or ZZ ' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 and/or the adapter outlet duct 28 extends.

A further preferred aspect of the utility model provides that the ratio R defined by the distance E between this inner cross section 33 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 and the distal end 34 of the adapter inlet conduit 27 divided by 2x B which is twice the smallest equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit 27 is smaller than 1.

1>R＝E/(2x B)

This means that the expansion chamber 30 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 increases in size rapidly in a direction away from the distal end 34 of the adapter inlet conduit 27, which ensures its effectiveness.

In the embodiment of fig. 2, the adapter intermediate pipe portion 29 encloses a single expansion chamber 30, which is essentially spherical formed by a sphere having a diameter C.

In the example of fig. 2, the internal cross-section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 increases monotonically from the adapter inlet conduit 27 to the maximum internal cross-section 32 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29. The internal cross section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 also monotonically decreases from the maximum internal cross section 32 of the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 to the adapter outlet conduit 28. However, this need not be the case according to the utility model.

Fig. 3 illustrates a compressor device 1 according to the utility model, wherein the adapter intermediate pipe portion 29 encloses more than one expansion chamber, i.e. in this example two expansion chambers 35 and 36.

In the case of fig. 3, the two expansion chambers 35 and 36 each have a hemispherical shape. The shape is obtained approximately from two halves of the spherical expansion chamber 32, which are separated from each other by means of an intermediate spacing duct 37, as shown in fig. 3. In the case of fig. 3, the intermediate spacer duct 37 extends over the prolongation of the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28, and all of these above-mentioned ducts 27, 28 and 37 have the same inner diameter B.

In the embodiment of fig. 3, the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 comprises a pair of expansion chambers 35 and 36, which are symmetrical with respect to a plane FF 'perpendicular to the direction YY' in which the adapter inlet conduit 27 extends and/or the direction ZZ 'in which the adapter outlet conduit 28 extends and/or the direction AA' in which the intermediate spacing conduit 37 extends.

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a compressor device 1 according to the utility model which is similar to the compressor device in fig. 2 and has an adapter intermediate pipe portion 29, said adapter intermediate pipe portion 29 enclosing a single expansion chamber 30 which is also substantially spherical.

However, this time, there is some variation in the shape of the substantially spherical expansion chamber 30. The connection 38 between the adapter outlet duct 28 and the spherical expansion chamber 30 is brought slightly inwardly into the spherical expansion chamber 30 and the outer wall 39 of the spherical expansion chamber 30 is connected to the adapter outlet duct 28 by means of an intermediate wall portion 40, which preferably has a cylindrical wall portion 41 and/or one or more flat-shaped wall portions 42 concentric with the adapter outlet duct 28.

Fig. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a compressor device 1 according to the utility model, which is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 3 in that it again comprises a pair of substantially hemispherical expansion chambers 35 and 36, which are spaced apart from each other by means of an intermediate spacing duct 37.

In the example of fig. 5, the intermediate spacing duct 37 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction YY ' in which the adapter inlet duct 27 extends and/or the direction ZZ ' in which the adapter outlet duct 28 extends and/or the direction AA ' in which the adapter intermediate portion 29 extends between the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28.

Expansion chambers 35 and 36 are now also oriented in another way and are positioned symmetrically around adapter inlet conduit 27 and/or adapter outlet conduit 28.

The embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the utility model shown in fig. 6 is similar to the embodiment of fig. 2, wherein the adapter intermediate pipe section 29 comprises a substantially spherical single expansion chamber 30.

In the example of fig. 6, the adapter inlet conduit 27 and/or the adapter outlet conduit 28 extend completely through the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 in order to interconnect the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28 by means of the inner conduit portion 43. The inner conduit portion 43 of the adapter inlet conduit 27 and/or the adapter outlet conduit 28 extending into the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 is perforated so that the compressed fluid 13 can expand into the entire expansion chamber 30. Perforations 44 are provided throughout the length of the inner conduit portion 43.

In a further embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the utility model, the adapter inlet conduit 27 and the adapter outlet conduit 28 may also extend only partly into the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29. This is the case, for example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 12.

The embodiment of the compressor device 1 according to the utility model represented in fig. 7 is completely identical to the embodiment of fig. 6. However, in the embodiment of fig. 7, a damping material 45 for damping gas pulsations, such as sound-insulating foam, steel wool or the like, is provided in the expansion chamber 30 of the adapter intermediate pipe portion 29.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a compressor device 1 according to the utility model, which is identical to the embodiment illustrated in fig. 3, with two expansion chambers separated from each other by means of an intermediate spacing duct 37, which extends in a direction AA ' parallel to the directions YY ' and ZZ ' of the adapter inlet duct 27 and the adapter outlet duct 28.

However, in fig. 8, only one expansion chamber 35 has a hemispherical shape, while the other expansion chamber 46 has a conical shape and is arranged on the side furthest from the compressor element 9. The conical shape decreases in size in a direction away from the compressor element 9.

The expansion chamber 46, which has a conical shape, is also filled with damping material 45, while the other hemispherical expansion chamber 35 remains empty.

The adapter outlet pipe 28 is completely incorporated into the expansion chamber 46 north and does not extend outside the adapter intermediate pipe portion 29.

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment of an acoustic impedance adapter 10 of a compressor device 1 according to the present utility model, wherein the adapter outlet pipe 28 is provided with a flexible coupling 47 or flexible spacer ring 47.

Alternatively, such a flexible coupling 47 or flexible spacer ring 47 may also be provided in the adapter inlet conduit 27.

In this case, the adapter inlet conduit 27 comprises three parts, namely a first part and a second part connected by an associated flexible coupling 47 or flexible spacer ring 47. Obviously, in this case the length L of the adapter inlet duct 27 should be regarded as the total length of the adapter inlet duct 27 formed by these three components.

Fig. 11 to 16 illustrate other different configurations of the combination of the acoustic impedance adapter 10 and the cooler 14 or 15 of the compressor device 1 according to the present utility model.

In fig. 11, the adapter intermediate pipe portion 29 comprises a mainly spherical expansion chamber, as is the case for example in fig. 2, whereas in fig. 12 and 14 the expansion chamber is more rectangular or box-shaped or cube-shaped.

In fig. 13, the adapter intermediate conduit portion 29 comprises an expansion chamber having an S-shaped cross section, whereas in fig. 15 and 16 the expansion chamber is closed in a more circular shape or cylindrical shape. In still other embodiments, the expansion chamber may be prismatic in shape or even another more irregular shape.

The utility model is in no way limited to the embodiments of the compressor package 100 or the compressor device 1 as described before, but such a compressor package 1 or compressor device 1 may be applied and implemented in many different ways without departing from the scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. Compressor device comprising a compressor element for compressing a fluid, the compressor element comprising a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from a fluid conduit inlet through the compressor element to a fluid conduit outlet, characterized in that an acoustic impedance adapter is provided at the fluid conduit outlet, the acoustic impedance adapter comprising an adapter inlet conduit and an adapter outlet conduit being interconnected by means of an adapter intermediate conduit portion, the adapter intermediate conduit portion enclosing at least one expansion chamber, wherein an inner cross section of the adapter inlet conduit forms a minimum opening with a certain minimum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein an inner cross section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms a maximum opening with a certain maximum equivalent inner diameter, and wherein the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is substantially larger than the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

2. The compressor device of claim 1, wherein compression of the fluid in the compressor element produces a forward or downstream pressure pulsation wave in the compressed fluid, and the acoustic impedance adapter changes acoustic impedance in a manner such that the compressed or partially compressed fluid present in the compressor element is affected and such that reflected pressure pulsation waves from the acoustic impedance adapter in a backward or upstream direction at least partially affect or compensate for forward or downstream pressure pulsation waves such that the pressure of the compressed fluid downstream of the acoustic impedance adapter has generally less pulsation characteristics and/or exhibits phase shifts than a compressor device without such acoustic impedance adapter.

3. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the adapter inlet conduit between the compressor element and the adapter intermediate conduit portion is less than four times the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

4. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter intermediate conduit portion is greater than twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit.

5. The compressor apparatus of claim 4, wherein an interior cross-section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion forms an opening having an equivalent inner diameter that is at least twice a minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit, and wherein a ratio defined by a distance between the interior cross-section of the adapter intermediate conduit portion and a distal end of the adapter inlet conduit divided by twice the minimum equivalent inner diameter of the adapter inlet conduit is less than 1.

6. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion increases monotonically from the adapter inlet conduit to the largest internal cross section or largest opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion.

7. Compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal cross section or opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion decreases monotonically from the largest internal cross section or largest opening of the adapter intermediate conduit portion towards the adapter outlet conduit.

8. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter intermediate conduit portion encloses more than one expansion chamber.

9. Compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit extend partly into the adapter intermediate conduit portion.

10. Compressor device according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the adapter inlet conduit and/or the adapter outlet conduit extending into the adapter intermediate conduit portion is perforated.

11. Compressor device according to claim 9, wherein the adapter inlet duct and/or the adapter outlet duct extends completely through the adapter intermediate duct section, so that the adapter inlet duct and the adapter outlet duct are connected to each other by means of an inner duct section of the adapter inlet duct and/or the adapter outlet duct in the adapter intermediate duct section, and the inner duct section is at least partially perforated.

12. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein damping material for damping gas pulsations is provided in the expansion chamber of the adapter intermediate pipe section.

13. The compressor device of claim 12, wherein the damping material is sound insulating foam or steel wool.

14. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter intermediate conduit portion has one or more of the following features:

15. Compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter inlet duct or the adapter outlet duct is provided with a flexible coupling or a flexible spacer ring.

16. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressor element is a tooth compressor.

17. A compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressor element is of the type having one or more of the following rated operating conditions:

18. A compressor assembly for compressing a fluid, the compressor assembly comprising a housing, a fluid conduit for guiding the fluid from a fluid conduit inlet through the compressor assembly to a fluid conduit outlet, one or more of the fluid conduit, at least one of the compressor stages being formed by a compressor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cooler for cooling the compressed fluid is provided in the fluid conduit downstream of each compressor stage.

19. The compressor assembly for compressing fluid of claim 18, wherein the compressor assembly comprises a low pressure stage and a high pressure stage, wherein an air-cooled intercooler is disposed in the fluid conduit downstream of the low pressure stage, and wherein an air-cooled aftercooler is disposed in the fluid conduit downstream of the high pressure stage, wherein the low pressure stage comprises the compressor element and the acoustic impedance adapter and/or the high pressure stage comprises the compressor element and the acoustic impedance adapter.