EP3504434B1 - Pumping station for a pipeline and method for starting a combustion engine in a pumping station - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pumping station for a pipeline, in particular an oil or gas pipeline with the features of the preamble of claim 1, and a method for starting at least one internal combustion engine in such a pumping station. Pump station includes compressor stations.

In pumping stations for oil or gas pipelines, internal combustion engines, for example large gas engines, are used, which drive one or more feed pumps for conveying the medium - oil or gas - through the pipeline. Such gas engines have an output of 1800 to 11000 hp and a starting torque of 32000 Nm at 4000 hp, for example. The ignition speed can then be, for example, 65 rpm and should be held for 30 seconds.

The medium conveyed through the pipeline, in particular gas, is conventionally used to start the internal combustion engine. This is no longer desirable for environmental reasons.

Alternative starting devices for internal combustion engines are in RU 2 035 614 C1 and ES 1 072 269 U disclosed.

US 2005/196298 A1 discloses a pump station for a gas pipeline, in which the gas compressor can be driven both by means of an internal combustion engine and by means of an electric motor. If the electric motor is used, it takes over the drive of the gas compressor by means of an overrunning clutch when the internal combustion engine is already running.

The use of a hydrostatic system for starting internal combustion engines is also known. Here, a hydraulic pressure accumulator is filled by means of a filling pump. The hydraulic medium contained in the hydraulic pressure accumulator, which can be designed as a bladder accumulator, as a piston accumulator or as a spring accumulator, is then switched electrically or by manual operation of a valve to a hydraulic motor that pulls the internal combustion engine up to an undefined speed so that it can ignite. In order to be able to produce a power flow between the hydraulic motor and the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a toothing between the hydraulic motor and the internal combustion engine must be engaged. Two solutions are known for this, namely engagement by auxiliary energy, for example electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic displacement of a gearwheel of the hydraulic motor into a drive connection with the internal combustion engine, or engagement by utilizing the effect of inertia, the gearwheel of the hydraulic motor being arranged on a steep thread and is advanced by the rotation of the hydraulic motor.

The starting of the internal combustion engine, that is to say pulling up the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine with the hydraulic motor, has hitherto been carried out by the fact that the pressure in the pressure accumulator is transmitted to the hydraulic motor in an uncontrolled manner by the hydraulic medium, so that the internal combustion engine is ignited at an undefined speed. As a rule, a speed level is reached which is higher than required. The internal combustion engine can thus be ignited safely, but the energy consumption from the hydraulic pressure accumulator is high, so that comparatively large and therefore expensive hydraulic accumulators have to be provided.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a pumping station for a pipeline of the type described at the outset, which is equipped with a smaller, cheaper hydraulic pressure accumulator. Furthermore, a method for starting a corresponding internal combustion engine in a pump station is to be specified, which enables the use of the comparatively smaller hydraulic pressure accumulator.

The object of the invention is achieved by a pump station with the features of claim 1 and by a method with the features of claim 13. Advantageous and particularly expedient refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A pump station according to the invention for a pipeline, in particular for an oil or gas pipeline, has at least one feed pump for conveying a fluid, in particular oil or gas, through the pipeline. Furthermore, at least one internal combustion engine is provided, which is in a drive connection with the at least one feed pump or can be switched into such a drive connection in order to drive the at least one feed pump.

According to the invention, a hydrostatic system is provided which has at least one first hydraulic motor which is in a drive connection with the at least one internal combustion engine or can be switched into such a drive connection in order to accelerate the at least one internal combustion engine at its start by driving, for example, the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. This means that the hydraulic motor, as stated at the beginning, pulls the internal combustion engine up, especially from a standing position. If synchronization is necessary between the output shaft of the hydraulic motor and the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, the solutions presented at the beginning can be used. Alternatively, a synchronized or unsynchronized clutch can be provided between the hydraulic motor and the internal combustion engine. In particular, there is at least one gear ratio between the hydraulic motor and the internal combustion engine provided, for example, to translate the speed of the internal combustion engine against the speed of the hydraulic motor into slow.

In the hydrostatic system, a hydraulic pressure accumulator with a limited volume is provided, which can be filled with a pressurized hydraulic medium in order to apply this hydraulic medium to the first hydraulic motor so that it is driven accordingly.

According to the invention, the pressure difference across the at least one first hydraulic motor is variably adjustable in the hydraulic system in order to accelerate the internal combustion engine to a predetermined ignition speed.

Thus, according to the invention, there is no uncontrolled start-up of the internal combustion engine to a comparatively high speed level before it is ignited. Rather, the speed of the internal combustion engine, in particular of its crankshaft, is specifically set to a comparatively lower speed, which is just sufficient to ensure reliable ignition of the internal combustion engine.

The solution according to the invention thus avoids unnecessary consumption of energy, that is to say of pressurized hydraulic medium from the at least one pressure accumulator.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an adjustable throttle valve is provided in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium upstream or downstream of the first hydraulic motor for the targeted variable setting of the pressure difference applied to the first hydraulic motor.

Additionally or alternatively, an additional hydraulic motor can be provided in the hydrostatic system, in which pressure of the pressure medium is reduced, so that a lower pressure level for the first hydraulic motor or a lower pressure difference is available. The additional hydraulic motor can be connected in series with the first hydraulic motor to the pressure accumulator in terms of its flow through hydraulic medium. However, a different positioning in the hydrostatic system is also possible, as follows from the following. The adjustable throttle valve can then also be positioned in series with the additional hydraulic motor.

In this embodiment with the additional hydraulic motor, a hydraulic pump driven by the additional hydraulic motor is also provided, which feeds hydraulic medium, in particular from a hydraulic medium supply, into the first hydraulic motor or into a hydraulic medium flow which is fed to the first hydraulic motor from the pressure accumulator. In the first-mentioned arrangement, the hydraulic medium from the pressure accumulator can thus only be passed to the additional hydraulic motor and the hydraulic medium conveyed by the hydraulic pump is then fed to the first hydraulic motor so that it is driven in order to accelerate the internal combustion engine. In the second embodiment, the additional hydraulic motor can be connected in series or parallel to the first hydraulic motor on the pressure accumulator, based on a flow through the hydraulic medium from the pressure accumulator.

In particular, in order to be able to dispense with an adjustable throttle valve for reducing the drive power of the first hydraulic motor, the additional hydraulic motor can be designed as an adjusting motor, so that its power consumption can be regulated. Additionally or alternatively, the hydraulic pump can accordingly be designed as a variable displacement pump in order to adjust its power consumption.

The first hydraulic motor is designed in particular as a constant motor.

At least one charge pump is preferably provided in the hydrostatic system, which feeds hydraulic medium from a hydraulic medium supply, in particular from the hydraulic medium supply, from which the hydraulic pump also draws, into the pressure accumulator, the charge pump in particular having an electromotive drive. Other drives, e.g. an internal combustion engine as a drive, however, are possible.

The additional hydraulic motor and / or the hydraulic pump is / are advantageously designed as an axial piston machine, for example as a swash axis machine, swash plate machine or swash plate machine. It is advantageously possible for the power consumption or the swallowing volume to be set by controlling the swivel angle.

The pressure accumulator is preferably designed as an accumulator with a gas tensioning device, in particular as a bladder accumulator or membrane accumulator. An additional gas accumulator is advantageously connected in a gas-conducting manner on a gas side of the pressure accumulator in order to enlarge the gas spring of the pressure accumulator. For example, at a constant pressure level and at a constant maximum storage pressure, the maximum quantity of hydraulic medium that can be absorbed is doubled by connecting an additional gas accumulator, which can be filled, for example, with nitrogen, in particular if the gas accumulator has at least the same absorption volume as the pressure accumulator.

At least one sensor is preferably arranged in the hydrostatic system which, together with a control device which is connected to the at least one sensor wirelessly or by wire, indirectly determines the speed of the internal combustion engine as a function of a state variable in the hydrostatic system. For example, the at least one sensor is arranged in the region of the additional hydraulic motor or a hydraulic motor-pump unit, which comprises the additional hydraulic motor and the hydraulic pump, and / or in the region of the adjustable one Throttle valve. It is also possible to determine the hydraulic medium flow through the first hydraulic motor or its power consumption with the sensor. For example, the speed of the additional hydraulic motor and / or the hydraulic pump can be used to indirectly determine the speed of the internal combustion engine, or the hydraulic medium flow at a predetermined point in the hydrostatic system. It is also possible, for example, to use the position of the adjustable throttle valve for this purpose, or for example the current swivel angle of the additional hydraulic motor and / or the hydraulic pump. This list is not exhaustive, but other sizes can also be used.

Of course, it is also possible to determine the speed of the internal combustion engine based on state variables outside the hydrostatic system or to measure it directly.

• der hydraulische Druckspeicher, insbesondere zusammen mit dem Gasspeicher
• die wenigstens eine Ladepumpe, insbesondere zusammen mit ihrem elektromotorischen Anrieb
• der Hydraulikmediumvorrat
• der zusätzliche Hydraulikmotor
• das einstellbare Drosselventil
• der wenigstens eine Sensor
• die Hydraulikpumpe
• die Steuereinrichtung.

As a rule, the at least one internal combustion engine is positioned in an explosion protection zone, that is to say the components provided there have additional devices in order to avoid an explosion. This means an increased financial and technical effort for all components that are arranged in the explosion protection zone. At least one, several or all of the following devices are therefore preferably spatially separated from the at least one internal combustion engine and the at least one feed pump and in particular the at least one first hydraulic motor outside this explosion protection zone:

• the hydraulic pressure accumulator, especially together with the gas accumulator
• the at least one charge pump, in particular together with its electromotive drive
• the hydraulic medium supply
• the additional hydraulic motor
• the adjustable throttle valve
• the at least one sensor
• the hydraulic pump
• the control device.

In particular, all the necessary sensors are arranged outside the explosion protection zone and the connection from outside the explosion protection zone to the explosion protection zone is made only by hydraulic lines and possibly electrical control lines.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first hydraulic motor can be used to start a multiplicity of internal combustion engines, or a plurality of “first” hydraulic motors are provided, which are each used to start an internal combustion engine or a plurality of internal combustion engines. All of these corresponding hydraulic motors are advantageously integrated in the same hydrostatic system and can be controlled simultaneously or in succession. The same adjustable throttle valve and / or the same hydraulic motor-pump unit can be used for the targeted adjustment of the pressure difference across the respective hydraulic motor in order to consume as little hydraulic medium as possible from the pressure accumulator.

The at least one internal combustion engine can have at least one turbocharger, to which a drive is assigned, in order to accelerate the turbocharger when the internal combustion engine starts or before the internal combustion engine starts, that is to say before the internal combustion engine starts up to the ignition speed. The drive can, for example, also be designed as a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being supplied with hydraulic medium from the hydraulic pressure accumulator and / or, in order to conserve its capacity, from the charge pump.

Additionally or alternatively, an electric motor can also be provided as a drive for the turbocharger.

A method according to the invention for starting at least one internal combustion engine in a pumping station, as shown, comprises accelerating the at least one internal combustion engine with the at least one first hydraulic motor and igniting the at least one internal combustion engine after its acceleration, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine before the ignition being set to a predetermined value Ignition speed is set by variably setting the pressure difference resulting from the flow of hydraulic medium through the first hydraulic motor in the hydrostatic system.

The invention will be described below using exemplary embodiments and the figures as examples.

Figur 1

eine erste beispielhafte Gestaltung einer erfindungsgemäßen Pumpstation;

Figur 2

eine gegenüber der Figur 1 abweichende Einbindung der hydraulischen Motor-Pumpen-Einheit.

Show it:

Figure 1

a first exemplary design of a pump station according to the invention;

Figure 2

one versus the Figure 1 different integration of the hydraulic motor-pump unit.

In the Figure 1 A pumping station for a pipeline is shown, with an internal combustion engine 1 that drives feed pumps 2, 3 in a pipeline 4. In dashed lines it is shown that further internal combustion engines 1 'and 1 "could also be provided, which drive corresponding feed pumps (not shown) or other units. Instead of the first hydraulic motor 10, a plurality of hydraulic motors can also be provided, which cooperate in order to set an internal combustion engine to a predetermined one Accelerate ignition speed.

To start the corresponding internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 ", a first hydraulic motor 10 (or 10', 10") is provided, which can be coupled to the corresponding internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 "via a suitable clutch 6. The clutch 6 can be actuated or activated, for example, with pressure of the hydraulic medium. A detachable mechanical connection to the internal combustion engine can be provided by means of the coupling 6. Such couplings are also referred to as single-track gearboxes. The internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 "can be adjusted to a predetermined value by the hydraulic motor Ignition speed are accelerated.

The respective internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 "has a turbocharger 27, 27', 27", which is brought to a desired speed even before starting the internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 ", namely with a pressurized hydraulic medium from a Charge pump 15, which is driven here by an electric motor 16 and delivers from a hydraulic medium supply 17. For this purpose, a hydraulic motor 28, 28 ', 28 "is connected or connectable to the respective turbocharger 27, 27', 27", which is operated with the pressurized hydraulic medium A corresponding valve, in particular directional control valve 29, 29 ', 29 ", is provided for switching the pressurized hydraulic medium to the hydraulic motor 28, 28', 28".

The pressurization of the first hydraulic motor 10, 10 ', 10 "can also be switched on and off by means of a valve 30, 30', 30", the necessary pressurized hydraulic medium being made available by the hydraulic pump 20 to the motor-pump unit 18 . The hydraulic pump 20 also delivers from the hydraulic medium supply 17 and is driven by an additional hydraulic motor 19, which is supplied with pressurized hydraulic medium from the pressure source 11 via an adjustable throttle valve 24, which is also in particular designed as a directional control valve. The pressure source 11 has a pressure accumulator 12, on the gas side of which a gas accumulator 13 is connected to enlarge the so-called gas spring. The pressure accumulator 12 is filled by means of the charge pump 15, in particular via a check valve 31.

In the hydrostatic system, which is largely positioned outside the explosion zone 32, see the dashed dividing line, at least one sensor 33 is provided which, together with a control device 34, indirectly determines the speed of the respective internal combustion engine 1, 1 ', 1 " Sensor 33 determines the speed of the motor-pump unit 18.

By using the motor-pump unit 18, with the additional hydraulic motor 19 being designed as an adjusting motor, for example, the power consumption and thus the drive power of the first hydraulic motor 10 or the corresponding hydraulic motors 10 ′, 10 ″ can be set precisely so that the internal combustion engine 1 or the corresponding internal combustion engines 1 ', 1 "can only be accelerated exactly to the necessary ignition speed.

The design according to the Figure 2 largely corresponds to that of Figure 1 , but here the motor-pump unit 18 is integrated differently in the hydrostatic system. Corresponding reference numerals designate corresponding components.

In the Figure 2 it is indicated that the additional hydraulic motor 19 and / or the hydraulic pump 20 could be designed as a variable motor or variable pump. Furthermore, it is indicated that in addition to the torsionally rigid coupling, in particular by means of a common shaft, a variable-speed gear 21 could be provided between the additional hydraulic motor 19 and the hydraulic pump 20, as well as an electrical generator or motor generator 22 and an electrical storage unit 23 for electrical energy recover from the hydrostatic system or reversibly return to the system. These measures are also in the design according to the Figure 1 applicable.

As with the design according to the Figure 1 For example, a clutch 6 can be provided between the internal combustion engine 1 and the first hydraulic motor 10, which connects, for example, the output shaft 25 of the first hydraulic motor 10 to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine 1 directly or preferably indirectly via at least one gear stage or a single-track unit.

Even with the design according to the Figure 2 the pressure provided by the hydraulic pressure source 11 is reduced by operating the motor-pump unit 18, so that the first hydraulic motor 10 provides a correspondingly lower drive power on its output shaft 25. At the same time, the volume flow through the first hydraulic motor 10 is increased by driving the hydraulic pump 20, so that sensitive control can be achieved and energy can only be withdrawn from the hydrostatic system to a desired small extent.

Claims (16)

1. Pumping station for a pipeline, in particular an oil or gas pipeline,

   1.1 with at least one delivery pump (2, 3) for delivering a fluid through the pipeline (4);

   1.2 with at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1"), which is in driving connection with the at least one delivery pump (2, 3) or can be switched into such a connection in order to drive the at least one delivery pump (2, 3);

   1.3 with a hydrostatic system, which has at least one first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10"), which is in driving connection with at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") or can be switched into such a connection in order to accelerate the at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") to start it by means of drive power; wherein

   1.4 a hydraulic pressure accumulator (12), which has a limited volume and can be filled with a pressurized hydraulic medium that can be admitted to the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") in order to drive it, is provided in the hydraulic system;
   characterized in that

   1.5 the pressure differential present across the at least one first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") can be variably adjusted in the hydrostatic system in order to accelerate the combustion engine (1, 1', 1") to a pre-defined firing speed and
   an additional hydraulic motor (19) is provided in the hydrostatic system and also provided is a hydraulic pump (20), which is driven by the additional hydraulic motor (19) and feeds the hydraulic medium into the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10").
2. Pumping station according to Claim 1, characterized in that an adjustable throttle valve (24) in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium is provided in the hydrostatic system upstream or downstream of the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") in order to variably adjust the pressure differential present across the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10").
3. Pumping station according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that hydraulic medium is admitted to the additional hydraulic motor (2) by the pressure accumulator (12) and the hydraulic pump (20) feeds hydraulic medium from a hydraulic medium reservoir (17) into the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10").
4. Pumping station according to Claim 3, characterized in that the additional hydraulic motor (19) is designed as a variable displacement motor and/or the hydraulic pump (20) is designed as a variable displacement pump.
5. Pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one charging pump (15), which feeds hydraulic medium from a hydraulic medium reservoir (17) into the pressure accumulator (12), is provided in the hydrostatic system, wherein the charging pump (15) has in particular an electromotive drive (16).
6. Pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pressure accumulator (12) is designed as an accumulator with a gas tensioning device, and an additional pressurized gas reservoir (13) is connected in a gas-carrying manner on a gas side of the pressure accumulator (12).
7. Pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one sensor (33) is arranged in the hydrostatic system and a control device (34), which is connected to the at least one sensor (33), is provided in order to determine the speed of the combustion engine (1, 1', 1") indirectly in dependence on sensor measured values.
8. Pumping station according to Claims 1 and 5 and in particular according to at least one of Claims 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, characterized in that the at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") and the at least one delivery pump (2, 3) and in particular the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") are arranged inside an explosion safety zone (32), and at least one, several or all of the following devices are positioned outside this explosion safety zone (32) in a spatially separated manner:

   - the hydraulic pressure accumulator (12)

   - the at least one charging pump (15), in particular together with its electromotive drive (16)

   - the hydraulic medium reservoir (17)

   - the additional hydraulic motor (19), in particular together with the hydraulic pump (20)

   - the adjustable throttle valve (24)

   - the at least one sensor (33)

   - the gas reservoir (13)

   - the control device (34).
9. Pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of combustion engines (1, 1', 1") are provided for driving a plurality of delivery pumps (2, 3) or other assemblies, wherein the combustion engines (1, 1', 1") can be started by being switched to driving connection with the first hydraulic motor (10) or with a plurality of corresponding hydraulic motors (10, 10', 10"), in particular with in each case a corresponding hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") per combustion engine (1, 1', 1"), wherein all of the corresponding hydraulic motors (10, 10', 10") can be driven by being switched into a hydraulic medium-carrying connection with the hydraulic pressure accumulator (12) or the hydraulic pump (20).
10. Pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") has at least one turbocharger (27, 27', 27"), to which a drive is assigned in order to accelerate it when or before starting the combustion engine (1, 1', 1").
11. Pumping station according to Claim 10, characterized in that the drive is designed as a hydraulic motor (28, 28', 28"), which is fed with hydraulic medium from the hydraulic pressure accumulator (12) and/or from the charging pump (15).
12. Pumping station according to Claim 10, characterized in that the drive is designed as an electric motor.
13. Method for starting at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") in a pumping station according to one of Claims 1 to 12, having the following steps:

    acceleration of the at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") by means of the at least one first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") and firing of the at least one combustion engine (1, 1', 1") after accelerating it;

    characterized in that

    the speed of the combustion engine (1, 1', 1") is adjusted to a predefined firing speed before firing, in that in the hydrostatic system the pressure differential present across the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") occurring as hydraulic medium flows through it is variably adjusted.
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that a state variable in the hydrostatic system is determined by the at least one sensor (33) and the control device (34), and the current speed of the combustion engine (1, 1', 1") is calculated or determined from it.
15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the following variables is recorded as a state variable:

    - the hydraulic medium flow through the first hydraulic motor (10, 10', 10") and/or the additional hydraulic motor (19)

    - the speed of the additional hydraulic motor (19) and/or the hydraulic pump (20)

    - the hydraulic medium flow through the adjustable throttle valve (24)

    - the position of the adjustable throttle valve (24) and/or, where the additional hydraulic motor (19) is designed as a variable displacement motor, that of the variable displacement motor (19) and/or of an actuator connected thereto of the adjustable throttle valve (24) and/or of the additional hydraulic motor (19)

    - where the hydraulic pump (20) is designed as a variable displacement pump, the position of the hydraulic pump (20) and/or of an actuator connected thereto.
16. Method according to one of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the turbocharger (27, 27', 27") of the combustion engine (1, 1', 1") is accelerated by means of the drive before firing of the combustion engine (1, 1', 1").

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