JP6863698B2 - Compressed gas supply system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a compressed gas supply system including a compressed gas storage container for storing compressed gas.

Conventionally, there is a compressed gas supply system including a plurality of compressors for compressing a gas to generate a compressed gas and a compressed gas storage container for storing the compressed gas generated by the plurality of compressors (for example, Patent Document). 1). Since this compressed gas supply system includes a compressed gas storage container, even if there is a momentary fluctuation in the demand amount of the compressed gas, the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container at the moment of the demand amount of the compressed gas. It is possible to respond to various fluctuations.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-084540

However, when a compressor that can secure a supply amount that constantly satisfies the demand amount of compressed air is installed, the load factor of the compressor (actual supply amount with respect to the rated supply amount) becomes low. Since the compressor has the highest production efficiency of compressed air at the rated value (load factor 100%), operating the compressor at a low load factor lowers the production efficiency. Also, for consumers who need a large amount of compressed gas, it is necessary to increase the size of the compressed gas storage container. The larger the compressed gas storage container, the larger the compressed gas supply system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has improved the production efficiency of compressed air, reduced the number of compressors, miniaturized the compressed gas storage container, and by extension, the compressed gas provided with the compressed gas storage container. The purpose is to reduce the size of the supply system.

The compressed gas supply system according to claim 1 is provided in a plurality of compressors that compress a gas to generate a compressed gas, a container body that stores the compressed gas, and inside the container body, and is provided in the container body. A compressed gas storage container including an adsorbent for adsorbing the compressed gas inside, a compressed gas demand amount detector for detecting the demand amount of the compressed gas by the consuming device, and a remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container. A state in which compressed gas is supplied from the compressor and the compressed gas storage container to the consuming device based on the detection results of the compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit to be detected and the compressed gas demand amount detecting unit, and a plurality of the above. A state in which compressed gas is supplied to the compressed gas storage container from all of the compressors, the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container, and the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container to the consumer equipment. A part of the compressor is stopped and is in operation. Compressed gas is supplied to the compressed gas storage container, the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container, and the compressed gas storage container is used to store the compressed gas. A state in which the compressed gas is supplied to the consumer device, a state in which the compressor is stopped and the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container to the consumer device, and a state in which all of the plurality of compressors are supplied to the consumer device. A state in which compressed gas is supplied, a state in which compressed air is supplied to the consumer equipment only from the compressors that are in operation while a part of the plurality of compressors is stopped, and a state in which the compressors perform the compression. A control unit for switching between a state in which the compressed gas is supplied to the gas storage container and the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container is provided.

According to this compressed gas supply system, an adsorbent is provided inside the container body of the compressed gas storage container, and the adsorbent adsorbs the compressed gas inside the container body. That is, the adsorbent can efficiently store gas molecules by the amount of energy that is stabilized by adsorption on the surface of the material or incorporation of molecules or metal complexes into the voids of the crystal structure. Therefore, since the adsorbent adsorbs the compressed gas, the storage efficiency (filling density) of the compressed gas can be improved, so that the volume of the container body can be reduced, and the size of the compressed gas storage container can be reduced. can do. Since the compressed gas storage container can be miniaturized, the entire system can be miniaturized.
Further, according to this compressed gas supply system, from at least one of the compressor and the compressed gas storage container to the consuming device according to the demand amount of the compressed gas by the consuming device and the remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container. Since the supply of the compressed gas is switched between the supply of the compressed gas and the storage of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container, the compressed gas can be stably supplied to the consuming equipment.

As described in claim 2, in the compressed gas supply system according to claim 1, when the minimum value of the pressure predetermined for the compressed gas discharged from the container body is set as the minimum utilization pressure, The adsorbent may be made of a material in which the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure and the adsorbed amount of the compressed gas rapidly increases.

In this case, the rapid increase in the rate of increase means that the pressure difference is ΔP (= P-Pmin), the adsorption amount difference is ΔN (= N-Nmin), the internal volume of the container is V, the gas constant is R, and the temperature T (isothermal). ), The rate of increase increases so that ΔN / ΔP> V / RT.

According to this compressed gas supply system , the adsorbent is made of a material in which the adsorbed amount of the compressed gas rapidly increases when the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure. Therefore, by storing the compressed gas in the container body at a pressure equal to or higher than the bottom utilization pressure, the storage efficiency (filling density) of the compressed gas inside the container body can be further improved. As a result, the compressed gas storage container can be further miniaturized.

Further, as described in claim 3, in the compressed gas supply system according to claim 2, the compressed gas is compressed air, and the materials forming the adsorbent are a porous material, zeolite, and. It may be any of metal complexes.

According to this compressed gas supply system , the material for forming the adsorbent that adsorbs the compressed air is either a porous material, a zeolite, or a metal complex. Therefore, when the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure, the amount of the compressed gas adsorbed can be rapidly increased.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize the miniaturization of the compressed gas storage container and, by extension, the miniaturization of the compressed gas supply system provided with the compressed gas storage container.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the compressed gas supply system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the specific structure of the compressed gas storage container shown in FIG. As a characteristic of the adsorbent shown in FIG. 2, it is a graph which shows the relationship between the pressure of a compressed gas and the adsorbed amount of the adsorbent. It is a figure which shows the adsorption isotherm of various gases. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of the control part shown in FIG. As an example of the operation of the compressed gas supply system according to the present embodiment, it is a graph which shows the relationship between time, the demand amount of compressed gas, and the number of compressors. As an example of the operation of the compressed gas supply system according to the comparative example, it is a graph which shows the relationship between time, the demand amount of compressed gas, and the number of compressors.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The compressed gas supply system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is for supplying compressed gas to a plurality of consumer devices 100, and is a plurality of compressors 12 and a plurality of compressed gas storage containers. 14, a compressed gas demand amount detecting unit 16, a compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit 18, and a control unit 20 are provided as main configurations.

The plurality of compressors 12 have the same configuration as each other. Each compressor 12 compresses the gas to generate a compressed gas. In this embodiment, the compressed gas is, for example, air. The number of the plurality of compressors 12 can be arbitrarily set. In the present embodiment, as an example, the number of the plurality of compressors 12 is the same as the number of the plurality of consumer devices 100. Each compressor 12 and the consumer device 100 are connected to each other via a compressed gas supply pipe 22. The plurality of compressed gas supply pipes 22 are connected by the first connecting pipe 24, whereby the plurality of compressors 12 are connected in parallel to the plurality of consumer devices 100.

The plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14 have the same configuration as each other. The number of the compressed gas storage containers 14 can be arbitrarily set. The upstream end of the container-side upstream pipe 26 is connected to the first connecting pipe 24, and a plurality of inlet-side branch paths 28 are formed at the downstream end of the container-side upstream pipe 26. Each inlet-side branch passage 28 is connected to the inlets of a plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14. A plurality of outlet-side branch paths 32 formed at the upstream end of the container-side downstream pipe 30 are connected to the outlets of the plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14, and the downstream end of the container-side downstream pipe 30 is secondly connected. It is connected to the pipe 34. The second connecting pipe 34 connects a plurality of compressed gas supply pipes 22, whereby the plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14 are connected in parallel to the plurality of consumer devices 100.

A three-way valve 36 is provided at each connecting portion between the plurality of compressed gas supply pipes 22 and the first connecting pipe 24. The three-way valve 36 can be switched between a state in which the compressed gas is circulated from the compressor 12 to the consumer device 100 and a state in which the compressed gas is circulated from the compressor 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14. Further, the inlet side on-off valve 38 is provided in the plurality of inlet-side branch paths 28, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 is provided in the plurality of outlet-side branch paths 32. Further, each of the plurality of consuming devices 100 and each of the plurality of compressors 12 are connected by a compressed gas reusing pipe 42, and the compressed gas not consumed by the consuming device 100 is passed through the compressed gas reusing pipe 42. It is designed to be returned to the compressor 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the compressed gas storage container 14 more specifically has a container body 52 for storing the compressed gas and an adsorbent 54 provided inside the container body 52. Inside the container body 52, a pair of partition plates 56 that are separated from each other in the vertical direction of the container body 52 are provided, and the adsorbent 54 is housed between the pair of partition plates 56. The pair of partition plates 56 are configured to allow compressed gas to permeate, for example, by having a large number of holes. It is desirable that the container body 52 is made of metal so that the heat of adsorption by the adsorbent 54 can be easily exchanged with the outside. The container body 52 may be made of plastic for weight reduction. An inlet pipe 58 and an outlet pipe 60 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the container body 52, respectively. The inlet pipe 58 and the outlet pipe 60 form an inlet and an outlet of the compressed gas storage container 14.

The adsorbent 54 has a large number of holes, spaces, and the like so that the compressed gas can pass from the inlet pipe 58 to the outlet pipe 60. The adsorbent 54 has a function of adsorbing the compressed gas inside the container body 52 to reduce the volume of the compressed gas. The adsorbent 54 is made of a material in which the adsorbed amount of the compressed gas rapidly increases when the pressure of the compressed gas is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. In this case, the rapid increase in the rate of increase means that the pressure difference is ΔP (= P-Pmin), the adsorption amount difference is ΔN (= N-Nmin), the internal volume of the container is V, the gas constant is R, and the temperature T (isothermal). ), The rate of increase increases so that ΔN / ΔP> V / RT.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the pressure of the compressed gas and the adsorbed amount of the adsorbent 54 as the characteristics of the adsorbent 54. In FIG. 3, the pressure a is the pressure at the inlet of the compressed gas storage container 14, and the pressure b is the pressure at the outlet of the compressed gas storage container 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the adsorbent 54 rapidly increases the amount of compressed gas adsorbed at a pressure b or higher. The pressure b at the outlet of the compressed gas storage container 14 is set to the minimum value of the pressure predetermined for the compressed gas discharged from the container body 52, that is, the minimum utilization pressure. The pressure b is appropriately set according to conditions such as the structure of the compressed gas storage container 14 and the operating conditions, and the rate of rapid increase in the amount of compressed gas adsorbed by the adsorbent 54 is the type and characteristics of the adsorbent 54. It is determined as appropriate depending on the factors such as.

As a material in which the amount of adsorbed compressed gas rapidly increases, for example, a porous material (silica, silica gel, alumina, activated carbon, etc.), zeolite, a metal complex, or the like is preferably used. FIG. 4 shows the adsorption isotherms of various gases. As shown in Fig. 4, there is an adsorbent that hardly adsorbs up to a certain pressure, and at that pressure, adsorbs rapidly and reaches saturation instantly (Source: SCEJ 38th Autumn Meeting (Fukuoka, 2006), "Prospects for application of porous metal complexes to adsorbents and separators" (Osaka Gas) Kenji Seki). The compressed gas adsorbed on the adsorbent 54 is separated from the adsorbent 54 and discharged from the compressed gas storage container 14.

A heat storage material may be introduced into the adsorbent 54 in order to mitigate the influence of the heat of adsorption. As the heat storage material, for example, sugars such as erythritol, aqueous solutions such as thorium acetate trihydrate and sodium sulfate tetrahydrate, water, oils such as paraffin and castor oil, and organic substances such as polyvalent isocyanate compounds are applied. It is possible.

The compressed gas demand amount detecting unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of, for example, a flow rate sensor or the like. The compressed gas demand amount detection unit 16 detects the demand amount (consumption amount) of the compressed gas by the plurality of consuming devices 100, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected demand amount to the control unit 20.

The compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit 18 is composed of, for example, a pressure sensor or the like. The compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit 18 detects the remaining amount (pressure) of the compressed gas in the plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected remaining amount to the control unit 20.

The control unit 20 includes, for example, an electronic circuit having an arithmetic unit, a storage device, and the like. The control unit 20 has a plurality of compressors 12, a three-way valve 36, and an inlet side on-off valve based on the signals (detection results) output from the compressed gas demand amount detecting unit 16 and the compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit 18 described above. 38 and the outlet side on-off valve 40 are controlled. The storage device of the control unit 20 stores a program for supplying the compressed gas from the compressor 12 or the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consumer device 100 and storing the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14. There is. The arithmetic unit of the control unit 20 executes the program and supplies the compressed gas to the plurality of consumer devices 100.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned compressed gas supply system 10 will be described.

By executing the above-mentioned program, the control unit 20 specifically executes the following steps S1 to S20. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart showing the processing flow of steps S1 to S20.

(Step S1)
In step S1, the control unit 20 determines whether the demand of the consumer device 100 exceeds the supply amount of the compressor 12 based on the signal output from the compressed gas demand amount detection unit 16. When the demand of the consumer device 100 does not exceed the supply amount of the compressor 12, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S5, and when the demand of the consumer device 100 exceeds the supply amount of the compressor 12, the control unit 20 Goes to step S2.

(Step S2)
In step S2, the control unit 20 determines whether the compressed gas storage container 14 has a remaining amount of compressed gas based on the signal output from the compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit 18. When the compressed gas storage container 14 has no remaining amount of compressed gas, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S4, and when the compressed gas storage container 14 has a remaining amount of compressed gas, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S3. To do.

(Step S3)
When the demand of the consumer device 100 exceeds the supply amount of the compressor 12, and the compressed gas storage container 14 has a remaining amount of compressed gas, in step S3, the control unit 20 causes the compressor 12 and the compressed gas storage container 14 to operate. The compressor 12, the three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 are controlled so that the compressed gas is supplied from the consumer device 100. That is, the control unit 20 operates the compressor 12, puts the three-way valve 36 in a state of circulating compressed gas from the compressor 12 to the consumer device 100, closes the inlet side on-off valve 38, and opens the outlet-side on-off valve 40. To do. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied from the compressor 12 and the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consumer equipment 100.

(Step S4)
When the demand of the consumer device 100 exceeds the supply amount of the compressor 12, but there is no remaining amount of compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, in step S4, the control unit 20 compresses from the compressed gas storage container 14. The compressor 12, the three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 are controlled so that the supply of gas is stopped and the compressed gas is supplied from only the compressor 12 to the consumer equipment 100. That is, the control unit 20 operates the compressor 12, puts the three-way valve 36 in a state where the compressed gas is circulated from the compressor 12 to the consumption device 100, and closes the inlet side on-off valve 38 and the outlet side on-off valve 40. As a result, the supply of the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage container 14 is stopped, and the compressed gas is supplied to the consumer device 100 only from the compressor 12. Further, the control unit 20 notifies that the supply of the compressed gas is insufficient. Further, the control unit 20 narrows down the demand for the consumer device 100. At this time, the consumer equipment 100 that narrows down the demand may be prioritized according to the configuration of the consumer equipment 100 of the supply destination.

(Step S5)
When the demand of the consumer device 100 does not exceed the supply amount of the compressor 12, in step S5, the control unit 20 determines the compressed gas in the consumer device 100 based on the signal output from the compressed gas demand amount detection unit 16. Determine if there is demand. If there is no demand for compressed gas in the consumer equipment 100, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S15, and if there is a demand for compressed gas in the consumer equipment 100, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S6.

(Step S6)
In step S6, the control unit 20 determines whether the compressed gas needs to be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14. As a judgment method, it may be judged simply by the remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container, or may be judged by the demand forecast from the past demand data. When it is not necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S10, and when it is necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 moves to step S7. Move to.

(Step S7)
In step S7, the control unit 20 determines whether the compressed gas can be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 even if a part of the compressor 12 is stopped. If the compressed gas cannot be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S9 and stores the compressed gas in the compressed gas even if a part of the compressor 12 is stopped. If it can be stored in the container 14, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S8.

(Step S8)
In step S8, the control unit 20 stops a part of the compressors 12 (as many compressors 12 as possible). Further, the control unit 20 supplies the compressed gas to the compressed gas storage container 14 from the remaining compressor 12 in operation, stores the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, and consumes the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage container 14. The three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 are controlled so that the compressed gas is supplied to the device 100. That is, the control unit 20 sets the three-way valve 36 in a state in which the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, opens the inlet-side on-off valve 38, and opens the outlet-side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied from the remaining compressor 12 in operation to the compressed gas storage container 14, the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14, and the compressed gas storage container 14 is compressed into the consumer equipment 100. Gas is supplied.

(Step S9)
If the compressed gas cannot be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, the control unit 20 operates all the compressors 12 in step S9. Further, the control unit 20 supplies the compressed gas from all the compressors 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, stores the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, and compresses the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consumer device 100. The three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 are controlled so that gas is supplied. That is, the control unit 20 sets the three-way valve 36 in a state where the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, opens the inlet side on-off valve 38, and opens the outlet-side on-off valve 40, as in step S8. Open.

(Step S10)
When there is a demand for compressed gas in the consumer device 100, but it is not necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, in step S10, the control unit 20 sends the compressed gas from only the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consumer device 100. Determine if it is okay to supply. If it is not good to supply the compressed gas from only the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consuming device 100, the control unit 20 may move to step S12 and supply the compressed gas from only the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consuming device 100. If it is good, the control unit 20 shifts to step S11.

(Step S11)
When the compressed gas may be supplied to the consuming device 100 only from the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 stops all the compressors 12 in step S11. Further, the control unit 20 controls the inlet side on-off valve 38 and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 so that the compressed gas is supplied to the consumption device 100 only from the compressed gas storage container 14. That is, the control unit 20 closes the inlet-side on-off valve 38 and opens the outlet-side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied to the consumer device 100 only from the compressed gas storage container 14.

(Step S12)
If it is not good to supply the compressed gas from only the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consuming device 100, in step S12, even if the control unit 20 stops a part of the compressor 12, the consuming device 100 is supplied from the remaining compressor 12. Determine if compressed gas can be supplied to. If a desired amount of compressed gas cannot be supplied to the consuming device 100 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S14, and even if a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, a desired amount of compressed gas is obtained. When the compressed gas can be supplied to the consuming device 100, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S13.

(Step S13)
In step S13, the control unit 20 stops a part of the compressor 12 (as many compressors 12 as possible). Further, the control unit 20 controls the three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 so that the compressed gas is supplied from the remaining compressor 12 in operation to the consumer equipment 100. .. That is, the control unit 20 sets the three-way valve 36 in a state in which the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the consumer device 100, and closes the inlet side on-off valve 38 and the outlet side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied to the consumer device 100 only from the remaining compressor 12 in operation.

(Step S14)
If a desired amount of compressed gas cannot be supplied to the consuming device 100 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, in step S14, the control unit 20 operates all the compressors 12. Further, the control unit 20 controls the three-way valve 36, the inlet side on-off valve 38, and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 so that the compressed gas is supplied from all the compressors 12 to the consumer equipment 100. That is, the control unit 20 puts the three-way valve 36 in a state where the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the consumer device 100, and closes the inlet side on-off valve 38 and the outlet side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied from all the compressors 12 to the consumer device 100.

(Step S15)
When there is no demand for the compressed gas in the consumer device 100, in step S15, the control unit 20 controls the compressor 12 and the outlet side on-off valve 40 so that the supply of the compressed gas to the consumer device 100 is stopped. That is, the control unit 20 stops the compressor 12 and closes the outlet side on-off valve 40. As a result, the supply of the compressed gas to the consumer device 100 is stopped. Then, the control unit 20 shifts to step S16.

(Step S16)
In step S16, the control unit 20 determines whether the compressed gas needs to be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14. When it is not necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S20, and when it is necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 moves to step S17. Move to.

(Step S17)
In step S17, the control unit 20 determines whether the compressed gas can be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 even if a part of the compressor 12 is stopped. If the compressed gas cannot be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S19 and stores the compressed gas in the compressed gas even if a part of the compressor 12 is stopped. If it can be stored in the container 14, the control unit 20 proceeds to step S18.

(Step S18)
In step S18, the control unit 20 stops a part of the compressor 12 (as many compressors 12 as possible). Further, the control unit 20 has a three-way valve 36 on the inlet side so that the compressed gas is supplied to the compressed gas storage container 14 from the remaining compressor 12 in operation and the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14. The on-off valve 38 and the outlet-side on-off valve 40 are controlled. That is, the control unit 20 sets the three-way valve 36 in a state in which the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, opens the inlet-side on-off valve 38, and opens the outlet-side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied from the remaining compressor 12 in operation to the compressed gas storage container 14, and the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14.

(Step S19)
If the compressed gas cannot be stored in the compressed gas storage container 14 when a part of the compressor 12 is stopped, in step S19, the control unit 20 operates all the compressors 12. Further, the control unit 20 has a three-way valve 36, an inlet side on-off valve 38, so that the compressed gas is supplied from all the compressors 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14 and the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14. And, the outlet side on-off valve 40 is controlled. That is, the control unit 20 sets the three-way valve 36 in a state in which the compressed gas flows from the compressor 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, opens the inlet-side on-off valve 38, and closes the outlet-side on-off valve 40. As a result, the compressed gas is supplied from all the compressors 12 to the compressed gas storage container 14, and the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14.

(Step S20)
When the supply of the compressed gas to the consumer device 100 is stopped and it is not necessary to store the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, the control unit 20 stops all the compressors 12 in step S20.

As described above, in the compressed gas supply system 10 of the present embodiment, the demand for the compressed gas in the consumer equipment 100, the remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14, and the storage of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14 are performed. Depending on the necessity, the compressed gas is supplied from the compressor 12 or the compressed gas storage container 14 to the consumer device 100, or the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container 14.

Next, the operation and effect of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As described in detail above, the compressed gas storage container 14 is used in the compressed gas supply system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is adsorbed inside the container body 52 of the compressed gas storage container 14. A material 54 is provided. The adsorbent 54 adsorbs the compressed gas inside the container body 52. Therefore, since the adsorbent 54 adsorbs the compressed gas, the storage efficiency (filling density) of the compressed gas can be improved, so that the volume of the container body 52 can be reduced, and by extension, the compressed gas storage container 14 Can be miniaturized.

Further, the adsorbent 54 is made of a material in which the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body 52 is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure and the adsorbed amount of the compressed gas rapidly increases. Therefore, by storing the compressed gas in the container body 52 at a pressure equal to or higher than the bottom utilization pressure, the storage efficiency (filling density) of the compressed gas inside the container body 52 can be further improved. As a result, the compressed gas storage container 14 can be further miniaturized.

The material for forming the adsorbent 54 that adsorbs the compressed air is any of a porous material, zeolite, and a metal complex. Therefore, when the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body 52 is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure, the amount of the compressed gas adsorbed can be rapidly increased.

Further, according to the compressed gas supply system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the above-mentioned compressed gas storage container 14 is provided, the entire system can be miniaturized by the amount that the compressed gas storage container 14 can be miniaturized. ..

Further, according to the compressed gas supply system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the compressor 12 and the compressor 12 and the remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14 depend on the demand amount of the compressed gas by the consuming device 100 and the remaining amount of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14. Since the supply of the compressed gas to the consumer device 100 from at least one of the compressed gas storage container 14 and the storage of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container 14 are switched, the compressed gas can be stably supplied to the consumer device 100. ..

Here, FIG. 6 shows a graph showing the relationship between time, the amount of demand for compressed gas, and the number of compressors, as an example of the operation of the compressed gas supply system according to the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 7 shows a graph showing the relationship between time, the amount of demand for compressed gas, and the number of compressors as an example of the operation of the compressed gas supply system according to the comparative example.

As shown in FIG. 7, if the same amount as the demand amount of the compressed gas is to be supplied, the compressor is operated at a low load factor, and the manufacturing efficiency is lowered. Further, when the time required for the maximum demand for the compressed gas is short, a part of the plurality of compressors (N3 in FIG. 7) may not be operated, and when the non-operating time is long, the initial operation is performed. There is concern that it may be forced to introduce equipment that is not worth the investment.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of the present embodiment, the supply of the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage container and the storage of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container are switched according to the demand amount of the compressed gas. Therefore, in some cases, by stopping a part or all of the plurality of compressors, the compressors can be operated at a high load factor, so that the production efficiency of compressed air is high. That is, as shown by hatching A in FIG. 6, the compressor can be operated at a high load factor even when the demand for the compressed gas is low, and the compressed gas can be stored in the compressed gas storage container. On the other hand, as shown by hatching B in FIG. 6, the compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage container can be supplied to the consuming equipment, and the compressor can be stopped. As a result, the load of the compressor can be leveled and increased, so that the efficiency can be improved. Further, as shown by hatching C in FIG. 6, the number of compressors can be reduced by supplying the compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage container to the consuming equipment. As a result, the equipment introduction cost can be reduced.

Next, a modified example of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the above embodiment, the compressed gas used in the compressed gas supply system 10 is air, as long as it is a gas that can be generally compressed and stored, such as methane, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, argon, and helium. , A gas other than air may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the compressed gas supply system 10 includes a plurality of compressors 12 and a plurality of compressed gas storage containers 14 for a plurality of consuming devices 100, but for one consuming device 100. , One compressor 12 and one compressed gas storage container 14 may be provided.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented within a range not deviating from the gist thereof. Is.

10 ... Compressed gas supply system, 12 ... Compressor, 14 ... Compressed gas storage container, 16 ... Compressed gas demand detection unit, 18 ... Compressed gas remaining amount detection unit, 20 ... Control unit, 22 ... Compressed gas supply pipe, 24 ... first connecting pipe, 26 ... container side upstream pipe, 28 ... inlet side branch road, 30 ... container side downstream pipe, 32 ... outlet side branch road, 34 ... second connecting pipe, 36 ... three-way valve, 38 ... inlet side On-off valve, 40 ... Outlet-side on-off valve, 42 ... Compressed gas reuse pipe, 52 ... Container body, 54 ... Adsorbent, 56 ... Partition plate, 58 ... Inlet pipe, 60 ... Outlet pipe, 100 ... Consumable equipment

Claims (3)

Multiple compressors that compress the gas to produce compressed gas,
A compressed gas storage container including a container body for storing the compressed gas and an adsorbent provided inside the container body for adsorbing the compressed gas inside the container body.
A compressed gas demand detector that detects the demand for compressed gas by consumer equipment, and a compressed gas demand detector.
A compressed gas remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of compressed gas in the compressed gas storage container, and
Based on the detection result of the compressed gas demand detection unit, the compressed gas is supplied from the compressor and the compressed gas storage container to the consuming device, and the compressed gas storage container is supplied from all of the plurality of compressors. The compressed gas is supplied to the compressed gas storage container, the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container, and the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container to the consumer equipment, and a part of the plurality of compressors is stopped. A state in which the compressed gas is supplied from the operating compressor to the compressed gas storage container, the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container, and the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container to the consumer equipment. A state in which the compressor is stopped and the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas storage container to the consumer device, and a state in which the compressed gas is supplied to the consumer device from all of the plurality of compressors. A state in which compressed air is supplied to the consumer equipment only from the compressor that is in operation while a part of the compressor is stopped, and a state in which the compressed gas is supplied from the compressor to the compressed gas storage container. A control unit that switches between the state in which the compressed gas is stored in the compressed gas storage container and the state in which the compressed gas is stored.
Compressed gas supply system with. When the minimum value of the pressure specified in advance for the compressed gas discharged from the container body is set as the minimum utilization pressure,
The adsorbent is made of a material in which the adsorbed amount of the compressed gas rapidly increases when the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body is equal to or higher than the minimum utilization pressure.
The compressed gas supply system according to claim 1. The compressed gas is compressed air.
The material forming the adsorbent is any of a porous material, a zeolite, and a metal complex.
The compressed gas supply system according to claim 2.

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