US20230099169A1

US20230099169A1 - High-Pressure Compressor and System with a High-Pressure Compressor

Info

Publication number: US20230099169A1
Application number: US17/948,740
Authority: US
Inventors: Joachim Löffler; Uwe Eckardt
Original assignee: Kyros Hydrogen Solutions GmbH
Priority date: 2021-09-28
Filing date: 2022-09-20
Publication date: 2023-03-30
Also published as: EP4155542A1; DE102021125049A1

Abstract

A high-pressure compressor and a system with a high-pressure compressor are described. In one example, the high-pressure compressor has a housing that surrounds at least one compressor chamber and a media chamber, wherein the compressor chamber and the media chamber are separated from one another in the housing via a diaphragm. The housing has at least one first connection, which opens into the media chamber and via which a medium can be introduced into and/or discharged from the media chamber. The housing has at least one second connection, which opens into the compressor chamber (330) and via which a gas or gas mixture can be introduced and/or discharged. The diaphragm is made of metal or a metal alloy and is deformable to compress a gas or gas mixture that can be introduced into the compressor chamber by introducing a medium into the media chamber.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is based on and claims priority to German Application DE102021125049.8, entitled “High pressure compressor and system with a high pressure compressor,” having a filing date of Sep. 28, 2021 which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a high-pressure compressor and a system including a high-pressure compressor designed to compress a gas or gas mixture are described.

BACKGROUND

Gases and gas mixtures under high pressures are required for various applications. In some cases, the pressures are in the range of several hundred bar or even over 1000 bar. For example, gases or gas mixtures with several 100 bar are required for applications in the field of energy-generating facilities or for mobile applications (e.g. vehicles). Difficulties arise in compressing the gases or gas mixtures, with conventional solutions having disadvantages.

SUMMARY

On example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a high-pressure compressor for compressing a gas or gas mixture. The high-pressure compressor includes a housing which surrounds at least one compressor chamber and a media chamber. The compressor chamber and the media chamber in the housing are separated from one another by at least one diaphragm. The housing comprises at least one first connection which opens into the media chamber and via which a medium can be introduced into and/or discharged from the media chamber. The housing comprises at least one second connection which opens into the compressor chamber and via which a gas or gas mixture can be introduced and/or discharged. The diaphragm comprises a metal or a metal alloy and is deformable for compressing a gas or gas mixture that can be introduced into the compressor chamber by introducing a medium into the media chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures shows:

FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view or a high-pressure compressor;

FIG. 2 depicts different views of a first and second compressor head of the high-pressure compressor of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of a compressor system with a high-pressure compressor according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4-7 depict different steps of high pressure compression in the compressor system according to FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment of a diaphragm for a high-pressure compressor; and

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic diagram of high pressure compression in a compressor system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the general technical understanding, “high pressure” refers to the high-pressure compression of gases and gas mixtures at a compression of 40 bar or more above atmospheric pressure.
The high-pressure compressor and system described herein can be used for high-pressure compression of combustible or oxidizing gases or gas mixtures. An example of a combustible gas is hydrogen. An example of oxidizing gas is oxygen. Combustible or oxidizing gas mixtures may contain hydrogen and oxygen.
Known compressors for gas and gas mixtures are designed, for example, as piston compressors and have a linearly movable piston which compresses a gas or gas mixture introduced into a receiving chamber by reducing the size of the receiving chamber and thus compresses it. The compressed gas or gas mixture is then discharged and fed to an appliance.
Such piston compressors are disadvantageous in particular because, due to the moving piston, a seal is provided to seal the piston against a wall bounding the receiving chamber. However, this seal cannot provide a complete sealing on the one hand because there is permanent movement between the components to be sealed, and is subject to enormous wear due to the frequent movement.
Furthermore, such a compressor requires a lot of installation space—depending on the compression ratio.
In contrast, the problem is to provide a solution for the high-pressure compression of gases and gas mixtures that both eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art and provides an alternative to the prior art that is simple in design and permits a high compression of gases and gas mixtures with a small installation space. The aim is to provide a solution for high-pressure compression that has no moving components that are primarily used for compression and are in contact with the environment.
The above-mentioned problem is solved by a high-pressure compressor for compressing a gas or gas mixture, having a housing which surrounds at least one first compressor space and a media chamber, wherein the compressor space and the media chamber in the housing are separated from one another via a diaphragm, wherein the housing has at least one first connection which opens into the media chamber and via which a medium can be introduced into and/or discharged from the media chamber, wherein the housing has at least one second connection which opens into the compressor chamber and via which a gas or gas mixture can be introduced and/or discharged, wherein the diaphragm consists of a metal or a metal alloy and is deformable for compressing a gas or gas mixture which can be introduced into the compressor chamber by introducing a medium into the media chamber.
The high-pressure compressor is designed as a diaphragm compressor and thus compresses the gas or gas mixture that, can be introduced into the media chamber by deforming the diaphragm. Advantageously, compared to piston compressors, such a diaphragm compressor does not have a seal that is in contact with moving components, so that no sealing problems arise. For example, the diaphragm may be sealed in the housing, wherein one or more sealing means may additionally be provided. For example, the diaphragm may be braced between two plates, with sealing washers or rings being provided between the plates of the housing and the metal diaphragm. However, such sealing means are not necessary.
The high-pressure compressor is configured such that the diaphragm is in contact with the inner wall of the compressor chamber in a first neutral position. Thus, the space available for introducing the gas or gas mixture includes both the media chamber and the compressor chamber. The entire volume of the high-pressure compressor is thus available for compression.
After a gas or gas mixture is introduced via the at least one second connection, the supply is interrupted and the line is shut off. Compression then takes place, with an incompressible medium (e.g. water, (hydraulic) oil, etc.) being introduced into the media chamber via the at least one first port. The pressure exerted on the diaphragm via the medium corresponds to the pressure on the side of the gas or gas mixture, so that a differential pressureless compression is performed within the housing of the high-pressure compressor. This means that the pressure acting on the diaphragm within the housing is equal on both sides. As soon as the amount of incompressible medium exceeds a threshold value, the metal diaphragm “snaps over”, wherein the diaphragm is deformed. The threshold value is determined by the dimensions of the housing and the media chamber as well as the compressor chamber, the material for the diaphragm, the amount of gas or gas mixture introduced and the prevailing pressure of the medium as well as the design of the diaphragm.
For this purpose, the diaphragm is appropriately designed so that can be snapped over, which represents a significant advantage over known designs of compressors. In particular, this achieves that the diaphragm can be deformed via the incompressible medium until the diaphragm abuts or almost completely abuts an inner wall of the compressor chamber. Thus, a high compression is achieved because the gas or gas mixture can be compressed by essentially the entire volume of the high-pressure compressor, consisting of the volume of the media chamber and the volume of the compressor chamber. Compared to known devices, a higher compression is thus achieved.
The deformation of the diaphragm can be achieved by stretching the metal diaphragm, for which purpose the diaphragm is appropriately designed in terms of its construction and/or internal structure so that the required deformation is achieved.
Further advantageous embodiments result from further developments defined by the subclaims.
In this regard, in further embodiments, the compressor chamber and the media chamber may have substantially equal volumes.
In further embodiments, the diaphragm may have a structured design for “snapping over” of the metal diaphragm and its deforming. The structure supports the “snapping over” and enables deformation. A “snapping over” can occur abruptly or also gradually.
The structured design includes all measures that affect the deformation of the diaphragm at least in one area by influencing the material of the diaphragm. For example, structures can be achieved by mechanical deformations or by changing the internal structure of the metal or metal alloy of the diaphragm.
In further embodiments, the diaphragm may include protrusions and depressions extending in a radial direction to form a structure of the metal diaphragm. In this regard, the diaphragm may be formed in a manner substantially similar to a “loudspeaker” and may have corresponding beads and corrugations.
In further embodiments, the diaphragm may be and be referred to as a geometrically shaped disk, wherein the geometric shape includes the aforementioned textures.
In further embodiments, the compressor chamber and/or the media chamber may have substantially the shape of a spherical segment and the diaphragm may form the base surface of the spherical segment. In this case, the corresponding inner walls of the compressor chamber and the media chamber are essentially concave and thus have a curved inner surface. The structured diaphragm can then abut against the curved inner walls, for example, whereby after complete deformation of the diaphragm, either centrally circumferential grooves can be formed on the corresponding inner wall or the diaphragm can be deformed to such an extent that it is in surface contact with the corresponding inner wall. The compressed gas or gas mixture can then be pressed into at least one channel in the housing, which is in communication with the second connection.
In still further embodiments, the substantially concave shaped inner walls of the compressor chamber and the media chamber may have grooves or the like extending toward the center, the depth and width of which may increase or decrease, respectively, so that during gradual compression by deformation of the diaphragm, the compressed gas or gas mixture is forced into the grooves or the like and discharged therefrom after complete deformation of the diaphragm, thereby taking into account the fact that the diaphragm in the fully deformed state abuts the inner wall of the compressor chamber. Accordingly, this also applies to the introduction of the incompressible medium when the diaphragm is in contact with the inner wall of the media chamber.
In further embodiments, the compressor chamber and the media chamber may have a substantially step-pyramidal or step-conical configuration and the diaphragm may have steps corresponding to the configuration of the compressor chamber and/or the media chamber. Thereby, a stepwise deformation of the diaphragm may occur, whereby during the deformation process when compressing the gas or gas mixture, the steps of the diaphragm come into contact with the corresponding steps of the media chamber and/or the compressor chamber.
The diaphragm can be deformable to the extent that it comes into contact with the inner wall of the compressor chamber and/or the media chamber from an initial position.
In further embodiments, the housing of the high-pressure compressor may is constructed in a layered manner and comprises at least a first compressor head with the compressor chamber and a second compressor head with the media chamber, wherein the diaphragm is arranged between the first compressor head and the second compressor head.
The layered design provides a simple structure of the high-pressure compressor. In addition, the assembly of the high-pressure compressor can be carried out easily. For example, the individual layers can be fastened to each other by means of screws or the like, the screws or the like being guided through holes in the respective layers. Furthermore, the layered structure offers the possibility of bracing the diaphragm between the individual layers and making the interior of the housing absolutely gas-tight by means of additional sealing elements.
In general, the advantage of the deformability of the diaphragm is that a greater deflection can be achieved compared to simple, disk-like diaphragms. Thus, a significantly increased compression of a gas or gas mixture can be achieved in a small installation space, especially compared to disk-like, non-deformable diaphragms. The greater deflection of the diaphragm also allows the frequency of the diaphragm, i.e. the movements of the diaphragm in the appropriate directions for compression, to be reduced, with the performance in terms of the quantity of gas or gas mixture compressed provided being at least as great as with a comparable, non-deformable diaphragm. Lower frequencies have a particularly positive effect on the service life of the diaphragm and thus of the high-pressure compressor. The deformability of the diaphragm can be achieved in particular by the structured design as indicated above in various embodiments.
The foregoing problem is also solved by a compressor system for high-pressure compression of a gas or gas mixture, comprising at least one high-pressure compressor according to one of the foregoing embodiments, a gas or gas mixture supply, a gas or gas mixture storage, a media supply and conveying means for conveying a gas or gas mixture and an incompressible medium and control means for regulating the flow of the gas or gas mixture and the incompressible medium via associated lines, wherein—the high-pressure compressor comprises a housing enclosing a compressor chamber and a medium chamber, the compressor chamber and the medium chamber being separated from each other in the housing by a diaphragm,—the high-pressure compressor has at least one first connection opening into a media chamber,—the first connection is connected to the media supply via associated lines and corresponding conveying and/or control means, so that an incompressible medium can be introduced from the media supply via the first connection into the media chamber and from the media chamber into the media supply,—the high-pressure compressor comprises at least one second connection opening into the compressor chamber—the at least one second connection is connected to the gas or gas mixture supply and the gas or gas mixture storage via associated lines and corresponding conveying and/or control means, so that a gas or gas mixture can be introduced from the gas or gas mixture supply into the compressor chamber and from the compressor chamber into the gas or gas mixture storage, and—the incompressible medium can be pressurized via associated conveying and/or control means, so that deformation of the diaphragm and, via this, compression of the gas or gas mixture received in the compressor chamber can be achieved, for which purpose lines to and from the gas or gas mixture supply, the gas or gas mixture store and the medium supply can be closed off via corresponding control means.
In an advantageous embodiment of the compressor system, the pressurization of the medium within the at least one medium chamber can be carried out via the conveying means, which convey the incompressible medium into the at least one medium chamber. The conveying means are designed, for example, as a piston and/or as a pump. It is particularly advantageous if a conveying means is designed as a pump, so that the piston can be completely omitted. In such an advantageous embodiment, a system without a piston can be used as a conveying and/or pressurizing means.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the media circuit and the medium guided and conveyed thereover can be heated and/or climatized at least in the region of the at least one first connection. Advantageously, a viscosity of the incompressible medium is thus achieved in order not to generate counterpressure on the conveying means when flowing into the at least one media chamber via the at least one first connection.
The system offers the possibility of high-pressure compression of a gas or gas mixture with at least one high-pressure compressor which, due to the large deflection of the diaphragm, requires fewer load cycles to compress the same amount of gas compared too a conventional compressor, and for this purpose the delivery and control means also have reduced delivery and control cycles. This makes it easier to design the system. The control of the system can also be simplified.
Further advantages, features and design possibilities result from the following figure description of non-restrictive embodiment examples.
In the drawings, elements provided with the same reference signs essentially correspond to each other, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, components are not shown and described which are not essential for understanding the technical teachings disclosed herein. Furthermore, the reference signs are not repeated for all elements already introduced and shown, provided that the elements themselves and their function have already been described or are known to a person skilled in the art.
The figures show an embodiment of a high-pressure compressor 100, a compressor systems 500, and a method for high pressure compression in a compressor system 500, which are described below by way of example, being possible embodiments of the technical teachings disclosed herein. Thus, the embodiments shown and described below are not limiting and may have additional features disclosed herein or alternatives disclosed.
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a high-pressure compressor 100. The high-pressure compressor 100 can be used, for example, to compress a gas, such as hydrogen, or a gas mixture. In this case, a high pressure compression of the gas takes place. In this context, high-pressure compression is used for pressures from about 40 bar.
Conventional high-pressure compressors have a piston mounted in a displaceable manner in order to be able to generate the high pressures. The piston is moved a relatively long distance within a cylindrical tube in order to achieve the high compression of the gas.
The high-pressure compressor 100 described herein has the advantage over known high-pressure compressors in that the device is relatively small in size and, in addition, no moving components are provided that communicate with the environment. Therefore, a gas-tight design is ensured. In addition, there is no abrasion and thus no destruction of sealants as in the prior art because optionally provided seals are not moved and, in further embodiments, seals can be omitted. The component provided for compressing a gas, in the form of a diaphragm 200 made of metal or a metal alloy, is arranged within a housing 120 of the high-pressure compressor 100 and is therefore not in contact with the environment.
The high-pressure compressor 100 of FIG. 1 has a housing 120 having a first compressor head 300 and a second compressor head 400. In the embodiment shown, the compressor heads 300 and 400 are identically configured so that descriptions of one of the compressor heads 300, 400 also apply to the other compressor head 300, 400, respectively. In further embodiments not shown, however, the compressor heads 300, 400 may also have differences from one another, in particular in the design and arrangement of connections, etc.
The compressor heads 300, 400 are made of metal or a metal alloy and each have a solid plate 310, 410. The design of the compressor heads 300, 400 is shown in FIG. 2 .
The material used for the compressor heads 300, 400 may be, for example, a stainless steel or a stainless steel alloy, such as a stainless steel alloy of the 316 L group.
The compressor heads 300, 400 each have a compressor chamber 330 or a media chamber 430 on opposite sides when assembled. Here, the compressor chamber 330 serves to receive a gas or gas mixture that is compressed. The media chamber 430 is used to hold a medium that is required to deform the diaphragm 200 to compress the gas or gas mixture.
Here, the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430 primarily serve to introduce the gas/gas mixture or the medium into the chambers. During high pressure compression, the diaphragm 200 is displaced in such a way that it comes into contact with the opposing inner walls of the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430. Thus, a gas/gas mixture or a medium can also be received in the space spanned by the compressor chamber 330 or the media chamber 430 inside the compressor heads 300, 400 by a corresponding deformation of the diaphragm 200.
In the embodiment shown, the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430 are formed to include steps 332, 432. The steps 332, 432 allow the diaphragm 200 to come into substantially full contact with the inner walls of the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430.
Between the compressor heads 300, 400 the diaphragm 200 is arranged, which consists of a metal or a metal alloy. Precious metals or precious metal alloys, preferably a stainless steel alloy of group 316 L, are particularly suitable materials. The diaphragm 200 has a structured design. The structuring of the diaphragm 200 enables the diaphragm 200 to be deformed in such a way that it can come into contact both with the inner wall of the compressor chamber 330 and with the inner wall of the media chamber 430. For this purpose, the diaphragm 200 has beads 210, as shown schematically in FIG. 8 .
During high pressure compression, the diaphragm 200 may be deformed due to the beads 210 so that it gradually comes into contact with the stepped inner walls of the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430.
Therefore, the design of the diaphragm 200 allows the entire volume within the housing 120 of the high-pressure compressor 100, comprising the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430, to be used for compressing a gas/gas mixture.
Thus, depending on the design of the high-pressure compressor 100 and its components, an adjustment of the compression ratio of gases or gas mixtures can be achieved. In particular, the deformability of the diaphragm 200 is decisive for the compression. The greater the deformability, the greater the compression. For this purpose, the diaphragm 200 may have a plurality of structures required for deformation. In contrast to simple metal diaphragms, which can only be deflected slightly in one direction, for which they are concave or convex (“bowl-like”) in any initial position, depending on the definition, the diaphragm 200 can also assume a neutral position (FIG. 8 ) and be deformed in both directions from the neutral position. The structures in the diaphragm 200 or the beads 210 also allow the diaphragm 200 to maintain the deformed positions without any further application of force.
To deform the diaphragm 200 for high pressure compression of a gas/gas mixture introduced via the compressor chamber 330, an incompressible medium is introduced under pressure via the media chamber 430. This ensures that the pressure via the medium on the diaphragm 200 exerts a correspondingly high pressure on the gas/gas mixture, which is then compressed or densified. For example, water or a (hydraulic) oil can be used as the incompressible medium.
Both the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430 each have at least one connection 320, 420 through which the gas/gas mixture or the medium is supplied and discharged. In further embodiments, separate connections may be provided for supplying and discharging the gas/gas mixture or the media.
The supply or discharge takes place centrally in the central area of the compressor chamber 330 or the media chamber 430. In particular, the second connection 320 for the supply of gas/a gas mixture can be designed in such a way that, starting from a central supply opening in the second connection 320 on the outside of the compressor head 300, the connection 320 merges into a plurality of smaller channels which have a small diameter compared to the inlet diameter. These channels then protrude into the compressor chamber 330 via corresponding openings, thus preventing punctual, central loading of the diaphragm 200 as the gas/gas mixture or medium flows in/out. By dividing the central inlet into many smaller channels, the load is spread out. These openings in the compressor chamber 330 and media chamber 430 may extend over an area equal to, for example, three times the diameter of the connection 320, 420. Preferably, the openings of these channels may open only into the area which has the greatest depth relative to the volume of the compressor chamber 330 or media chamber 430.
The supply and discharge of the gas/gas mixture and the medium are controlled by appropriate valves.
The diaphragm 200 itself is arranged between the opposing planar surfaces of the cylinder heads 300, 400 and the plates 310, 410, respectively. The diaphragm 200 has a planar extension that is greater than the planar extension of the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430. Thus, in the installed state, the diaphragm 200 is in contact with the plates 310, 410.
Via fastening means 110, the two cylinder heads 300, 400 and the diaphragm 200 arranged between them are connected to each other. The plates 310, 410 have through openings 314, 414 through which threaded rods 112 are passed. Nuts 114 and washers 116 can be used to connect the cylinder heads 300, 400 and the diaphragm 200 and to brace the diaphragm 200. This achieves sealing of the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430 from the environment. In the area of the contact surfaces between the compressor heads 300, 400 and the diaphragm 200, at least one sealing ring can additionally be arranged. Furthermore, structures may also be provided in the contact surfaces of the compressor heads 300, 400 which partially deform the diaphragm 200 in the connected state. Furthermore, the diaphragm 200 may also have structures required for this purpose, in addition to the structures required for deformation.
FIG. 2 shows various views of a first and second compressor head of the high-pressure compressor of FIG. 1 . Walls 312, 412 are located between the openings 314, 414. The design of the compressor heads 300, 400 is such that they have a sufficiently large wall thickness around the compressor chamber 330 and the media chamber 430. The wall thickness shall be specified with respect to the internal pressure during high pressure compaction.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a compressor system 500 comprising a high-pressure compressor 100 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 .
In further embodiments not shown, a compressor system 500 may also be operated with a variation of the high-pressure compressor 100 shown in FIG. 1 , which falls within the technical teachings described herein. Finally, a compressor system 500 may in principle include a plurality of high pressure compressors 100 connected, for example, in parallel or in series.
In addition to the high-pressure compressor 100, the compressor system 500 comprises piping and control means and valves and a piston 510 and a tank 514 in which an incompressible medium is received. The tank 514, the piston 510, and a pump 512 are part of a media circuit, which again is part of the compressor system 500.
The compressor system 500 comprises a gas or gas mixture circuit that, in addition to lines for supplying and discharging the gas or gas mixture, has control devices, valves, a supply 520 in which the gas or gas mixture for high pressure compression is stored, and a connection to any application 530.
The compressor system 500 further includes relief valves that allow gas to escape to atmosphere when critical, adjustable pressures in the system are exceeded. In the shown embodiment or the compressor system 500, a compression of a gas or gas mixture from a pressure of at least 10 bar in the supply 520 to about 1200 bar is performed, so that a gas or gas mixture with a pressure of about 1200 bar is provided to the application 530.
The compression sequence in the compressor system 500 via the high-pressure compressor 100 is shown in FIGS. 4-7 and is described below with reference to FIGS. 4-7 .
Filling the High-Pressure Compressor 100 (FIG. 4 )
The gas side or compressor chamber 330 of the compressor head 300 is filled with gas from the supply 520. For this purpose, the valve from the supply 520 and a valve 522 are opened, so that gas is supplied to the compressor chamber 330 via the second connection 320. Gas is stored in the supply 520 at a pressure of at least 10 bar. The diaphragm 200 is deflected in the direction of the water side, i.e. in the direction of the media chamber 430, and the pump 512 in the media circuit pumps the medium (water) for this step back into the tank 514, which serves as a reservoir for the water.
A relief line of the media circuit from the cylinder of the piston 510 is opened and due to the higher pressure on the gas side (compressor room side), the diaphragm 200 is fully contacted with the inner wall of the media chamber 430 of the compressor head 400 as well as the head of the piston 510 is moved to its initial position.
Stroke into the Application (FIG. 5 )
The inlet valve 522 of the gas side is closed and the valve 526 to the application 530 is opened. In parallel, in the media circuit, the circuit back to tank 514 and the relief line are closed and water is forced into the hack side of the cylinder of piston 510, causing more volume to be delivered into compressor head 400 via the water side of high-pressure compressor 100. This change in volume provides compression of the gas on the gas side, resulting in an increase in pressure in the application 530.
Depressurizing the High-Pressure Compressor 100 (FIG. 6 )
The valve 526 to the gas application 530 is closed. The water circuit in the media circuit back into tank 514 is opened and, in parallel, the relief line into tank 514. Due to the applied pressure on the gas side of the high-pressure compressor 100, the head of piston 510 is pushed back a little to its initial position, depending on the prevailing pressure, and the escaping water collected in tank 514.
Depressurizing the High-Pressure Compressor 100 (FIG. 7 )
The relief line to tank 514 remains open and pump 512 continues to pump back into tank 514. The valve 524 for pressure relief on the gas side is opened and the pressure can be reduced quite quickly due to the small volumes respectively the diaphragm 200 can be deflected further towards the water side.
Then, the valve 522 can be opened again and the valve 524 for pressure relief can be closed to perform a new gas supply into the compressor chamber 330 of the cylinder head 300 and a high pressure compression.
FIG. 8 shows schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment of a diaphragm 200 for a high-pressure compressor 100. The diaphragm 200 is designed as a metal diaphragm and has structural elements that enable deformation. These are structural elements of the diaphragm 200 that enable deformation in such a way that the diaphragm 200 comes into contact both width the inner wall of the compressor chamber 330 and with the inner wall of the media chamber 430, and can also assume a neutral position.
This can be accomplished by structuring by means of beads 210, as shown in the figures. However, it is additionally or alternatively possible that instead of geometric shaping of the diaphragm 200 to provide the required deformability, the internal structure of the diaphragm 200 may be altered by introducing additional materials or by weakening areas that are instrumental in providing the required properties.
In an embodiment of the compressor system, the valve 522 and the valve 524 and the valve 526 may be check valves.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of high pressure compression in a compressor system 500 comprising a high-pressure compressor 100.
In S1, the high-pressure compressor 100 is filled from the supply 520 (see FIG. 4 ). For this purpose, the corresponding valves are opened or closed.
In S2, the stroke into application 530 (see FIG. 5 ) from the high-pressure compressor 100 occurs.
In S3, a first intermediate step is performed to depressurize the high-pressure compressor 100 (see FIG. 6 ), closing the supply of gas from the high-pressure compressor 100 to the gas application 530.
In S4, a second intermediate step is performed to depressurize the high-pressure compressor 100 (see FIG. 7 ), wherein depressurization on the gas side is performed by opening the valve 524 and depressurizing.
In S5, a switchover for a new filling of the high-pressure compressor 100 takes place, for which the valve 522 is opened again and the valve 524 is closed for pressure relief.
The above procedure can always be repeated to achieve continuous high pressure compression for various applications.
Advantageously, the entire internal space within the housing 120 of the high-pressure compressor 100 is used for compression. Further, only the diaphragm 200 is moved or deformed within the housing 120 so that, firstly, the space required for compression does not depend on the compression process via moving components and, further, substantially complete sealing of the compression space from the environment is achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

100 high-pressure compressor
110 fastening means
112 threaded rod
114 nut
116 washer
120 housing
200 diaphragm
210 bead
300 compressor head
310 plate
212 wall
314 opening
320 second connection
330 compressor chamber
332 step
400 compressor head
410 plate
412 wall
414 opening
420 first connection
430 media chamber
432 step
500 compressor system
510 piston
512 pump
514 tank
520 supply
522 valve
524 valve
526 valve
530 application

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A high-pressure compressor for compressing a gas or gas mixture, comprising:

at least one compressor chamber;

a media chamber;

a housing which surrounds the at least one compressor chamber and the media chamber;

wherein the at least one compressor chamber and the media chamber in the housing are separated from one another by at least one diaphragm;

wherein the housing comprises at least one first connection which opens into the media chamber and via which a medium can be introduced into or discharged from the media chamber;

wherein the housing comprises at least one second connection which opens into the compressor chamber and via which a gas or gas mixture can be introduced or discharged; and

wherein the at least one diaphragm comprises a metal or a metal alloy and is deformable for compressing a gas or gas mixture that can be introduced into the compressor chamber by introducing a medium into the media chamber.

11. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the compressor chamber and the media chamber have equal volumes.

12. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the diaphragm is of structured design.

13. The high-pressure compressor of claim 12, wherein the diaphragm has radially extending protrusions and depressions.

14. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the at least one compressor chamber or the media chamber is in a shape of a spherical segment and the at least one diaphragm forms a base of the spherical segment.

15. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the at least one compressor chamber or the media chamber are step-pyramidal or step-conical in shape and the at least one diaphragm has steps corresponding to the shape of the at least one compressor chamber or the media chamber.

16. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the at least one diaphragm is deformable from an initial position to a position where it comes into contact with an inner wall of the compressor chamber or the media chamber.

17. The high-pressure compressor of claim 10, wherein the housing is constructed in a layered manner and comprises at least a first compressor head with the compressor chamber and a second compressor head with the media chamber, wherein the at least one diaphragm is arranged between the first compressor head and the second compressor head.

18. A compressor system for high pressure compression of a gas or gas mixture, comprising:

the high-pressure compressor of claim 10;

a gas or gas mixture supply;

a gas or gas mixture storage;

a media supply;

conveying means for conveying a gas or gas mixture and an incompressible medium; and

control means for controlling a flow of the gas or gas mixture and the incompressible medium.

19. The compressor system of claim 18, wherein the first connection is connected to the media supply via one or more lines so that an incompressible medium can be introduced from the media supply via the first connection into the media chamber and from the media chamber into the media supply.

20. The compressor system of claim 18, wherein the high-pressure compressor comprises at least one second connection opening into the compressor chamber,

21. The compressor system of claim 20, wherein the at least one second connection is connected to the gas or gas mixture supply and the gas or gas mixture storage via one or more lines so that a gas or gas mixture can be introduced from the gas or gas mixture supply into the compressor chamber and from the compressor chamber into the gas or gas mixture storage.

2. The compressor system of claim 21, wherein the incompressible medium can be pressurized to achieve a deformation of the diaphragm and a compression of the gas or gas mixture received in the compressor chamber for which purpose lines to and from the gas or gas mixture supply, the gas or gas mixture storage, and the media supply can be closed off via the control means.