WO2021097505A1

WO2021097505A1 - Compressor

Info

Publication number: WO2021097505A1
Application number: PCT/AT2020/060388
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Eeg Elements Energy Gmbh
Priority date: 2019-11-21
Filing date: 2020-11-05
Publication date: 2021-05-27
Also published as: WO2021097506A1; EP4061983A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor (10) for compressing gases, in particular hydrogen, comprising a compression unit (1) and a pressure generation unit (2), wherein the compression unit (1) has a low pressure chamber (11) and a high pressure chamber (12) which are connected to one another by way of a valve (13), wherein the pressure generation unit (2) is configured as a hydraulic pressure intensifier and has a high pressure unit (22) and a low pressure unit (21), in which a liquid is present. It is provided according to the invention that the low pressure unit (21) of the pressure generation unit (2) is connected to the low pressure chamber (11) and the high pressure unit (22) of the pressure generation unit (2) is connected to the high pressure chamber (12) via fluid lines (3), wherein, in the case of an adjustment of the pressure generation unit (2) into a low pressure position, the pressure in the low pressure unit (21) is increased and the gas which is situated in the low pressure unit (11) is compressed to a first pressure level (p1) and forced into the high pressure chamber (12), and wherein, in the case of an adjustment of the pressure generation unit (2) into a high pressure position, the pressure in the high pressure unit (22) is increased and compresses the gas which is situated in the high pressure chamber (12) to a second pressure level (p2) above the first pressure level (p1).

Description

compressor

The invention relates to a compressor for compressing gases, in particular hydrogen, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A large number of compressors for gases are known from the prior art, with which gases, in particular hydrogen, can be brought to different pressure levels.

A large number of compressors for gases are known from the prior art. US 93109,587 B2 discloses a multistage piston compressor, the piston rods being connected to a common crankshaft. Between the individual pistons and the gas to be compressed, e.g. hydrogen, there is a liquid stage, in particular filled with hydraulic fluid. By means of the crankshaft, the pressure applied to the piston is transferred to the liquid and from there to the gas via a further piston.

EP 1 913 264 B1 discloses a compressor with a pump which is designed as an axial piston pump. A medium is fed to the axial piston pump via a pre-compressor, which then compresses the medium and discharges it again.

EP 3 447 289 A1 discloses a multistage sequential piston compressor, a piston being arranged in each compressor stage which pressurizes a gas via an operating fluid. As in the case of the compressor according to the invention, the liquid and the gas to be compressed are in two separate phases, the gas being passed on to the next stage after compression and then further compressed there.

DE 10 2004 046316 A1 discloses a method and a device for compressing gas, including hydrogen. The compression takes place in one or more different cylinders, each of which contains a liquid in which the gas cannot be dissolved. The compression itself is brought about by the change in the liquid level in the cylinders, with more or less liquid being pumped into the cylinders independently of one another.

DE 198 48 234 A1 shows a method and a compressor for compressing gases. The gas to be compressed is fed into a Compression tank sucked. In the container there is a liquid in which the gas is not soluble. To compress the gas, additional liquid is now pumped into the container, compressing the gas or increasing the pressure in the container. The liquid level in the container can be raised or lowered, for example, by means of a piston.

The disadvantage of the compressors known from the prior art is that small amounts of gases or hydrogen produced directly in an electrolysis unit, which is continuously released in small amounts, can only be processed poorly or only in very large systems and also only with complex ones Structure can be compacted.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a compressor for gases, in particular hydrogen, which has a small footprint and a simple structure and, moreover, can compress the gas, in particular hydrogen, to a high pressure level.

This object is achieved with the characterizing features of claim 1. According to the invention it is provided

- That the low-pressure unit of the pressure generating unit is connected to the low-pressure chamber of the compression unit and the high-pressure unit of the pressure generating unit is connected to the high-pressure chamber of the compression unit in such a way that it transmits fluid via fluid lines,

- that when the pressure generating unit is moved to a low pressure position, the pressure in the low pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the low pressure unit is pressed into the low pressure chamber so that the gas in the low pressure unit is compressed to a first pressure level and via the valve into the high pressure chamber of the compression unit is pressed, and

- that when the pressure generating unit is moved into a high pressure position, the pressure in the high pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the high pressure unit is pressed into the high pressure chamber so that the gas in the high pressure chamber is compressed to a second pressure level above the first pressure level and

- That in addition when adjusting the pressure generation unit in the

High pressure position the pressure in the low pressure chamber is reduced so that the liquid in the low pressure chamber into the Low pressure unit is sucked so that gas is sucked into the low pressure chamber via the gas supply line.

The advantage of the compressor according to the invention is that it has a simple structure and can be operated with a small number of structural elements. At the same time, the compressor according to the invention enables an advantageous increase in pressure in two different pressure stages, which enables increased safety and a high compression ratio, in particular when compressing hydrogen. Furthermore, the embodiments according to the invention combine the ability to move high volume through low pressure and to move low volume through high pressure.

Further advantageous designs of the compressor according to the invention result from the features of the dependent claims:

A preferred embodiment of the compressor according to the invention provides that the compressor has two identically designed compression units, the low-pressure unit of the pressure-generating unit being connected to the low-pressure chambers of the compression units and the high-pressure unit of the pressure-generating unit to the high-pressure chambers of the compression units being connected in a fluid-transferring manner via fluid lines. By designing by means of two compression units, it is possible to make the compression of gases, in particular hydrogen, more efficient and thus to bring about a higher volume flow with a high compression ratio at the same time.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the compressor according to the invention is achieved in that the pressure generating unit is designed as a double pressure intensifier, the pressure generating unit having a first high-pressure unit designed as a pressure cylinder and a second high-pressure unit designed as a pressure cylinder,

- wherein a low-pressure unit designed as a synchronous cylinder is arranged between the first high-pressure unit and the second high-pressure unit,

- wherein the pressure generating unit has a piston rod which connects the first high pressure piston of the high pressure unit, the second high pressure piston of the second high pressure unit and the low pressure piston of the low pressure unit,

- wherein the low-pressure unit has two chambers, which are each arranged on two opposite sides of the low-pressure piston, and - The low-pressure outlets are each connected to one of the low-pressure chambers of the compression units and the high-pressure units are each connected to one of the high-pressure chambers of the compression units via fluid lines in a fluid-transferring manner, so that when the piston rod is moved into a first compression position, the first high-pressure unit and the first chamber of the low-pressure unit of the pressure generating unit enter the High pressure position and the second chamber of the low pressure unit is adjusted to the low pressure position so that

- The pressure in the first high pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the first high pressure unit is pressed into the first high pressure chamber of the first compression unit so that the gas in the first high pressure chamber is compressed to a second pressure level above the first pressure level and

- That the pressure in the first low-pressure chamber is reduced in such a way that the liquid located in the first low-pressure chamber is sucked into the first chamber of the low-pressure unit and gas is sucked into the first low-pressure chamber via the gas supply line

- That the pressure in the second chamber of the low-pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the second chamber is pressed into the second low-pressure chamber of the second compression unit, so that the gas in the second low-pressure chamber is compressed to a first pressure level and via the valve, in particular the check valve , is pressed into the second high pressure chamber of the second compression unit, and

- that when the piston rod is moved into a second compression position in this way, the second high-pressure unit and the second chamber of the low-pressure unit of the pressure-generating unit are moved into the high-pressure position and the first chamber of the low-pressure unit is moved into the low-pressure position, so that

- The pressure in the second high pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the second high pressure unit is pressed into the second high pressure chamber of the second compression unit so that the gas in the second high pressure chamber is compressed to a second pressure level above the first pressure level, and

- wherein the pressure in the second low-pressure chamber is reduced in such a way that the liquid located in the second low-pressure chamber is sucked into the second chamber of the low-pressure unit and gas is sucked into the second low-pressure chamber via the gas supply line, - The pressure in the first chamber of the low-pressure unit is increased and the liquid flowing out of the first chamber is pressed into the first low-pressure chamber of the first compression unit, so that the gas in the first low-pressure chamber is compressed to a first pressure level and via the valve, in particular the check valve , is pressed into the first high pressure chamber of the first compression unit.

Due to the design by means of two compression units and the design of the pressure generation unit with two high pressure units and a low pressure unit in between, the adjustment of the piston rods can be used in both directions in order to suck in the hydrogen or the gas in the different compression units or to bring it to a first pressure level and then in the second position of the piston rod to compress the gas or hydrogen compressed to the first pressure level in the second part of the compression unit or the high pressure chamber to the desired pressure or the second pressure level. Due to the two-part design, the gas can also be increased to the first pressure level or the second pressure level in opposite directions in each of the compression units, thus achieving particularly economical compression with low mechanical components.

In order to prevent gas or hydrogen from flowing back out of the compression unit, provision can be made for a check valve or one-way valve to be arranged in each of the gas supply line and the gas discharge line.

It can advantageously be provided that the liquid is glycol or an ionic liquid.

A preferred embodiment provides that flow calmers are arranged in the inlet area of the high pressure chamber and the low pressure chamber, which are designed in such a way that the speed of the liquid entering the high pressure chamber and the low pressure chamber can be reduced so that mixing and foaming of the liquid with the gas is prevented and the gas is in a two-phase state with the liquid.

By means of the flow stabilizers, it is possible that when additional liquid or gas enters the low-pressure or high-pressure chamber of the compression unit, a Mixing between gas or hydrogen and the liquid is prevented and foam or bubble formation within the chamber is suppressed in this way.

It can preferably be provided that the flow stabilizers consist of a wire mesh or perforated plate.

In order to be able to detect the individual states or positions of the piston rod and the compression unit, it can be provided that the pressure generating unit has position sensors, in particular limit switches, with which the position of the pistons, in particular the piston rod, can be detected.

It can preferably be provided that the compression ratio of the gas in the low-pressure chamber is 1: 2 to 1:15 and the compression ratio of the gas in the high-pressure chamber is 1: 2 to 1: 100, in particular 1:10 to 1:50, particularly preferred is 1:20 to 1:30

A preferred embodiment of the compressor according to the invention provides that the compression unit has a columnar design and the high-pressure chamber is arranged above the low-pressure chamber. The columnar design provides a particularly space-saving embodiment of the compressor, which at the same time has a particularly simple structure.

In order to be able to prevent explosion or damage to the compressor and its surroundings, it can be provided that the compressor has a safety monitoring unit, the safety monitoring unit being designed to monitor the pressure and the temperature in the compression unit, in particular by means of thermocouples and pressure sensors, wherein the compressor can be switched off by the safety monitoring unit when a previously defined maximum pressure is exceeded.

Another aspect of the present invention provides that a compressor according to the invention is provided in a hydrogen generation plant. For this purpose, an electrolysis unit is connected to the gas supply line so that the hydrogen generated in the electrolysis unit can flow into or be sucked into the low pressure chamber via the gas supply line when the pressure generation unit is adjusted to the low pressure position. The oxygen produced or the compressed gas, for example, could then be extracted from the compressor or the gas discharge line Storage media such as gas bottles or gas containers are supplied or converted into electrical energy in a downstream processing plant or, in the case of hydrogen, an incineration plant. It is possible, for example, to connect to an electrolysis unit as disclosed in the international application Electrolysis Device of November 5, 2020 by the same applicant, the electrolysis unit or electrolysis device shown there being hereby incorporated as part of the present application.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention emerge from the description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention is shown schematically in the following on the basis of particularly advantageous but not restrictive exemplary embodiments in the drawings and is described by way of example with reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the compressor according to the invention in a schematic view,

2 shows the compressor according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in the low pressure position, FIG. 3 shows the compressor according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in floch pressure position, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the compressor according to the invention in a schematic view,

Fig. 5 shows the second embodiment of the compressor according to the invention in the second compressor position, and

Fig. 6 shows the second embodiment of the compressor according to the invention in the first compression position.

In Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the compressor 10 according to the invention for compressing gases is shown in a schematic view. The compressor 10 has a compression unit 1 in which a gas, in this embodiment hydrogen, is compressed. Furthermore, the device 10 has a pressure generating unit 2, which is designed as a hydraulic pressure booster. The pressure generation unit 2 comprises a floch pressure unit 22 and a low pressure unit 21 in which a liquid is present. The compression unit 1 has a low pressure chamber 11 and a floch pressure chamber 12. The low-pressure chamber 11 is arranged below the floch pressure chamber 12 and the low-pressure chamber 11 is connected to the floch pressure chamber 12 via a valve, in this embodiment a check valve 13. The compressor 10 further comprises a gas supply line 4 which opens into the low-pressure chamber 11 and via this gas in the low-pressure chamber 11 of the compressor 10 can be introduced. The high pressure chamber 12 of the compression unit 1 is via a non-return or

One-way valve 16 is connected to a gas discharge line 5 via which the compressed gas, that is to say hydrogen in this embodiment, can be discharged from the high-pressure chamber 12.

The pressure generating unit 2 has two different units, one of them

Low-pressure unit 21, which is connected in a fluid-transferring manner to the low-pressure chamber 11 via fluid lines 3, and a high-pressure unit 22, which is also connected in a fluid-transferring manner to the high-pressure chamber 12 of the compression unit 1 via fluid lines 3. A low-pressure piston 25 is arranged in the low-pressure unit 21 of the pressure-generating unit 2. In the high-pressure unit 22, a high-pressure piston 24 is in turn arranged, which is adjustable within the high-pressure unit 22 along its axis. The high-pressure piston 24 and the low-pressure piston 25 are connected to one another via a piston rod 23 and are thus adjusted uniformly and simultaneously in the high-pressure unit 22 and the low-pressure unit 21, respectively. The pressure generating unit 2 is designed as a hydraulic pressure booster, whereby when adjusting the piston rod 23 or the low pressure piston 25 and the high pressure piston 24 in the respective low pressure unit 21 or high pressure unit 22, different pressures can be generated. Because of the different piston areas of the low-pressure piston 24 and the high-pressure piston 25, a pressure transmission between the low-pressure unit 21 and the high-pressure unit 22 can be brought about. For example, a hydraulic unit 40 can be used to apply pressure to the first piston surface of the high-pressure piston 24 or to the low-pressure piston 25 and thus generate a pressure that can be achieved in the low-pressure unit 21 or the high-pressure unit 22 in accordance with the proportions of the piston surfaces.

In the low-pressure unit 21 and the high-pressure unit 22 of the pressure-generating unit 2 there is a liquid which, when the pressure in the low-pressure unit 21 changes, is pressed into the low-pressure chamber 11 of the compression unit 1 via the fluid lines 3 or is sucked out of it and thus changes the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 11 . The liquid arranged in the high-pressure unit 22 is also pressed into the high-pressure chamber 12 via the fluid lines 3 or, depending on the application of the pressure in the high-pressure unit 22, is sucked out of the high-pressure chamber 12 and the pressure in the high-pressure unit 22 is also changed or changed in this way by adjusting the high-pressure piston 24. generated. In the following, the function of the first embodiment of the compressor 10 is described by way of example with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3:

In Fig. 2, the compressor 10 or the pressure generating unit 2 is shown in a low pressure position. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, the piston rod 23 is adjusted in the direction of the high-pressure unit 22 of the pressure-generating unit 2, so that the high-pressure piston 24 and, with it, the low-pressure piston 25 connected via the piston rod 23 in the direction of the high-pressure unit 22, i.e. in the case of the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment to the left, is shifted. The displacement of the piston rod 23 is achieved by applying pressure to the right side of the

Low-pressure piston 25 caused by the hydraulic unit 40. By adjusting the high pressure piston 24 in the high pressure unit 22, the pressure in the decreases

High pressure unit 22, whereby the liquid is sucked through the fluid lines 3 from the high pressure chamber 12 into the high pressure unit 22 or in the

High pressure unit 22 a negative pressure is generated and thereby the liquid is sucked out of the high pressure chamber 12 of the compression unit 1 and the pressure in the high pressure chamber 12 thereby drops. By adjusting the low-pressure piston 25 in the direction of the high-pressure unit 22, the pressure on the liquid in the low-pressure unit 21 is increased and this is pressed into the low-pressure chamber 11 of the compression unit 1 via the fluid lines 3 along the arrow shown in FIG increased in the low pressure chamber 11. That is in the

The gas located in the low-pressure chamber 11 or, in this embodiment, the hydrogen is compressed by the inflowing liquid and compressed to a first pressure level p1. By lowering the pressure in the high-pressure chamber 12, the hydrogen compressed to the first pressure level p1 is now pressed or sucked out of the low-pressure chamber 11 into the high-pressure chamber 12, so that it flows into the high-pressure chamber 12 via the valve 13 and then enters the first pressure level p1 the high pressure chamber 12 is present. In this embodiment, the valve 13 is designed as a check valve so that the hydrogen located in the high pressure chamber 12 cannot flow back from the high pressure chamber 12 into the low pressure chamber 11 of the compression unit 1.

If the pressure generating unit 2 is now adjusted to a high pressure position, which is shown in Fig. 3, a pressure is applied to the high pressure piston 24 by the high pressure unit 40, so that the piston rod 23, the high pressure piston 24 and thus also the low pressure piston 25 in the direction of the low pressure unit adjusted. By adjusting the high pressure piston 24 within the high pressure unit 22, the pressure is increased is increased to the liquid in the high-pressure unit 22, so that it is pressed into the high-pressure chamber 12 via the fluid lines 3 along the arrow shown in FIG. 3 and the pressure in the high-pressure chamber 12 is increased in this way. The hydrogen in the high-pressure chamber 12 or the gas in the high-pressure chamber 12 is compressed by increasing the pressure via the liquid and thus brought to a second pressure level p2. By adjusting the low-pressure piston 25 in the low-pressure unit 21, the liquid located in the low-pressure chamber 11 is sucked into the low-pressure unit 21 via the fluid lines 3, so that the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 11 drops. When the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 11 drops, new hydrogen is sucked into the low-pressure chamber 11 via the gas supply line 4 via the check valve 16 and the compression unit 1 is filled with fresh hydrogen or gas in this way. After the hydrogen has reached the second pressure level p2 in the high-pressure chamber 12, it is discharged, for example, via a check valve 16 via the gas discharge line 5 and, for example, stored in a storage unit or fed to further processing.

By alternately adjusting the piston rod 23 or the low-pressure piston 25 and the high-pressure piston 24 between the high-pressure position and the low-pressure position, hydrogen or a gas can be introduced into the low-pressure chamber 11, compressed in it to a first pressure level p1, from the low-pressure chamber 11 into the The high-pressure chamber 12 is pressed and compressed in this to a second pressure level p2 and then discharged from the compressor 10 via the gas discharge line 5 at the second pressure level p2. The design of the pressure generating unit 2 as a pressure booster, together with the hydraulic unit 40, provides an effective way of bringing hydrogen or gases to a high pressure level, the hydrogen or gas being compressed in an energy-efficient manner through the gradual compression. Furthermore, the gradual compression also prevents a possible risk of explosion or sudden expansion of the gases present in the compressor 10, in particular the hydrogen, and thus provides a particularly safe construction.

4 to 6, a second embodiment of the compressor 10 according to the invention is shown in schematic views. The compressor 10 has a

Pressure generating unit 2, which is designed as a double pressure intensifier. The pressure generating unit 2 has a first designed as a pressure cylinder

High pressure unit 22a and a second high pressure unit designed as a pressure cylinder 22b. A low-pressure unit 21 is arranged between the two high-pressure units 22a, 22b. The high-pressure piston 24a of the first high-pressure unit 22a and the second high-pressure piston 24b of the second high-pressure unit 22b and the low-pressure piston 25 are connected to one another via the piston rod 23 and are therefore adjusted together within the first high-pressure unit 22a, the second high-pressure unit 22b and the low-pressure unit 21. The low-pressure unit 21 has two chambers 26a, 26b. The compressor 10 also has two compression units 1a, 1b which are each connected in a fluid-transferring manner to the low-pressure unit 21 and to one of the high-pressure units 22a, 22b via the fluid lines 3. The compression units 1a, 1b are of identical design and each have a high pressure chamber 21a or 21b and a low pressure chamber 11a, 11b. The chambers 26a, 26b of the low-pressure unit 21 are each connected to one of the

Low-pressure chambers 11a, 11b of the first compression unit 1a and the second compression unit 1b are connected in a fluid-transferring manner via the fluid lines 3. The first high pressure unit 22a is connected to the high pressure chamber 12a of the first compression unit 1a via fluid lines 3 and the second high pressure chamber 12b of the second compression unit 1b is also connected to the second high pressure unit 22b of the compression unit 2 via fluid lines 3 via fluid lines 3. Analogously to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, gas, in particular hydrogen, can alternately be brought to a first pressure level p1 and then to a second pressure level p2 and thus compressed in the compression units 1a, 1b.

The function of the second embodiment is described below by way of example with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6:

In the second embodiment of the compressor 10 according to the invention, the piston rod 23 or the pressure generating unit 2 can be adjusted between two compression positions, the first compression position and the second compression position.

If pressure is applied to the first high-pressure piston 24a of the first high-pressure unit 22a via the hydraulic unit 40, this is adjusted to the right with the piston rod 23, the low-pressure piston 25 and the second high-pressure piston 24b into the first compression position, i.e. as shown in FIG. 6. By adjusting the first high-pressure piston 24a, the liquid located in the first high-pressure unit 22a is compressed and pressed via the fluid lines 3 into the first high-pressure chamber 12a of the first compression unit 1a, and in this way the in the First high pressure chamber 12a present gas or the hydrogen is compressed to the second pressure level p2. At the same time, the pressure in the first chamber 26a of the low-pressure unit 21 is lowered by adjusting the low-pressure piston 25 and the liquid is sucked from the first low-pressure chamber 11a into the low-pressure unit 21 and, analogously, as described in FIG. 1, hydrogen is fed into the first via the gas supply line 4 Sucked in low pressure chamber 11a. In the second compression unit 1b, the liquid is sucked from the second high-pressure chamber 12b of the second compression unit 1b by adjusting the second high-pressure piston 24b and thereby creating a negative pressure in the second high-pressure unit 22b from the second high-pressure chamber 12b into the second high-pressure unit 22b, and thus the pressure in the second high pressure chamber 12b lowered. Furthermore, by adjusting the low-pressure piston, the pressure in the second chamber 26b of the low-pressure unit 21 is increased so that the liquid is pressed via the fluid lines 3 into the second low-pressure chamber 11b of the second compression unit 1b and the hydrogen therein is compressed to a first pressure level p1. The hydrogen compressed to the first pressure level in the second low-pressure unit 11b is then pressed into the second high-pressure chamber 12b of the second compression unit 1b via the valve 13b. Thus, the first compression position corresponds to the high pressure position of the first compression unit, as described analogously to FIGS. 1 to 3, and the low pressure position, described analogously to embodiment 1, corresponds to the position of the second compression unit 1b.

If the piston rod 23 or the pressure generating unit 2 is then adjusted to the second compression position, i.e. to the left, via the hydraulic unit 40 (FIG. 5), the first high-pressure piston 24a, the piston rod 23, the low-pressure piston 25 and the second high-pressure piston 24b are moved in the direction the first high pressure unit 21 a adjusted.

If pressure is applied to the second high-pressure piston 24b of the second high-pressure unit 22b via the hydraulic unit 40, the second high-pressure piston 24b, the first high-pressure piston 24a connected to the piston rod 23 and the low-pressure piston 25 also connected to the piston rod 23 are moved in the direction of the first high-pressure unit 22a ( thus as shown in Fig. 5) adjusted into the second compression position. When the piston rod 23 is moved into the second compression position, the pressure in the first low-pressure chamber 11a of the first compression unit 1a is increased via the liquid flowing into the first low-pressure chamber 11a and thus the hydrogen or gas present in the first low-pressure chamber 11a compressed to a first pressure level p1. At the same time, the first becomes

High pressure chamber 12a of the first compression unit 1a, the liquid is sucked into the first high pressure unit 22a and the pressure in the first high pressure chamber 12a of the first compression unit 1a is lowered and then the hydrogen present at the first pressure level p1 in the first low pressure chamber 11a via the valve 13a into the first High pressure chamber 12a sucked or pressed.

When the piston rod 23 is moved into the second compression position, the second high-pressure unit 22b is moved into the high-pressure position, as explained in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3, so that the liquid from the second high-pressure unit 22b into the second

The high pressure chamber 12b of the second compression unit 1b is pressed and the gas or hydrogen located therein is compressed to the second pressure level p2. Analogously to the first embodiment described for FIGS. 1 to 3, the pressure level in the second low-pressure chamber 11b is then reduced and fresh hydrogen is sucked into the second low-pressure chamber 11b via the gas supply line 4. The second compression position thus corresponds to the high pressure position of the second compression unit 1b and the low pressure position corresponds to the first

Compression unit 1a or the low pressure position of the first high pressure unit 22a and the high pressure position of the second high pressure unit 22b.

By adjusting the piston rod 23 or the pressure generating unit 2 between the first and second compression positions, hydrogen can alternately be brought from the gas supply line into the respective low-pressure chamber 11a, 11b, compressed to a first pressure level p1, and brought into the respective high-pressure chamber 12a, 12b and are compressed in this to a second pressure level p2. After the hydrogen has been compressed to the second pressure level p2, it can then be discharged or sucked out of the individual compression units 1a, 1b via the gas discharge line 5 and made available for further use.

In the first and second embodiment, the gas supply line 4 can optionally be preceded by a hydrogen generation unit in which hydrogen is generated, for example, by electrolysis and is introduced into the respective low-pressure chamber 11 or the first low-pressure chamber 11a and the second low-pressure chamber 11b via the gas supply line. In the embodiments described, for example, a storage element in which the compressed gas is stored can be disposed downstream of the gas discharge line 5 or, for example, the compressed gas can be fed to further processes, for example a combustion. Optionally, it can be provided that flow regulators are arranged in the valves 13 or the valves 16 or downstream, so that the gas entering the low-pressure chamber 11 or high-pressure chamber 12 is calmed and in this way foam formation with the hydraulic fluid is prevented. Suitable shapes for this are known from the prior art, it being possible for lattice structures or other flow calmers to be provided. Optionally, the flow stabilizers can consist of a perforated plate, preferably in the shape of a Christmas tree, or a wire mesh.

Optionally, it can also be provided that both in the gas discharge line 5 and the gas supply line 4 check valves 1 or. One-way valves are provided which prevent the gas from flowing back from the low-pressure chamber 11 into the gas supply line 4 or from the gas discharge line 5 into the high-pressure chamber 12.

It can particularly preferably be provided that the gas in the low-pressure chamber 11 experiences a compression to the first pressure level p1 more a compression ratio of 1: 2 to 1:15. The compression ratio p1 / p2 of the gas or of the hydrogen in the high-pressure chamber is preferably 1:10 to 1:50. In this way, high pressure levels can be achieved particularly easily, which allow gentle compression of the gas and thus bring advantages, especially with hydrogen.

Particularly preferably, it can be provided, as described in FIGS. 1 to 6, that the compression unit 1 has a columnar design, the high-pressure chamber 12 being arranged above the low-pressure chamber 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, position sensors 27 can optionally be provided which detect the position of the piston rod 23 and can thus automatically switch between the high pressure state and the low pressure state or, in the second embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the compressor 10 can automatically adjust between the first and second compression position.

Furthermore, a faulty state can be established or detected via the position sensors 27, provided that the piston rod 23 is no longer adjusted between the two states. Furthermore, in order to increase the safety of the compressor 10, it is provided that the compressor 10 has a safety monitoring unit which optionally includes pressure and temperature sensors with which the state of the gas or the hydrogen within the compressor 10 can be recorded. For this purpose, it can particularly preferably be provided that the safety monitoring unit comprises thermocouples and pressure sensors with which an overwriting of a previously defined maximum pressure or a maximum temperature of the gas within the compressor 10 is detected and the compressor 10 is automatically switched off if a critical state is present.

In the first and second embodiment it can be provided that the pressure generating unit 2 or the compression unit 1 or the

Compression units 1a, 1b present liquid is glycol or an ionic liquid.

The compression ratio of the gas in the compressor 10 in the low-pressure chamber 11 is preferably 1: 2 to 1:15. The compression ratio of the gas in the high-pressure chamber 12 is preferably 1: 2 to 1: 100, in particular 1:10 to 1:50, particularly preferably 1:20 to 1:30. For example, the gas in the low-pressure chamber 11 is compressed from 1 bar to 2 bar and then compressed in the high-pressure chamber 12 to a pressure of 200 bar, for example. The absolute pressures depend on the further use of the gas. For example, when filling gas cylinders, the pressure in the gas cylinder is at the beginning of the

Filling process is low and then increases with the degree of filling to, for example, 200 bar.

Claims

1. Compressor (10) for compressing gases, in particular hydrogen, comprising a compression unit (1) and a pressure generation unit (2),

- wherein the compression unit (1) has a low-pressure chamber (11) and a high-pressure chamber (12), the low-pressure chamber (11) and the high-pressure chamber (12) being connected to one another by a valve (13), the valve (13) in such a way that is designed in particular as a check valve, so that gas can flow from the low-pressure chamber (11) into the high-pressure chamber (12) and the backflow from the high-pressure chamber (12) into the low-pressure chamber (11) is prevented,

- wherein the pressure generating unit (2) is designed as a hydraulic pressure booster and has a high pressure unit (22) and a low pressure unit (21) in which a liquid is present,

- wherein gas can be introduced into the low-pressure chamber (11) via a gas supply line (4) and the compressed gas can be discharged from the high-pressure chamber (12) via a gas discharge line (5), characterized in that,

- that the low-pressure unit (21) of the pressure-generating unit (2) with the low-pressure chamber (11) of the compression unit (1) and the high-pressure unit (22) of the pressure-generating unit (2) with the high-pressure chamber (12) of the compression unit (1) in each case via fluid lines ( 3) are connected in a fluid-transferring manner,

- That when the pressure generating unit (2) is moved into a low-pressure position, the pressure in the low-pressure unit (21) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the low-pressure unit (21) is pressed into the low-pressure chamber (11), so that the liquid in the low-pressure unit (11) is pressed Gas is compressed to a first pressure level (p1) and is pressed into the high-pressure chamber (12) of the compression unit (1) via the valve (13), and

- that when the pressure generating unit (2) is moved into a high pressure position, the pressure in the high pressure unit (22) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the high pressure unit (22) is pressed into the high pressure chamber (12), so that the liquid in the high pressure chamber (12) Gas is compressed to a second pressure level (p2) above the first pressure level (p1) and

- That, in addition, when the pressure generating unit (2) is moved into the high pressure position, the pressure in the low pressure chamber (11) is reduced in such a way that the liquid in the low pressure chamber (11) enters the Low pressure unit (21) is sucked so that gas is sucked into the low pressure chamber (11) via the gas supply line (4).

2. Compressor (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressor (10) has two identical compression units (1a, 1b), the low-pressure unit (21) of the pressure generating unit (2) with the low-pressure chambers (11a, 11b) of the Compression units (1a, 1b) and the high pressure unit (22) of the pressure generating unit (2) with the high pressure chambers (12a, 12b) of the

Compression units (1a, 1b) are each connected in a fluid-transferring manner via fluid lines (3).

3. Compressor (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the

The pressure generating unit (2) is designed as a double pressure intensifier, the pressure generating unit (2) having a first designed as a pressure cylinder

High pressure unit (22a) and a second designed as a pressure cylinder

Has high pressure unit (22b),

- wherein a low-pressure unit (21) designed as a synchronizing cylinder is arranged between the first high-pressure unit (22a) and the second high-pressure unit (22b),

- wherein the pressure generating unit (2) has a piston rod (23) which the first high pressure piston (24a) of the first high pressure unit (22a), the second high pressure piston (24b) of the second high pressure unit (22b) and the

Low-pressure piston (25) connects the low-pressure unit (21),

- wherein the low-pressure unit (21) has two chambers (26a, 26b) which are each arranged on two opposite sides of the low-pressure piston (25), and

- the chambers (26a, 26b) each with one of the low-pressure chambers (11a, 11b) of the compression units (1a, 1b) and the high-pressure units (22a, 22b) each with one of the high-pressure chambers (12a, 12b) of the compression units (1a, 1b) ) are connected in a fluid-transferring manner via fluid lines (3) so that when the piston rod (23) is moved into a first compression position, the first high-pressure unit (22a) and the first chamber (26a) of the low-pressure unit (21) of the pressure-generating unit (2) move into the high-pressure position and the second chamber (26b) of the low-pressure unit (21) is moved into the low-pressure position in such a way that

- The pressure in the first high-pressure unit (22a) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the first high-pressure unit (22a) is pressed into the first high-pressure chamber (12a) of the first compression unit (1a), so that in the first The gas located in the high pressure chamber (12a) is compressed to a second pressure level (p2) above the first pressure level (p1) and

- That the pressure in the first low-pressure chamber (11a) is reduced in such a way that the liquid in the first low-pressure chamber (11a) is sucked into the first chamber (26a) of the low-pressure unit (21) and gas into the first low pressure chamber (11a) is sucked

- That the pressure in the second chamber (26b) of the low-pressure unit (21) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the second chamber (26b) is pressed into the second low-pressure chamber (11b) of the second compression unit (1b), so that in the second Gas in the low pressure chamber (11b) is compressed to a first pressure level (p1) and is pressed into the second high pressure chamber (12b) of the second compression unit (1b) via the valve (13b), in particular a check valve, and

- That when adjusting the piston rod (23) in a second

Compression position the second high pressure unit (22b) and the second chamber (26b) of the low pressure unit (21) of the pressure generating unit (2) in the

High pressure position and the first chamber (26a) of the low pressure unit (21) is adjusted into the low pressure position, so that

- The pressure in the second high-pressure unit (22b) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the second high-pressure unit (22b) into the second

The high pressure chamber (12b) of the second compression unit (1b) is pressed so that the gas in the second high pressure chamber (12b) is compressed to a second pressure level (p2) above the first pressure level (p1), and

- The pressure in the second low-pressure chamber (11b) is reduced in such a way that the liquid in the second low-pressure chamber (11b) is sucked into the second chamber (26b) of the low-pressure unit (21) and gas is drawn into the second low pressure chamber (11b) is sucked,

- The pressure in the first chamber (26a) of the low-pressure unit (21) is increased and the liquid flowing out of the first chamber (26a) is pressed into the first low-pressure chamber (11a) of the first compression unit (1a), so that in the first Gas in the low pressure chamber (11a) is compressed to a first pressure level (p1) and is pressed into the first high pressure chamber (12a) of the first compression unit (1a) via the valve (13a), in particular a check valve.

4. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a check valve (16) is arranged in each case in the gas supply line (4) and the gas discharge line (5).

5. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid is glycol or an ionic liquid.

6. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the input region of the floch pressure chamber (22) and the low pressure chamber (21) flow calmers are arranged, which are designed such that the speed of the in the floch pressure chamber (22) and the Low-pressure chamber (21) entering liquid can be reduced, so that mixing and foaming of the liquid with the gas is prevented and the gas is present with the liquid in a two-phase state.

7. Compressor (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the

Flow calmers consist of a wire mesh or perforated plate.

8. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure generating unit (2) has position sensors, in particular limit switches (27), with which the position of the piston, in particular the piston rod, can be detected.

9. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression ratio of the gas in the low-pressure chamber (11) is 1: 2 to 1:15 and the compression ratio of the gas in the floch pressure chamber (12) is 1: 2 up to 1: 100, in particular 1:10 to 1:50, particularly preferably 1:20 to 1:30.

10. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression unit (1) is columnar and the floch pressure chamber (12) is arranged above the low pressure chamber (11).

11. Compressor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor (10) has a safety monitoring unit, wherein the safety monitoring unit is designed such the pressure and temperature in the compression unit (1), in particular by means of thermocouples and Pressure sensors to be monitored, with the compressor (10) being able to be switched off by the safety monitoring unit when a previously defined maximum pressure is exceeded.

12. A hydrogen generation system comprising a compressor (10) according to one of the

Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an electrolysis unit is connected to the gas supply line (4) in such a way that the hydrogen generated in the electrolysis unit via the gas supply line (4) when the pressure generating unit (2) is moved into the low-pressure position in the low-pressure chamber (11) ), in particular the low-pressure chambers (11a, 11b), can be sucked.