(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)

(19) World Intellectual Property

Organization llIIlIIlllIlIlllIlIllIllIllIIlIlllIlllIIlllllllIIllIlIllIIllllIlIIIlllIllIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
International Bureau
(10) International Publication Number
(43) International Publication Date WO 2017/096438 A1
15 June 2017 (15.06.2017) WIPO PCT I

(51) International Patent Classification: nootschap, Boomsesteenweg 957, 2610 Wilrijk (BE).
F04C 29/00 (2006.01) F04C 29/04 (2006.01) TRUYEN, Diego; c/o ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER,
F04C 29/02 (2006.01) F04C 18/16 (2006.01) naamloze vennootschap, Boomsesteenweg 957, 2610 Wil-
rijk (BE). MARCELIS, Kristof Pieter Frans; c/o ATLAS
(21) International Application Number COPCO AIRPOWER, naamloze vennootschap, Boom-
P CT/BE2016/000044
sesteenweg 957, 2610 Wilrijk (BE).
(22) International Filing Date:
(74) Agent: VAN VARENBERG, Patrick; Bureau M. F.J.
23 August 2016 (23.08.2016)
Bockstael nv. , Arenbergstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen (BE).
(25) Filing Language: Dutch
Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
(26) Publication Language: English kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY,
(30) Priority Data: BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM,
62/266. 092 11 December 2015 (11.12.2015) US DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
2016/5147 I March 2016 (01.03.2016) BE HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR,
(71) Applicant: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAM- KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG,
LOZE VENNOOTSCHAP [BE/BE]; Boomsesteenweg MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM,
957, 2610 Wilrijk (BE). PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC,
SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN,
(72) Inventors: DOM Johan Julia J.; c/o ATLAS COPCO TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
AIRPOWER, naamloze vennootschap, Boomsesteenweg
957, 2610 Wilrijk (BE). THEELEN Jochen Emiel (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
Corneel; c/o ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, naamloze kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
vennootschap, Boomsesteenweg 957, 2610 Wilrijk (BE). GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ,
DAHALE, Shramik Kantilal; c/o ATLAS COPCO AIR- TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU,
POWER, naamloze vennootschap, Boomsesteenweg 957, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE,
2610 Wilrijk (BE). VAN HOEY, Luc Henri Arthur Al- DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU,
bert; c/o ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, naamloze ven- LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK,

[Continued on next pageos

(54) Title: METHOD FOR REGULATING THE LIQUID INJECTION OF A COMPRESSOR, A LIQUID-INJECTED COM-
PRESSOR AND A LIQUID-INJECTED COMPRESSOR ELEMENT
(57) Abstract: Method for controlling the liquid injection
of a compressor device (I), whereby this compressor
device comprises at least one compressor element (2),
whereby the compressor element (2) comprises a housing
(3) that comprises a compression space (4) in which at
least one rotor (7) is rotatably affixed by means of bear-
ings (8), whereby liquid is injected into the compressor
element (2), characterised in that the method comprises
the step of providing two independent separated liquid
supplies to the compressor element (2), whereby one li-
quid supply is injected into the compression space (4) and
the other liquid supply is injected at the location of the
bearings (8).

il=,

00
/Oo
 wo 2017/096438 A1 llIIlIIlllIlIlllIlIllIllIllIIlIlllIlllIIlllllllIIllIlIllIIllllIlIIIlllIllIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, Published:
GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). . '
tb t t l b t (3 t 21(3))
Declarations under Rule 4.17:
as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted
a patent (Rule 4. l 7(ii))
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

Method for regulating the liquid injection of a compressor,

a liquid-injected compressor and a liquid-injected
compressor element.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling

the liquid injection of a compressor device.

It is for example that for the cooling of a

known
10 compressor device, a liquid, such as oil or water for
example, is injected into the compression space of the
compressor element.

In this way at the outlet of the compressor

the temperature
15 element for example can be kept within certain limits, so
that the temperature does not become too low so that the
formation of condensate in the compressed air is prevented,
and whereby the liquid temperature does not become too high
so that the quality of the liquid remains optimum,
20
The injected liquid can also be used for the sealing and
lubrication of the compressor element so that a good
operation can be obtained.

25 It is that the quantity and temperature

known of the
injected liquid will affect the efficiency of the cooling,
the sealing and the lubrication.

Methods are already known for controlling liquid

the
30 injection in a compressor device, whereby use is made of a
control based on the temperature of the injected liquid,
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

whereby consists of getting the temperature

the control of
the injected liquid to fall if more cooling is desired, by
having the liquid pass through a cooler.

5 By controlling the temperature, the viscosity of the

liquid, and thus the lubricating and sealing properties
thereof, can also be adjusted.

A disadvantage of such a method is that the minimum

10 attainable temperature of the injected liquid is limited by
the temperature of the coolant that is used in the cooler.

Methods are also known for controlling the liquid injection

in a compressor device, whereby use is made of a control
15 based on the mass flow of the injected liquid, whereby the
control consists of injecting more liquid if more cooling
is desired for example.

By injecting more liquid the temperature will rise less.

20 This enables a higher injection temperature without
exceeding the maximum outlet temperature, so that
overdimensioning of the cooler is not required in the event
of a low coolant temperature.

25 A disadvantage of such a method is that it will only enable

the temperature of the injection liquid to be controlled
indirectly.

An additional disadvantage of the known methods is that

30 when a proportion of the injected liquid is used to
lubricate the bearings, this liquid will have the same
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

temperature as the liquid that is injected into the

compression space for the cooling thereof.

It has turned out in practice that in such compressor

5 devices the lifetime of the bearings is detrimentally
affected by the liquid temperature.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a

solution to a least one of the aforementioned and other
10 disadvantages and/or to optimise the efficiency of the
compressor device.

The object of the present invention is a method for

controlling the liquid injection of a compressor element,
15 whereby the compressor element comprises a housing that
comprises a compression space in which at least one rotor
is rotatably affixed by means of bearings, whereby liquid
is injected into the compressor element, whereby the method
comprises the step of providing two independent separated
20 liquid supplies to the compressor element, whereby one
liquid supply is injected into the compression space and
the other liquid supply is injected at the location of the
bearings,

25 'Independent separated liquid supplies' means that the

liquid supplies follow a separate path or route, that
starts for example from a liquid reservoir and ends in the
compression space or at the location of the bearings
respectively.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

An advantage is that for each liquid supply, the properties

of the injected liquid, such as the temperature and/or mass
flow for example, can be controlled separately.

5 In this way an optimum liquid supply can be provided both

for the bearings and for the compression space with the
rotors.

In this way the compressor element can operate more

10 optimally and more efficiently than the already known
compressor elements.

In the most preferred embodiment the method comprises the

step of controlling both the temperature of the liquid and
15 the mass flow of the liquid, for both liquid supplies
separately.

This the temperature

means: and the mass flow are
controlled for each liquid supply, whereby the control for
20 the one liquid supply is done independently of the other
liquid supply.

This has the advantage that both the temperature and the
quantity of liquid are specifically attuned to the needs of
25 the bearings or the compression space, as the control of
the one liquid supply is completely independent of the
other liquid supply.

Also it is no longer necessary to provide an

30 overdimensioned cooler.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

Moreover, control of both the temperature

the and the
quantity of liquid has the additional advantage that a
synergistic effect will occur.

5 Both the separate optimisation of the temperature and the

quantity of injected liquid will have a positive effect on
the efficiency of the compressor element.

But when are optimised,

both there will be a functional
10 interaction between the two controls that yields an
improvement in the efficiency of the compressor element
that is greater than the sum of the efficiency improvements
of both individual controls, so that the controls concern a
combination and not merely an aggregation or juxtaposition.
15
This functional interaction is partly attributable to de-
aeration phenomena that relate to the quantity of air
dissolved in the liquid.

20 By controlling both the temperature and the mass flow, the

quantity of air dissolved in the liquid is at least
partially eliminated, which will increase the efficiency.

On the other hand, accountto be taken of the sealing

has
25 capacity, partly attributable to the viscosity of the
injected liquid and partly to the available mass flow of
the liquid. For each operating point there is an ideal
combination of liquid flow and viscosity, which is a
function of the temperature, whereby both parameters
30 strengthen one another.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

The invention also concerns a liquid-injected compressor

device, whereby this compressor device comprises at least
one compressor element, whereby the compressor element
comprises a housing that comprises a compression space in
5 which at least one rotor is rotatably
affixed by means of
bearings, whereby the compressor device is further provided
with a gas inlet and an outlet for compressed gas that is
connected to a liquid separator, which is connected to the
compressor element by means of an injection circuit,
10 whereby the aforementioned injection circuit comprises two
separate injection pipes that start from the liquid
separator and which open into the compression space and
into the housing at the location of the aforementioned
bearings respectively.
15
Such a compressor installation has the advantage that the
liquid supplies for the lubrication of the bearings and for
the cooling of the compression space can be controlled
independently of one another, so that both liquid supplies
20 can be controlled according to the optimum properties that
are needed for the bearings and for the compression space
respectively at that specific operating point.

The also concerns a liquid-injected

invention compressor
25 element with a housing that comprises a compression space
in which at least one rotor is rotatably affixed by means
of bearings, whereby the compressor element is further
provided with a connection for an injection circuit for the
injection of liquid into the compressor element, whereby
30 the connection to the injection circuit is realised by
means of a number of injection points in the housing,
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

whereby the housing is further provided with separated

integrated channels that start from the aforementioned
injection points in the housing and open into the
compression space and at the aforementioned bearings
5 respectively.

Such a liquid-injected compressor element can be used in a

compressor device according to the invention. In this way
at least a proportion of the injection pipes of the
10 injection circuit of the compressor device will as it were
extend partially separately in the housing of the
compressor element in the form of the aforementioned
integrated channels.

15 Such an approach will ensure that the number of injection

points that provide the connection of the injection pipes
can be kept limited and that for example the division of
the liquid supply to the different bearings can be realised
by a suitable division of the channels in the housing.
20
The location of the injection
points can also be freely
chosen, whereby the channels in the housing will ensure
that the oil supply is guided to the appropriate location.

25 With the intention of better showing the characteristics of

the invention, a few preferred variants of a method for
controlling the liquid injection of a compressor device and
a liquid-injected compressor device thereby applied, are
described hereinafter by way of an example, without any
30 limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

figure 1 schematically shows a liquid-injected

compressor device according to the invention;
figure 2 schematically shows a liquid-injected
compressor element according to the invention;
figures 3 to 5 schematically show an alternative
embodiment of figure 1.

The liquid-injected compressor device 1 shown in figure 1

10 comprises a liquid-injected compressor element 2.

The compressor element 2 comprises a housing 3 that defines

a compression space 4 with a gas inlet 5 and an outlet 6
for compressed gas.

One or more rotors are rotatably affixed in the housing 3

7

by means of bearings 8 that are affixed on the shafts 9 of

the rotors 7.

20 Furthermore, the housing 3 is provided with a number of

injection points 10a, 10b for the injection of a liquid.

This liquid can for example be synthetic oil or water or

otherwise, but the invention is not limited to this as
25 such,

The injection points 10a, 10b are placed at the location of

the compression space 4 and at the location of the
aforementioned bearings 8.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

The compressor element 2 is in more detail in figure

shown
2, with the realisation of the injection points 10a, 10b
thereon.

5 According to the invention the housing 3 is provided with

separated integrated channels 11 that start from the
aforementioned injection points 10a, 10b in the housing 3
and open into the compression space 4 and the
aforementioned bearings 8 respectively.
10
In the example in figure 1 it is the case that the
shown
injection points 10a, 10b are placed at the location of the
aforementioned compression space 4 and at the location of
the aforementioned bearings 8 respectively.
15
However, this is not necessarily the case as due to the
provision of the separated integrated channels 11, there is
more freedom to place the injection points 10a, 10b at a
different location.
20
Furthermore, it is possible to provide a separate injection
point 10a, 10b for each channel 11.

However, it is also possible that more than one channel 11

25 starts from an injection point 10a, 10b.

As can be seen in figure 2, in this case a separate

separated integrated channel 11 is provided for each
bearing 8.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

10

Moreover, in this case more than one channel 11 is also

provided for the compression space 4. In this case there
are two channels 11 that run from the injection points 10a
to the compression space 4.

Additionally one or more cavities 12 can be provided in the

housing 3.

In the example shown there are three cavities 12.

10
One cavity 12 acts as liquid reservoir for liquid for the
a
compression space 4, the other two cavities 12 act as a
liquid reservoir for liquid for the bearings 8.

15 For the bearings 8 cavity 12 is provided

one on the inlet
side 5 and one cavity 12 on the outlet side 6.

The cavities 12 ensure the injection

a connection between
points 10a, 10b and one or more of the separated integrated
20 channels 11 connected thereto.

It is clear that the injection point 10a at the location of

the compression space 4 connects to the cavity 12 for
liquid for the compression space 4.

The channels 11 that open into the compression space 4 also

connect to this cavity 12.

Analogously, the injection points 10b at the location of

30 the bearings 8 and the channels 11 that open into the
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

bearings 8 connect to the cavities 12 for liquid for the

bearings 8.

It is clear that it is also possible that if the design of

5 the compressor the housing 3
element 2 and so allows, only
one injection point 10b is provided and one cavity 12 for
liquid for the bearings 8. In this case the liquid will be
brought to all bearings 8 using the channels 11.

10 Furthermore, liquid-injected
the compressor device 1
comprises a liquid separator 13, whereby the outlet 6 for
compressed gas is connected to the inlet 14 of the liquid
separator 13.

15 The liquidseparator 13 comprises an outlet 15 for

compressed gas, from where the compressed gas can be guided
to a consumer network for example, not shown in the
drawings.

20 The liquid separator 13 further comprises an outlet 16 for

the separated liquid.

The liquid is connected to the aforementioned

separator 13
outlet 16 by means of an injection circuit 17 connected to
25 the compressor element 2.

This injection circuit 17 comprises two separate

separated
injection pipes 17a, 17b, which both start from the liquid
separator 13.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

12

The injection pipes 17a, 17b will ensure two separate

sepa. rated liquid supplies to the compressor element 2.

The injection points 10a, 10b in the housing 3 ensure the

5 connection of the compressor element 2 to the injection
circuit 17.

A first injection pipe 17a leads to the aforementioned

injection point 10a at the location of the compression
10 space 4.

The second injection pipe 17b leads to the injection points

10 that are placed at the location of the bearings 8.

15 As already mentioned this case, but not

above in
necessarily, there are two injection points 10b for the
bearings 8, i. e. one for each end of the shaft 9 of the
rotor 7.

20 To this the second injection pipe 17b will be split

end
into two sub-pipes 18a, 18b, whereby one sub-pipe 18a, 18b
will come out at each end of the shaft 9.

If there is only one injection point 10b for the bearings,

25 the channels 11 will take over the function of the sub-
pipes 18a, 18b, or in other words: then these sub-pipes
18a, 18b are integrated in the housing 3 in the form of two
separated integrated channels 11 that run from the
injection point 10b to the bearings 8.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
13

It is clear that for the aforementioned channels 11, as

shown in figure 2, it can be said that they form part of
the injection circuit 17 and as it were form an extension
of the sub-pipes 17a and 17b. In other words, a part of the
5 injection circuit 17 is integrated in the housing 3.

A cooler 19 is provided in the first injection pipe 17a.

This cooler 19 can for example, but not necessarily for the
invention, be provided with a fan for cooling the liquid
10 that flows through this first injection pipe 17a. Of course
the invention is not limited as such and another type of
cooler 19 can also be used, for example with a cooling
liquid such as water or similar.

15 A controllable valve 20 is also provided, in this case, but

not necessarily, a throttle valve.

By means of this throttle

valve the quantity of liquid that
is injected in the compression space 4 can be adjusted.
20
A cooler 21 is also provided in the second injection pipe
17b, whereby in this case use can be made of a cooling
fluid, such as water for example, to cool the liquid or it
can be cooled by a fan.
25
Furthermore, in this case two controllable valves 22 are
provided in the second injection pipe 17b, one in each sub-
pipe 18a, 18b.

30 It is also possible that one single controllable valve 22

is provided, for example in the form of a three-way valve
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

at the location of the connecting point P between the two

sub-pipes 18a, 18b.

It is also possible to replace the two valves 22 by one

5 valve 22 that is not a three-way valve, but for example is
an ordinary (two-way) control valve, that is provided
upstream from the division of the injection pipe 17b into
the sub-pipes 18a, 18b.

10 The operation of the compressor device 1 is very simple and

as follows.

During of the compressor device 1 a gas, for

the operation
example air, will be drawn in via the gas inlet 5 that will
15 be compressed by the action of the rotors 7 and leave the
compressor element 2 via the outlet.

As liquid is injected into the compression space 4 during

the operation, this compressed air will contain a certain
20 quantity of the liquid.

The compressed air is guided to the liquid separator 13.

There the liquid will be separated and collected underneath

25 in the liquid separator 13.

The compressed air,

free of liquid, will leave
now the
liquid separator 13 via the outlet 15 for compressed gas
and can be guided to a compressed gas consumer network, for
30 example, not shown in the drawings.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

15

The separated liquid will be carried back to the compressor

element 2 by means of the injection circuit 17.

A proportion of the
liquid will be transported to the
5 compression space 4 via the first injection pipe 17a and
the channels 11 connected thereto, another proportion to
the bearings 8 via the second injection pipe 17b, the two
sub-pipes 18a, 18b and the channels 11 connected thereto.

10 Hereby the coolers19, 21 and the controllable valves 20,

22 will be controlled according to a method that consists
of first controlling the mass flow of the liquid supplies,
i. e. the controllable valves 20, 22, and then controlling
the temperature of the liquid supplies, i. e. the coolers
15 19, 21.

The aforementioned control is thus a type of master-slave

control, whereby the master control, in this case the
control of the controllable valves 20, 22, is always done
20 first.

It is important to note here that the coolers 19, 21 and

controllable valves 20, 22 are controlled independently of
one another, this means that the control of the one cooler
25 19 is not affected in any way by the control of the other
cooler 21 or that the control of the one controllable valve
20 has no effect on the control of the other controllable
valves 22.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

16

The control will be such that the properties of the liquid

are attuned to the requirements for the compression space 4
and for the bearings 8 respectively.

5 As mentioned above, by applying both controls a synergistic

effect will occur as a result of a functional interaction
between the two controls.

Preferably the consists

method of controlling the
10 temperature and mass flow of the liquid supplies such that
the specific energy requirement of the liquid-injected
compressor device 1 is a minimum.

The specific energy requirement is the ratio of the power

15 (P) of the compressor device 1 to the flow rate (FAD)
supplied by the compressor device 1 converted back to the
standard conditions of the compressor element 2.

Although in the examples shown the injection circuit 17 is

20 formed by two separated independent injection pipes 17a,
17b, it is not excluded that a third independent injection
pipe is provided, which leads to the drive of the
compressor device 1.

25 A cooler 19, 21 and a controllable valve 20, 22 can also be

incorporated in this third injection pipe.

This third injection pipe will ensure the lubrication and

cooling of the drive, whereby this drive can take on the
30 form of a motor with the necessary transmissions and gear
wheels.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
17

The control of the cooler 19, 21 and the controllable valve

20, 22 in this third injection pipe can be controlled in
the same way as for the other two injection pipes 17a, 17b,
5 whereby in this case it will be ensured that the quantity
and temperature of the injected liquid are optimised for
the requirements of the drive.

Although the example shown the injection circuit 17

in
10 comprises two separate separated injection pipes 17a, 17b
both of which start from the liquid separator 13, it is not
excluded that only one injection pipe 17a, 17b starts from
the liquid separator 13, whereby this injection pipe 17a,
17b is split at a location downstream from the liquid
15 separator 13 and upstream from the controllable valve 20.
This location can be between the cooler 19 and the
controllable valve 20, for example.

An of this is that only one connection between

advantage
20 the injection circuit 17 and the liquid separator 13 has to
be provided and that the cooler 21 may be omitted.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a compressor

device 1 according to the invention, which differs from the
25 previous embodiment of figure 1 because in this case a
bypass pipe 23 is provided across the cooler 19 and the
controllable valve 20.

In this case a three-way valve 24 is provided at the tap-

30 off of the bypass pipe 23 upstream from the cooler 19 to
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

18

control the quantity of liquid that can flow via the bypass
pipe 23 and via the cooler 19.

The operation of the compressor device 1 is largely

5 analogous to the operation of the embodiment of figure 1.

Only the control of the controllable valve 20 and the

cooler 19 for the temperature and the flow rate of the
liquid supply to the compression space 4 will be done
10 differently in this embodiment.

When the temperature T at the outlet 6 is still lower than

the set value T„t-, the three-way valve 24 will send a
proportion of the liquid supply through the bypass pipe 23
15 instead of through the cooler 19. The liquid that flows
through the bypass pipe 23 will not be cooled so that the
cooling capacity of the injected liquid in the compression
space 4 will decrease.

20 If necessary, an ever greater proportion of the liquid

supply will be sent through the bypass pipe 23 to decrease
the cooling capacity and let the temperature T rise above
the set value T„&.

25 When all the liquid is sent through the bypass pipe 24 and
the temperature T is still too low, the quantity of liquid
that is injected will be reduced by closing the three-way
valve 24 so that less liquid is allowed through.

30 The quantity of liquid will be decreased until the

temperature T is at least equal to the set value T„~.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

Using the cooler 19 and the three-way valve 24 whereby the

oil 15 can be sent partly through the bypass pipe 23 and
partly through the cooler 19, the cooling capacity can be
5 controlled continuously without the quantity of injected
liquid, i.
e. the flow rate of the liquid supply, having to
be changed for this purpose.

Moreover, in the last instance is the quantity of

only
10 injected liquid reduced so that the lubrication and the
seal between the rotors 7 and/or the rotors 7 and the
housing 3 by the liquid is not reduced.

An analogous control can also be used to ensure that the

15 temperature T at the outlet 6 is not higher than a set
value Tmax ~

This set value Tmax is limited by an ISO standard and its

maximum value is for example equal to the degradation
20 temperature Tq of the liquid. If need be, the set value T,„
can be a few degrees less than this degradation temperature
T~ in order to build in a certain safety, for example 1'C,
5'C or 10'C, depending on the level of extra safety that is
desired or necessary.
25
If the temperature T at the outlet 6 is higher than the set
value T „,
the three-way valve 24 will increase the flow of
the liquid supply that is injected via the bypass pipe 23
into the compression chamber 4 until the temperature T at
30 the outlet 6 falls to the set value T,„.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
20

If the quantity of liquid is already being injected

maximum
or if the temperature T at the outlet 6 is still too high
when the maximum quantity of liquid is being injected, the
three-way valve 24 will send at least a proportion of the
5 liquid supply through the cooler 19.

If this already the case or if it is insufficient,

was a
larger proportion of the liquid supply will gradually be
sent through the cooler 19 until the temperature T falls
10 sufficiently.

When it turns to send the entire liquid

out to be necessary
supply through the cooler 19 and the cooling capacity is
still insufficient to bring the temperature T down to the
15 set value T „,
then the cooler 19 will switch on, whereby
the cooling capacity is increased.

As a result the liquid in the cooler 19 will be cooled

more.
20
The capacity of the cooler 19 is increased
cooling until
the temperature T at the outlet 6 is, at a maximum, equal
to the set value T, .

25 Through of both methods for controlling

a combination the
temperature, it can be ensured that the temperature T is
kept within certain limits in order to increase the
lifetime of the liquid and the compressor installation 1.

30 Moreover, such a method will ensure that the cooler 19 is

always switched off first or switched on last when the
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

21

cooling capacity of the injection circuit 17 has to be

decreased or increased respectively, which will provide an
energy saving.

5 Figure 4 shows a second alternative embodiment of a

compressor device 1 according to the invention.

In this case the aforementioned bypass pipe 23 only extends

across the controllable valve 20, which is constructed as a
10 throttle valve for example.

The bypasspipe 23 acts as a safety device if the

controllable valve 20 fails so that it can always be
ensured that a liquid supply to the compression space 4 is
15 possible.

Figure 5 shows a third alternative embodiment of a

compressor device 1 according to the invention.

20 In this case a third independent injection pipe 17c is

provided that starts from the liquid separator 13 and leads
to the inlet 5.

A cooler 25 is also incorporated in this third injection

25 pipe 17c. In this case a controllable valve 26 is also
provided to control the liquid flow rate.

Atomisation 27 is also provided in the third injection pipe

17c at the location of the inlet 5.
30
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

22

This atomisation 27 will atomise, i. e. spray or nebulise,

the liquid supply so that the liquid will go into the inlet
5 as small droplets.

5 Due to this atomisation the heat transfer between the gas

and the liquid will be optimum because a greater contact
area between the two is created.

The magnitude of the heat transfer

will be determined,
10 among others, by the size of the liquid droplets and their
distribution in the gas flow.

The atomisation 27 can comprise a number of high frequency

vibrating rods and injection nozzles. An alternative can be
15 an atomisation 27 based on the jet expansion of gas/liquid
mixtures.

Preferably the atomisation 27 can be controlled in order to

control the size of the droplets and to be able to adapt
20 the distribution of the droplets.

For the injection pipe 17c the temperature of the

third
liquid supply can be controlled by means of the cooler 25,
and the flow rate by means of the controllable valve 26,
25 and the spray by means of the atomisation 27.

This will enable the liquid to be injected and atomised in

the inlet 5 with an optimum distribution of small liquid
droplets and with the desired temperature and flow rate
30 whereby it can respond to the changing (environmental)
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

23

parameters and requirements regarding lubrication, sealing

and cooling.

According to the invention the aforementioned liquid can be

5 oil or water.

The present invention is by no means limited to the

embodiments described as an example and shown in the
drawings, but such afor controlling the
method liquid
10 injection of a compressor device and a liquid-injected
compressor device can be realised according to different
variants without departing from the scope of the invention.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

Claims.

1.— Method for controlling the of a

liquid injection
5 compressor device (1), whereby this compressor device
comprises at least one compressor element (2), whereby the
compressor element (2) comprises a housing (3) that
comprises a compression space (4) in which at least one
rotor (7) is rotatably affixed by means of bearings (8),
10 whereby liquid is injected into the compressor element (2),
characterised in that the method comprises the step of
providing two independent separated liquid supplies to the
compressor element (2), whereby one liquid supply is
injected into the compression space (4) and the other
15 liquid supply is injected at the location of the bearings

2. — Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the

method comprises the step of controlling both the
20 temperature of the liquid and the mass flow of the liquid,
for both liquid supplies separately.

3. — Method according to claim 2, characterised in that to

control the temperature and the mass flow of a liquid
25 supply, the method consists of first controlling the mass
flow and then controlling the temperature.

4. — Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that

the method consists of controlling the temperature and the
30 mass flow of the liquid supplies such that the specific
energy requirement is a minimum, whereby the specific
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

25

energy requirement is the ratio of the power (P) of the

compressor device (1) to the flow (FAD)supplied by the
compressor device (1) converted back to the inlet
conditions of the compressor element (2).

5. — Liquid-injected compressor device, whereby this

compressor device (1) comprises at least one compressor
element (2), whereby the compressor element (2) comprises a
housing (3) that comprises a compression space (4) in which
10 at least one rotor (7) is rotatably affixed by means of
bearings (8), whereby the compressor device (1) is further
provided with a gas inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for
compressed gas that is connected to a liquid separator
(13), which is connected to the compressor element (2) by
15 means of an injection circuit (17), characterised in that
the aforementioned injection circuit (17) comprises two
separate injection pipes (17a, 17b) that start from the
liquid separator (13) and which open into the compression
space (4) and into the housing at the location of the
20 aforementioned bearings (8) respectively.

6. — Liquid-injected compressor device according to claim 5,

characterised in that a controllable valve (20, 22) is
provided in each injection pipe (17a, 17b) to control the
25 mass flow and that a cooler (19, 21) is provided in each
injection pipe (17a, 17b) to control the temperature of the
liquid.

7. — Liquid-injected compressor device according to claim 6,

30 characterised in that the controllable valve (20, 22)
comprises a throttle valve.
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

26

8. — Liquid-injected compressor device according to any one

of the previous claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the
injection circuit (17) comprises a third injection pipe
5 that starts from the liquid separator (13) and opens out at
the location of a drive of the compressor element (2).

9. — Liquid-injectedcompressor device according to any one

of the previous claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the
10 injection circuit (17) comprises a third injection pipe
(17c) that starts from the liquid separator (13) and opens
out at the location of the gas inlet (5), whereby in the
third injection pipe (17c) atomisation (27) is provided at
the location of the gas inlet (5) that will atomise the
15 liquid supply so that the liquid will enter the gas inlet
(5) as small droplets.

10. — Liquid-injected compressor device according to the

previous claim 8 or 9, characterised in that a controllable
20 valve (20, 22, 26) is provided in the third injection pipe
(17c) to control the mass flow and a cooler (19, 21, 25) to
control the temperature of the liquid.

11.— Liquid-injected compressor element with a housing (3)

25 that comprises a compression space (4) in which at least
one rotor (7) is rotatably affixed of bearings
by means
(8), whereby the compressor element (2) is further provided
with a connection for an injection circuit (17) for the
injection of liquid into the compressor element (2),
30 characterised in that the connection to the injection
circuit (17) is realised by means of a number of injection
 WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

27

points (10a, 10b) in the housing (3), whereby the housing

(3) is further provided with separated integrated channels
(11) that start from the aforementioned injection points
(10a, 10b) in the housing (3) and open into the compression
5 space (4) and at the aforementioned bearings (8)
respectively.

12. — Liquid-injected compressor element according to claim

11, characterised in that the aforementioned injection
10 points (10a, 10b) are placed at the location of the
aforementioned compression space (4), and at the location
of the aforementioned bearings (8) respectively.

13. — Liquid-injected compressor according to claim

element
15 11 or 12, characterised in that a separate injection point
(10a, 10b) is provided for each channel (11) or that more
than one channel (11) starts from at least one injection
point (10a, 10b).

20 14. — Liquid-injected compressor element according to any

one of the previous claims 11 to 13, characterised in that
a separate separated integrated channel (11) is provided
for each bearing (8) and/or that more than one separated
integrated channel (11) is provided for the compression
25 space (4).

15. — Liquid-injected compressor element according to any

one of the previous claims 11 to 14, characterised in that
one or more cavities (12) are provided in the housing (3)
30 that act as a liquid reservoir for liquid for the
compression space (4) or for the bearings (8), whereby
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044

28

these cavities (12) provide a connection between the

injection points (10a, 10b) and one or more of the
separated integrated channels (11) connected thereto.
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
3/5
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
4/5
WO 2017/096438 PC T/BE2016/000044
5/5
 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No

PCT/B E2816/888844
A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
I NV. F84C29/88 F84C29/82 F84C29/84 F84C18/16
ADD.

According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC

B. FIELDS SEARCHED
Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
F84C

Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched

Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used)

EPO-Internal, WPI Data

C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

X US 2812/237382 A1 (YOSHIIUIURA SHOJI [JP]) 1, 2, 5

28 September 2812 (2812-89-28)
paragraphs [8825], [8832] - [8834],
[0841]
figures 1-6
X US 4 788 861 A (BUTTERWORTH ARTHUR L [US]) 11-15
25 October 1988 (1988-18-25)
column 4, line 34 - line 53 1, 5, 8
column 5, line 56 - column 6, line 14
figure 1

X EP 8 688 313 A1 (CALSONIC CORP [JP]; SEIKO 11,12, 15

SEIKI KK [JP]) 8 June 1994 (1994-86-88)
column 2, line 28 - line 55 1, 5, 8
column 5, line 32 - column 6, line 36
figures 1-3

* Special categories of cited documents:

"A" document defining the general state of the art which is not considered
to be of particular relevance
"E" earlier application or patent but published on or after the international
filing date
"L" document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or which is
cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other
special reason (as specified)
"0" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other
means
"P" document published prior to the international filing date but later than
the priority date claimed
"T" later document published after the international filing date or priority
date and not in conflict with the application but cited to understand
the principle or theory underlying the invention
"X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
step when the document is taken alone
"Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot be
considered to involve an inventive step when the document is
combined with one or more other such documents, such combination
being obvious to a person skilled in the art
"8" document member of the same patent family

Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report

8 February 2817 24/82/2817

Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer
European Patent Office, P. B. 5818 Patentlaan 2
NL - 2280 HV Rijswijk
Tel. (+31-70) 340-2040,
Fax: (+31-70) 340-3016 Lange, Christian
Form PCT/ISA/2t 0 (second sheet) (Apnl 2005)

page 1 of 2
 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No

PCT/B E2816/888844
C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Categor)/* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

EP 2 896 834 A1 (IvIAEKAWA SEISAKUSHO KK 11,12, 15

[JP]) 22 July 2815 (2815-87-22)
paragraphs [8148] - [8154] 1, 5
figure 6

EP 8 838 275 A1 (BAIvIIvIERT KARL) 11,12,

17 June 1981 (1981-86-17) 14, 15
the whole document 1, 5-7
US 5 828 228 A (HOLDSWORTH JOHN E [US])
2 July 1991 (1991-87-82)
column 6, line 63 - column 7, line 48 1, 5, 11
figure 2
EP 8888 131 A1 (CIT ALCATEL [FR]) 1, 5, 11,
18 January 1979 (1979-81-18) 12, 14, 15
page 6, line 6 - page 7, line 4
figure 2

WO 81/51813 A1 (ATLAS COPCO AI RPOWER NV 1, 5, 11,

[BE]. SEGERS [BE]. HEREIvIANS
JOSEF IvIARIA 12, 14, 15
JAN PA) 19 July 2881 (2881-87-19)
page 6, line 28 - page 7, line 9
page 12, line 21 - line 25
figure 4

DE 18 2812 182346 A1 (BITZER 1, 5

KUEHLIvIASCHI NENBAU GIvIBH [DE] )
26 September 2813 (2813-89-26)
paragraph [8118]
figure 13
GB 2 115 876 A (DUNHAIvI BUSH INC) 1, 5
14 September 1983 (1983-89-14)
page 4, line 51 - line 138
figure 1

Form PCT/ISA/2t 0 (continuation of second sheet) (Apnl 2005)

page 2 of 2
 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No
Information on patent family members
PCT/B E2816/888844
Patent document Publication Patent family Publication
cited in search report date member(s) date

US 2812237382 Al 28-89-2812 CN 182639828 A 15-88-2812

EP 2514932 Al 24-18-2812
JP 5881894 B2 28-11-2812
JP 2811122568 A 23-86-2811
KR 28128893359 A 22-88-2812
US 2812237382 Al 28-89-2812
WO 2811874539 Al 23-86-2811
US 4788861 A 25-18-1988 DE 3884626 Al 16-82-1989
FR 2619167 Al 18-82-1989
JP S6449799 A 27-82-1989
US 4788861 A 25-18-1988
EP 8688313 Al 88-86-1994 DE 69314437 Dl 13-11-1997
DE 69314437 T2 85-82-1998
EP 8688313 Al 88-86-1994
JP 2585388 Y2 18-11-1998
JP H8643286 U 87-86-1994
US 5411385 A 82-85-1995
EP 2896834 Al 22-87-2815 EP 2896834 Al 22-87-2815
JP 6841449 B2 87-12-2816
J P W02814841688 A1 12-88-2816
US 2815268187 Al 17-89-2815
WO 2814841688 Al 28-83-2814
EP 8838275 Al 17-86-1981 AU 6468688 A 11-86-1981
BR 8887897 A 11-88-1981
DE 2948993 Al 11-86-1981
EP 8838275 Al 17-86-1981
JP S5685587 A 11-87-1981
US 5828228 A 82-87-1991 FR 2665734 Al 14-82-1992
US 5828228 A 82-87-1991
EP 8888131 Al 18-81-1979 DE 2868337 Dl 12-82-1981
EP 8888131 Al 18-81-1979
FR 2481338 Al 23-83-1979
IT 1289443 B 38-88-1989
US 4173448 A 86-11-1979
WO 8151813 Al 19-87-2881 AT 347837 T 15-12-2886
AU 766786 B2 23-18-2883
BE 1813221 A3 86-11-2881
CA 2396918 Al 19-87-2881
CN 1394259 A 29-81-2883
CZ 28822379 A3 13-11-2882
DE 68124859 T2 31-85-2887
DK 1247823 T3 82-84-2887
EP 1247823 A2 89-18-2882
ES 2275646 T3 16-86-2887
HU 8283788 A2 28-83-2883
JP 4881274 B2 23-84-2888
JP 2883519768 A 24-86-2883
NO 28823324 A 88-88-2882
NZ 519218 A 26-83-2884
PL 356418 Al 28-86-2884
PT 1247823 E 28-82-2887
Form PCT/ISA/2t 0 (patent family annex) (Apnl 2005)

page 1 of 2
 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application No
Information on patent family members
PCT/B E2816/888844
Patent document Publication Patent family Publication
cited in search report date member(s) date

US 2882192896 Al 19-12-2882
WO 8151813 Al 19-87-2881
DE 182812182346 Al 26-89-2813 DE 182812182346 Al 26-89-2813
EP 2828527 Al 28-81-2815
WO 2813139771 Al 26-89-2813
GB 2115876 A 14-89-1983 CA 1218742 A 82-89-1986
DE 3242654 Al 15-89-1983
FR 2522736 Al 89-89-1983
GB 2115876 A 14-89-1983
JP H8361836 B2 18-89-1991
JP S58152198 A 89-89-1983
US 4439121 A 27-83-1984

Form PCT/ISA/2t 0 (patent family annex) (Apnl 2005)

page 2 of 2