SOLUTION FOR CONTROLLING A TURBO COMPRESSOR

• US 20130230412A1
• Filed: 07/04/2011
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamturbo Oy
• Original Assignee: Tamturbo Oy
• Inventors: Alamki, Jarmo, Laine, Kimmo, Eriksson, Kenneth, Tanttari, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 9,528,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/06 providing compressed gas F02C6/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/143 before or between the compressor stages
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/18 by bleeding, bypassing or acting on variable working fluid interconnections between turbines or compressors or their stages F02C3/113 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/024 the driving means being assisted by a power recovery turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/04 the pump being fluid-driven pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/02 Surge control surge detection F04D27/001
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2230/40 the fluid being air
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2240/10 the fluid being air
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04018 of main feed air
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04115 characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04133 Electrical motor as the prime mechanical driver
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04139 Combination of different types of drivers mechanically coupled to the same compressor, possibly split on multiple compressor casings
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04781 Pressure changing devices, e.g. for compression, expansion, liquid pumping

Abstract

An actuator includes at least one stage of turbo compressor, with an outlet for conveying gas compressed in the at least one stage of turbo compressor to at least one cooler, and a shaft for rotating the at least one stage of turbo compressor, for increasing the pressure of the gas to be supplied to the actuator. The actuator also includes a turbine and a control valve by means of which the flow of compressed gas produced by the turbo compressor to the turbine is arranged to be adjusted. A method for controlling the actuator, as well as a control system for the actuator are also described.

Claims

1. An actuator (10) comprising at least one turbo compressor stage (1a, 1b) with an outlet for conveying gas compressed in said at least one turbo compressor stage (1a, 1b) to at least one cooler (3a, 3b), and a shaft (5a) for rotating said at least one stage of turbo compressor (1a, 1b) for increasing the pressure of the gas to be supplied to the actuator (10), characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises a turbine (2), and a control valve (4), by means of which the flow of compressed gas produced by the turbo compressor (1a, 1b) to the turbine (2) is arranged to be adjusted.

2. The actuator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a motor (5) arranged to rotate said shaft (5a).

3. The actuator (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises said at least one cooler (3a, 3b).

4. The actuator (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said turbine (2) is connected to said shaft (5a).

5. The actuator (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises a generator (9) connected to said shaft (5a).

6. The actuator (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises a generator (9) arranged in a power transmitting connection with the turbine (2).

7. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuator (10) comprises at least a first turbo compressor (1a) with said gas outlet (1c), and a second stage of turbo compressor with a gas intake (1d), and a first cooler (3a) connected between the outlet (1c) of the first stage of turbo compressor and the intake (1d) of the second turbo compressor.

8. The actuator (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said control valve (4) is arranged to convey gas from the first cooler (3a) to the turbine (2).

9. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuator (10) comprises at least a first stage of turbo compressor (1a) with said gas outlet (1c), and a second stage of turbo compressor with a gas intake (1d) and a gas outlet (1e), a first cooler (3a) connected between the outlet (1c) of the first stage of turbo compressor and the intake (1d) of the second stage of turbo compressor, and a second cooler (3a) connected between the outlet (1e) of the second turbo compressor and the outlet (7) of the actuator.

10. The actuator (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said control valve (4) is arranged to convey gas from the second cooler (3a) to the turbine (2).

11. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the gas that has flowed through the turbine (2) is used for cooling the motor (5) of the turbo compressor, auxiliary devices and/or the gas produced by the actuator (10).

12. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the motor (5) is a high speed motor.

13. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the bearings of the turbine (2) and/or the motor (5) comprise air bearings, gas bearings, or a combination of an air or gas bearing and a magnet bearing.

14. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the actuator (10) is a turbo generator.

15. The actuator (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises a cooler (3c) connected between the turbine (2) and the control valve (4).

16. A method for controlling an actuator (10), which actuator (10) comprises at least one turbo compressor (1a, 1b) with an outlet for conveying gas compressed in said at least one turbo compressor (1a, 1b) to at least one cooler (3a, 3b), and a shaft (5a) to which said at least one turbo compressor (1a, 1b) is connected, in which method the shaft (5a) is rotated to raise the pressure of the gas to be supplied to the actuator (10), characterized in that the actuator (10) further comprises a turbine (2) and a control valve (4), wherein in the method, the flow of compressed gas produced by the turbo compressor (1a, 1b) to the turbine (2) is adjusted by means of said control valve (4).

17. A control system for an actuator (10), which actuator (10) comprises at least one stage of turbo compressor (1a, 1b) with an outlet for conveying gas compressed in said at least one stage of turbo compressor (1a, 1b) to at least one cooler (3a, 3b), and a shaft (5a) for rotating said at least one stage of turbo compressor (1a, 1b) for raising the pressure of the gas to be supplied to the actuator (10), characterized in that the control system further comprises a turbine (2), and a control valve (4), by means of which the flow of compressed gas produced by the turbo compressor (1a, 1b) to the turbine (2) is arranged to be adjusted.