Reciprocating-piston compressor and control method therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ), including a control device ( 12 ), which control device is designed to control a flow rate of the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ), in particular in a continuously variable manner, and which control device has an input ( 18 ) for feeding input information, in particular suction pressure or high pressure of a corresponding compressor ( 10 ), and has at least one output ( 20 ) for controlling a control element ( 16 ), wherein the control device ( 12 ) is designed to generate a digital output signal, wherein the control element has a digitally controllable control valve ( 16 ), wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ) has at least one suction-gas volume ( 22 ) and at least one high-pressure volume ( 24 ), wherein a connection ( 26 ) is formed between the at least one suction-gas volume ( 22 ) and the at least one high-pressure volume ( 24 ) of the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ), wherein the digitally controllable control valve ( 16 ) is arranged in the connection ( 26 ), wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ) has a shut-off device, in particular a valve, further in particular a check valve ( 28 ), which is arranged downstream of the high-pressure volume ( 24 ), as regarded in a flow direction of the refrigerant during normal operation of the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ), wherein the at least one suction-gas volume and the at least one high-pressure volume and the control valve ( 16 ) are integrated into the reciprocating-piston compressor ( 10 ). The disclosure further relates to a refrigerating or air-conditioning installation or heat pump having a corresponding compressor ( 10 ), and to a corresponding control method.

1 . A reciprocating-piston compressor having a regulating device which is provided for the in particular continuously variable regulation of a delivery rate of the reciprocating-piston compressor, which regulating device has an input for the supply of input information, in particular suction pressure or high pressure of a corresponding compressor, and has at least one output for the actuation of a regulating element, wherein
 the regulating device is designed to generate a digital output signal, wherein the regulating element has a digitally actuable regulating valve, wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor has at least one suction-gas volume and at least one high-pressure volume, wherein a connection is formed between the at least one suction-gas volume and the at least one high-pressure volume of the reciprocating-piston compressor, wherein the digitally actuable regulating valve is arranged in the connection,   wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor has a shut-off device, in particular a valve, furthermore in particular a check valve, which is arranged downstream of the high-pressure volume as viewed in a flow direction of the refrigerant during normal operation of the reciprocating-piston compressor,   wherein the at least one suction-gas volume and the at least one high-pressure volume and the regulating valve are integrated into the reciprocating piston compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor has multiple cylinder groups, in particular cylinder banks. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor has more than one suction-gas volume, in particular one suction-gas volume for each cylinder group, and more than one high-pressure volume, in particular one high-pressure volume for each cylinder group, wherein at least one connection is formed between one of the suction-gas volumes and a corresponding high-pressure volume of the reciprocating-piston compressor, wherein the/a digitally actuable regulating valve is arranged in the connection. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a connection is formed between each suction-gas volume and between each high-pressure volume respectively corresponding therewith, wherein a digitally actuable regulating valve is arranged in the respective connection. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor, in particular the regulating device, is designed to regulate the delivery volume of the compressor from 5%, in particular 10%, of a nominal delivery rate or of a maximum delivery rate up to 100% thereof, in particular in continuously variable fashion. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigeration installation or air-conditioning installation having a reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A heat pump having a reciprocating-piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A method for regulating a reciprocating-piston compressor which has a regulating device and which is provided for the compression of refrigerant, wherein the regulation of the reciprocating-piston compressor is effected by regulation of the delivery rate of the compressor, wherein the regulation of the delivery rate is realized by way of at least one digital signal, wherein the digital signal or digital signals are supplied to one or more digitally actuable regulating valve(s), wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor has at least one suction-gas volume and at least one high-pressure volume, wherein a connection is formed between the at least one suction-gas volume and the at least one high-pressure volume of the reciprocating-piston compressor, wherein the regulation of the delivery rate of the compressor is performed by opening and closing of the connection in a manner controlled by the digital signal, in particular by way of the digitally actuable regulating valve, wherein the reciprocating-piston compressor has a shut-off device which is arranged downstream of the high-pressure volume as viewed in a flow direction of the refrigerant during normal operation of the reciprocating-piston compressor, wherein the shut-off device is closed when the connection is open, and wherein the shut-off device is open when the connection is closed. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the regulating device actuates one or more regulating valves such that a delivery volume of 5% to 10% of the nominal delivery volume or maximum delivery volume of the compressor is provided as a minimum delivery volume, and/or such that 100% of the nominal delivery rate or nominal delivery volume or of the maximum delivery volume or of the maximum delivery rate is provided as a maximum delivery volume. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein continuous variation, or continuously variable regulation, is performed between the minimum delivery volume and the maximum delivery volume.