Integrated rotary positive-displacement machinery

Abstract

Integrated rotary positive-displacement machinery, for example compressors and/or vacuum pumps, include a compressor core equipped with at least one shunt pulsation trap and at least one absorptive silencer integrated together along with other compressor components (such as inlet/outlet pulsation dampeners, gas filters, safety valves, etc.) into a unit or package with a reduced pulsation, noise, energy consumption, and size and weight. Some embodiments further include at least one 4-way valve and corresponding piping so that the same positive-displacement machine can be operated to selectively provide vacuum and pressure by operation of the valve and piping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated rotary positive-displacement machine (IRPDC), comprising:
 a compressor core having a compressor cavity having a gas flow suction port and a gas flow discharge port, and at least two rotors mounted in the compressor cavity and driven in a compression phase to reduce the compressor cavity gas volume and propel gas flow from the suction port to the discharge port;   a shunt pulsation trap including a trap chamber positioned adjacent to the compressor cavity, at least one pulsation dampener positioned within the trap chamber, at least one trap inlet branching off from the compressor cavity into the pulsation trap chamber, and at least one trap outlet communicating with the compressor discharge port; and   an integrated absorptive silencer including at least one folded flow channel and noise-absorbing material, with the at least one folded flow channel interfaced directly with at least one of the suction or discharge ports of the compressor core and at one end and open to atmosphere at the other end, wherein in operation the IRPDC achieves both low-frequency gas pulsation and high-frequency noise reduction at source and improves compressor off-design efficiency without using a traditional serial pulsation dampener.   
     
     
         2 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow channel of the absorptive dampener has a folded configuration with at least one turn equal to or larger than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow channel of the absorptive dampener has a folded shape and at least one said wall that is perforated and lined with the noise-absorbing material. 
     
     
         4 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow channel of the absorptive dampener has parallel walls with no sudden change in cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         5 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one flow channel interfaces directly with at least one of said flow ports of said compressor core, and wherein the at least one flow channel and the interfaced flow port of said compressor have a same cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         6 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the integrated absorptive silencer includes a flow divider where the at least one flow channel interfaces directly with the interfaced flow port of said compressor core, wherein said at least one flow channel is divided into two flow channels by the divider. 
     
     
         7 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said two flow channels meet again with a flow channel length difference of ¼ wavelength. 
     
     
         8 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said flow channel divider has a protruding lip. 
     
     
         9 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said absorptive dampener is separated from said compressor core by an inlet dampener. 
     
     
         10 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the inlet dampener has at least one layer of perforated and curved surface. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated rotary positive-displacement machine (IRPDC), comprising:
 a compressor core having a gas flow suction port, a gas flow discharge port, and a compressor cavity formed with at least two rotors mounted inside said compressor cavity and driven in a compression phase to reduce said compressor cavity gas volume and propel gas flow from said suction port to said discharge port;   a shunt pulsation trap comprising a trap chamber positioned adjacent to said compressor cavity, at least one pulsation dampener positioned within said trap chamber, at least one trap inlet branching off from said compressor cavity into said pulsation trap chamber, and at least one trap outlet communicating with atmosphere; and   at least one integrated absorptive silencer comprising at least one folded flow channel and noise-absorbing material interfaced directly with at least one of said trap outlets and/or the discharge port of said compressor core on one end and/or with atmosphere on the other end;   wherein in operation said IRPDC achieves both low-frequency gas pulsation and high-frequency noise reduction at source and improves compressor off-design efficiency without using at least one traditional serial pulsation dampener.   
     
     
         12 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow channel of the absorptive dampener has a folded configuration with at least one turn equal to or larger than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow channel of the absorptive dampener has at least one said wall that is perforated and lined with the noise-absorbing material. 
     
     
         14 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow channel interfaces directly with at least one of said flow ports of said compressor core, and wherein the at least one flow channel and the interfaced flow port of said compressor have a same cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         15 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the integrated absorptive silencer includes a flow divider where the at least one flow channel interfaces directly with the interfaced flow port of said compressor core, wherein said at least one flow channel i is divided into two flow channels by the divider. 
     
     
         16 . An integrated rotary positive-displacement machine (IRPDC), comprising:
 a compressor core having a gas flow suction port, a gas flow discharge port, and a compressor cavity formed with at least two rotors mounted inside said compressor cavity and driven in a compression phase to reduce said compressor cavity gas volume and propel gas flow from said suction port to said discharge port;   a shunt pulsation trap including a trap chamber positioned adjacent to the compressor cavity, at least one trap inlet branching off from the compressor cavity into the pulsation trap chamber, and at least one trap outlet communicating with the compressor discharge port; and   a first 4-way valve located in front of the compressor core and having four ports, wherein with the first 4-way valve set for a vacuum mode a system port connecting to an external system is connected with the compressor core suction port and an atmosphere port connecting to atmosphere is connected with the compressor core discharge port, and wherein the first 4-way valve can be switched to a pressure mode with the system now connecting with the compressor core discharge port through the SPT and the atmosphere port now connecting with the compressor core suction port,   wherein in operation said IRPDC achieves a dual-purpose machine for both pressure and vacuum functionality.   
     
     
         17 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one pulsation dampener is positioned within the trap chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising an integrated absorptive silencer comprising at least one folded flow channel and noise-absorbing material interfaced directly with at least one of said trap outlets and/or the discharge port of said compressor core. 
     
     
         19 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the shunt pulsation trap outlet communicates with atmosphere by a second 4-way valve having four ports, wherein the second 4-way valve can be switched to a deep vacuum mode corresponding to the first 4-way valve set for the vacuum mode when it is open to atmosphere, and switched to the pressure mode corresponding to the first 4-way valve set for the pressure mode when it is closed to atmosphere. 
     
     
         20 . The IRPDC as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising an integrated absorptive silencer comprising at least one folded flow channel and noise-absorbing material interfaced directly with at least one of said trap outlets and/or the discharge port of said compressor core.