The system and the method for recovery of waste heat energy contained in oil in an oil-cooled air compressor

Abstract

A system for the recovery of waste heat energy contained in oil in an oil-cooled air compressor, characterised in that the outlet of the oil side of the oil separator (4) is connected to the inlet of the oil side of the heat exchanger (9), and the outlet of the oil side of the heat exchanger is connected to the oil flow divider (10). A method for the recovery of waste heat energy contained in oil in oil-cooled air compressors consists in diverting the receiving medium flow away from the heat exchanger (9) by means of a control device (12), or stopping the receiving medium flow when at least the temperature of the oil returning to the compressor main body (2) is lower than the setpoint or the temperature of the oil entering the heat exchanger (9) is lower than the temperature of the receiving medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the recovery of waste heat energy contained in oil in an oil-cooled air compressor, which includes a gas compressor comprising at least a compressor main body, which is connected to an oil separator, which is connected to an oil flow divider, which is connected to an oil cooler and to the compressor main body; an oil temperature sensor; a receiving side temperature sensor; and a heat exchanger, characterised in that the outlet of the oil side of the oil separator ( 4 ) is connected to the inlet of the oil side of the heat exchanger ( 9 ), and the outlet of the oil side of the heat exchanger is connected to the oil flow divider ( 10 ). 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the oil temperature sensor ( 6 ) is positioned between the heat exchanger ( 9 ) and the oil flow divider ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the oil temperature sensor ( 18 ) is positioned at the injection point of the oil into the compressor main body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , characterised in that an additional oil temperature sensor ( 5 ) is positioned between the oil separator ( 4 ) and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , characterised in that an additional oil temperature sensor ( 19 ) is positioned downstream of the compressor main body ( 2 ) and upstream of the oil separator ( 4 ). 
     
     
         6 . A method for the recovery of waste heat energy contained in oil in an oil-cooled air compressor, which comprises at least a compressor main body, which is connected to an oil separator, which is connected to a heat exchanger, which is connected to an oil flow divider, which is connected to an oil cooler and the compressor main body; a control device; an oil temperature sensor; and a receiving side temperature sensor, characterised in that by means of a control device ( 12 ) the flow of the receiving medium is diverted away from the heat exchanger ( 9 ), or the flow of the receiving medium is stopped when at least the temperature of the oil returning to the compressor main body ( 2 ) is lower than the setpoint or the temperature of the oil entering the heat exchanger ( 9 ) is lower than the temperature of the receiving medium. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the oil returning to the compressor main body ( 2 ) is measured by means of an oil temperature sensor ( 6 ) positioned between the heat exchanger ( 9 ) and the oil flow divider ( 10 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the oil returning to the compressor main body ( 2 ) is measured by means of an oil temperature sensor ( 18 ) positioned at the injection point of the oil into the compressor main body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the oil entering the heat exchanger ( 9 ) is measured by means of an oil temperature sensor ( 5 ) positioned between the oil separator ( 4 ) and the heat exchanger ( 9 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the oil entering the heat exchanger ( 9 ) is measured by means of an oil temperature sensor ( 19 ) positioned between the compressor main body ( 2 ) and the oil separator ( 4 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the water receiving medium is measured by means of a temperature sensor ( 20 ) positioned at the entrance to the heat exchanger ( 9 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the temperature of the receiving water medium is measured by means of a temperature sensor ( 13 ) positioned in the storage tank.