摘要 |
A sleeve seal heating system for a multi-stage compressor is disclosed. The multi-stage compressor includes a mechanism for dissipating heat disposed between and in fluid communication with a pair of compressor stages in the multi-stage compressor. The present invention contemplates the inclusion of a mechanism for selectively bypassing the heat dissipating mechanism disposed between and in fluid communication with each pair of compressor stages to thereby warm a succeeding stage, causing the stage to become substantially operative. The mechanism for bypassing comprises a bypass valve. The bypass valve is controlled to bypass the mechanism for dissipating heat when a seal in the succeeding stage is not substantially operative. Each compressor stage comprises a piston reciprocating within a piston chamber, the piston chamber being in valved communication with and between a fluid input and a fluid output. Each piston has a seal about its periphery and between the piston and the piston chamber to thereby prevent fluid from leaking between the piston and the piston chamber. The seal must be heated in order to operate to prevent fluid from leaking between the piston and the piston chamber. Warm inlet air provides this heat.
|