Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

WO1998032971A1 - Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998032971A1
WO1998032971A1 PCT/FI1998/000090 FI9800090W WO9832971A1 WO 1998032971 A1 WO1998032971 A1 WO 1998032971A1 FI 9800090 W FI9800090 W FI 9800090W WO 9832971 A1 WO9832971 A1 WO 9832971A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
unit
fluid medium
compressor
units
compressor means
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI1998/000090
Other languages
Finnish (fi)
French (fr)
Inventor
Vesa Saarinen
Original Assignee
Sarlin-Hydor Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sarlin-Hydor Oy filed Critical Sarlin-Hydor Oy
Priority to AU58669/98A priority Critical patent/AU5866998A/en
Publication of WO1998032971A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998032971A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B49/00—Control, e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
    • F04B49/02—Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
    • F04B49/022—Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control by means of pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T17/00—Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features
    • B60T17/02—Arrangements of pumps or compressors, or control devices therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B49/00—Control, e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
    • F04B49/06—Control using electricity
    • F04B49/065—Control using electricity and making use of computers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method according to claim 1 for controlling a fluid medium compressor system.
  • the invention also concerns an apparatus suited for controlling a fluid medium compressor system.
  • compressor system control equipment having a sensor device for measuring the fluid pressure and means for controlling the compressor units on the basis of the output signal of said sensor device so that, when the fluid line pressure falls below a preset lower limit, the compressor system duty capacity is increased by issuing a load command to the compressor unit. In the case that the fluid line pressure does not rise above the preset lower limit with a preset delay period, the compressor system duty capacity is further increased by issuing a new load command to another compressor unit, and so forth. As soon as the fluid line pressure rises above the preset lower limit, the control equipment issues an unload command to one of the running compressor units. If the fluid line pressure after a preset delay period still remains above the preset lower limit, the compressor system duty capacity is further reduced in the same fashion.
  • the rate of pressure deviations and basic level of line pressure in a compressed-air system vary dynamically depending on air consumption.
  • the practice of using constant delay periods in the control of compressor units either causes an excessively slow response of the control system not capable of keeping the pressure level within preset limits or forces the system to overreact, whereby compressors are started or loaded unnecessarily.
  • prior-art control systems are incapable of sensing the line pressure levels of distributed compressor systems so as to avoid unnecessarily high compressor discharge pressure levels in situations where the line pressure falls below the preset minimum level.
  • a method and apparatus for controlling a compressor system is disclosed in the international patent application WO 96/16271. It is a broad object of the present invention to improve said prior-art system and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus suited for the needs of large compressed- air systems.
  • the input power of a system used for compressing a fluid medium can be kept at the lowest possible level irrespective of the area of the compressor system and the number of compressor units and/or compressor unit groups (compressed-air station) connected thereto.
  • the pressure losses caused by postprocessing equipment connected to the network downstream after the compressor units do not affect the function of the control system in a detrimental manner.
  • the control system reacts with a desired degree of control gain to the sensed pressure level deviation in each section of the compressed-fluid system.
  • the demand- point pressure levels of the compressed- fluid system can be kept at their lowest possible values and the no-load idle periods of the compressor units minimized no matter how massive the extent of the compressed-fluid system.
  • the subcontroUer units according to the invention are capable of independent control of the line pressure downstream after the compressor units, as well as the line pressure at desired points of a compressed-air network, most advantageously in the vicinity of a compressor station, the self-contained fault diagnostics secure a continuous function of the compressor units irrespective of the status of the individual fluid medium post-processing devices occurring as the plugging of filters, for instance.
  • the method and apparatus disclosed in this application are principally intended for use in large compressor networks of a fluid medium, particularly in compressed- air systems.
  • This type of network involves a plurality of compressor units and/or compressor groups, typically located at a distance from each other.
  • the present invention relates to a method of controlling a fluid medium compressor system, said compressor system including a plurality of compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and/or groups of compressor units suitable for compressing a fluid medium and means 2 for distributing said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand 3 , 4.
  • the allowable minimum and maximum pressure levels at said at least one point of demand 3, 4 are defined, the discharge pressure of said compressor unit 1, 1', 1'' is monitored, the line pressure at said point of demand 3, 4, or alternatively, at a desired point along the distribution piping of said medium is monitored, the directions of pressure level changes at said points of the network are monitored, and at least one compressor unit 1, 1', 1 ' ' is controlled by means of a main control unit and/or at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 on the basis of at least one of the monitored parameters defined above .
  • the pressure level of the fluid medium is monitored at multiple points 7, 7', 7'' of demand or along the fluid distribution piping.
  • the discharge pressure measurement data from at least one compressor unit 1', 1'' and/or from at least one point of demand 3, 4 are transmitted to a subcontrol- ler unit 9, 10, the measurement data are processed in the subcontroUer unit as required, and the processed or raw data are transmitted from said subcontroUer unit 9, 10 to a main control unit 8. Still further, the information related to the control of the compressor units, such as compressor unit control commands, control parameters and pressure level set data are transmitted from the main control unit 8 to the subcontroUer units 9, 10.
  • the main control unit 8 regulates the basic line pressure level of the compressed-medium system to a desired level by controlling the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' either directly or via the subcontroUer units according to a specific control scheme.
  • said compressor system may comprise a plurality of compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and/or groups of compressor units suitable for compressing a fluid medium and means 2 for distributing said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand 3, 4.
  • the apparatus further includes a main control unit and at least one subcontroUer unit, both of which being connected to the operating control system 15, 15', 15'' of at least one compressor unit 1, 1', 1'' and both of which further being connected via data transfer means 13, 13', 13'', 14, 14', 14" to at least one first pressure sensor element 6, 6', 6'' adapted to measure the pressure status of the fluid medium in the vicinity of said compressor unit or compressor unit group 1, 1', 1'' and to at least one second pressure sensor element 7, 7', 7'' adapted to measure the pressure status of the fluid medium at at least one point of demand 3 , 4 and/or a desired point of the distribution piping 2 of the compressed fluid medium.
  • a main control unit and at least one subcontroUer unit both of which being connected to the operating control system 15, 15', 15'' of at least one compressor unit 1, 1', 1'' and both of which further being connected via data transfer means 13, 13', 13'', 14, 14', 14" to at least one first pressure sensor element
  • the first pressure sensor element 6, 6', 6'' is placed upstream preceding the fluid post-processing equipment 5 and the second pressure sensor element 7, 7', 7'' is placed downstream after said post-processing equipment 5.
  • the main control unit 8 and at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 are adapted connectable to each other via data transfer means 11, 12.
  • the main control unit 8 and at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 are connected to each other via a serial interface data transfer bus 12.
  • the compressor system includes one main control unit 8 and two subcontroUer units 9, 10.
  • To the main control unit 8 and the subcontroUer units 9, 10 are taken the output sig- nals from pressure sensors 6, 6', 6'' adapted to measure the discharge pressure of the compressors, as well as from a desired number of pressure sensors 7, 7', 7'' adapted to measure the line pressure of the compressed- air network 2.
  • From the main control unit and the subcontroUer units control signal cabling is passed to the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and connections are made to the dedicated control systems 15, 15', 15'' of the compressor units.
  • the main control unit and a desired number of the subcontroUer units are connected to each other via a pair cable or similar signal transfer means.
  • the main control unit reads the serial data transmitted from the subcontroUer units via the pair cable, whereby the transmitted information contains the pressure data gathered and processed from pressure sensor elements 6', 6'', 7', 7'' of the subcontroUer units, as well as the operating status data of the compressor units.
  • the main, control unit 8 controls the basic line pressure level of the compressed-medium system to a proper value by steering the operation of the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' according to a programmed operating system. Furthermore, the main control unit 8 is allowed to decide, on the basis of the measured pressure levels, which sections of the network appear to need an increase of local compressor duty capacity.
  • the main control unit 8 is programmed with operating parameters related to the compressor-specific control scheme.
  • the functions of such an operator interface may be provided by, e.g., a programming terminal, a remote-control room computer, a graphic terminal with a touch panel, or simply, a display terminal with a keyboard.
  • the main control unit is continuously furnished with updated information on the pressure levels at all the pressure measurement points and on the directions of pressure changes at said points, as well as on the pressure rate-of-change at said points.
  • the control unit may be programmed with the criticality of the dynamic pressure level value at each pressure measurement point in regard to the function of the plant that uses the compressed-air supply. Consequently, the main control unit can always select an optimal control scheme suitable for securing the desired pressure set value using the minimum possible compressor input power.
  • the control system operating parameters may be selected from the group of the compressor-specific delay time values that characterize the capability of each compressor unit to respond in a given time to the control commands issued by the control system.
  • the delay time required to respond to a control command issued by the main control unit is a critical factor which determines the system capability of keeping the line pressure within its set values.
  • the control scheme does not require any system-specific parameters to be known in beforehand from the compressed-air system (e.g., the pressure vessel volumes) , which makes the installation and commissioning of the novel control system easy.
  • the compressor control commands can be transferred from the main control unit to the subcontroUer units that then implement the commands.
  • the bus may be used for transmitting data of allowable maximum and minimum pressure levels, for instance .
  • the main control unit performs functional status monitoring of subcontroUer unit, and in the case of a possible fault, controls the compressors to manual operating mode. Should a fault of the main control unit occur, the sub- controller units can assume a self-contained running mode, where "tilting" of the entire control system is made almost impossible. This property is a most important benefit, because a fall of line pressure to an insufficiently low level causes almost invariably the shutdown of the process utilizing compressed air.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Control Of Positive-Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of controlling a fluid medium compression system, said compression system comprising at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1') and/or groups of said compressor means units for compressing a fluid medium and means (2) for taking said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand (3, 4). According to the method, the allowable minimum and maximum values of the line pressure are determined for at least one point of demand (3, 4), the discharge pressure of the compressor means units (1, 1', 1') is monitored, the line pressure at at least one point of demand (3, 4) or at a point along the distribution network of the compressed fluid is monitored, the directions of rate-of-change are monitored and at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1') is controlled by means of the main control unit (8) and/or at least one subcontroller unit (9, 10) on the basis of at least one of said monitored parameters defined above.

Description

Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system
The present invention relates to a method according to claim 1 for controlling a fluid medium compressor system. The invention also concerns an apparatus suited for controlling a fluid medium compressor system.
In the art, compressor system control equipment are used having a sensor device for measuring the fluid pressure and means for controlling the compressor units on the basis of the output signal of said sensor device so that, when the fluid line pressure falls below a preset lower limit, the compressor system duty capacity is increased by issuing a load command to the compressor unit. In the case that the fluid line pressure does not rise above the preset lower limit with a preset delay period, the compressor system duty capacity is further increased by issuing a new load command to another compressor unit, and so forth. As soon as the fluid line pressure rises above the preset lower limit, the control equipment issues an unload command to one of the running compressor units. If the fluid line pressure after a preset delay period still remains above the preset lower limit, the compressor system duty capacity is further reduced in the same fashion.
Large compressor systems comprise a plurality of compressor units, often located at a great distance from each other. The pressure level varies in the different sections of the system depending on the air consumption and the pressure differential between the compressors and the point of air demand. Hence, sensing the line pressure at one point of a large network does not render all the points of the network capable of securing the critical minimum line pressure level required for the desired function of pneumatic equipment, whereby the only solution is to elevate the line pressure lower limit to quite a high level .
Furthermore, if a system having the compressor units located wide apart from each other is controlled on the basis of a single pressure signal measured at one point of the compressed-air network, a risk of compressor overload arises as the line pressure on the discharge side of the compressors may rise higher than 'the design value of compressor discharge pressure. Typically, the cause of such an overload condition can be traced to the air- conditioning equipment which is placed downstream from a compressor unit or compressed-air station and whose pressure loss may increase substantially according to the air consumption and degree of filter contamination.
The rate of pressure deviations and basic level of line pressure in a compressed-air system vary dynamically depending on air consumption. The practice of using constant delay periods in the control of compressor units either causes an excessively slow response of the control system not capable of keeping the pressure level within preset limits or forces the system to overreact, whereby compressors are started or loaded unnecessarily.
Therefore, conventional control systems do not lend themselves to such a control of compressed-air systems that could keep the line pressure above a desired minimum level in all desired sections of the compressed-air network in an economical manner without being handicapped by energy losses due to the use of an unnecessarily high basic level of line pressure level.
Moreover, prior-art control systems are incapable of sensing the line pressure levels of distributed compressor systems so as to avoid unnecessarily high compressor discharge pressure levels in situations where the line pressure falls below the preset minimum level.
Besides, the connection of widely apart located compressors to conventional control equipment involves a plenty of wiring, because the cable to each compressor must have one control line for each desired function. This causes high installation costs and, moreover, elevates the failure rate of the compressed-air system.
A method and apparatus for controlling a compressor system is disclosed in the international patent application WO 96/16271. It is a broad object of the present invention to improve said prior-art system and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus suited for the needs of large compressed- air systems.
The invention is characterized by what is stated in the appended claims.
By virtue of the invention, the input power of a system used for compressing a fluid medium can be kept at the lowest possible level irrespective of the area of the compressor system and the number of compressor units and/or compressor unit groups (compressed-air station) connected thereto. The pressure losses caused by postprocessing equipment connected to the network downstream after the compressor units do not affect the function of the control system in a detrimental manner.
The control system reacts with a desired degree of control gain to the sensed pressure level deviation in each section of the compressed-fluid system. Thus, the demand- point pressure levels of the compressed- fluid system can be kept at their lowest possible values and the no-load idle periods of the compressor units minimized no matter how massive the extent of the compressed-fluid system. By virtue of the apparatus according to the invention, the installation of the compressed-fluid system is simplified and the operating reliability of the compressed-fluid system is increased.
By virtue of the invention, it will be possible to achieve greater than 30 % energy savings over compressed- fluid systems controlled by conventional means. Even as compared to systems that are controlled by more advanced prior-art logic-controller-steered systems, the margin of potential cost savings is better than 10 %.
Since the subcontroUer units according to the invention are capable of independent control of the line pressure downstream after the compressor units, as well as the line pressure at desired points of a compressed-air network, most advantageously in the vicinity of a compressor station, the self-contained fault diagnostics secure a continuous function of the compressor units irrespective of the status of the individual fluid medium post-processing devices occurring as the plugging of filters, for instance.
In the following, the invention will be examined in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing in which is shown a compressor system utilizing the method and apparatus according to the invention.
A control method and apparatus for a compressed-fluid system representing the basic construction details of the present method and apparatus are described in cited patent publication WO 96/16271.
The method and apparatus disclosed in this application are principally intended for use in large compressor networks of a fluid medium, particularly in compressed- air systems. This type of network involves a plurality of compressor units and/or compressor groups, typically located at a distance from each other.
With reference to the diagram, the present invention relates to a method of controlling a fluid medium compressor system, said compressor system including a plurality of compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and/or groups of compressor units suitable for compressing a fluid medium and means 2 for distributing said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand 3 , 4. According to the method, the allowable minimum and maximum pressure levels at said at least one point of demand 3, 4 are defined, the discharge pressure of said compressor unit 1, 1', 1'' is monitored, the line pressure at said point of demand 3, 4, or alternatively, at a desired point along the distribution piping of said medium is monitored, the directions of pressure level changes at said points of the network are monitored, and at least one compressor unit 1, 1', 1 ' ' is controlled by means of a main control unit and/or at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 on the basis of at least one of the monitored parameters defined above .
According to the invention, the pressure level of the fluid medium is monitored at multiple points 7, 7', 7'' of demand or along the fluid distribution piping.
Further, the discharge pressure measurement data from at least one compressor unit 1', 1'' and/or from at least one point of demand 3, 4 are transmitted to a subcontrol- ler unit 9, 10, the measurement data are processed in the subcontroUer unit as required, and the processed or raw data are transmitted from said subcontroUer unit 9, 10 to a main control unit 8. Still further, the information related to the control of the compressor units, such as compressor unit control commands, control parameters and pressure level set data are transmitted from the main control unit 8 to the subcontroUer units 9, 10.
The main control unit 8 regulates the basic line pressure level of the compressed-medium system to a desired level by controlling the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' either directly or via the subcontroUer units according to a specific control scheme.
In the diagram is illustrated an apparatus according to the invention suited for controlling a fluid medium compressor system, whereby said compressor system may comprise a plurality of compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and/or groups of compressor units suitable for compressing a fluid medium and means 2 for distributing said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand 3, 4. The apparatus further includes a main control unit and at least one subcontroUer unit, both of which being connected to the operating control system 15, 15', 15'' of at least one compressor unit 1, 1', 1'' and both of which further being connected via data transfer means 13, 13', 13'', 14, 14', 14" to at least one first pressure sensor element 6, 6', 6'' adapted to measure the pressure status of the fluid medium in the vicinity of said compressor unit or compressor unit group 1, 1', 1'' and to at least one second pressure sensor element 7, 7', 7'' adapted to measure the pressure status of the fluid medium at at least one point of demand 3 , 4 and/or a desired point of the distribution piping 2 of the compressed fluid medium.
The first pressure sensor element 6, 6', 6'' is placed upstream preceding the fluid post-processing equipment 5 and the second pressure sensor element 7, 7', 7'' is placed downstream after said post-processing equipment 5.
The main control unit 8 and at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 are adapted connectable to each other via data transfer means 11, 12. In this embodiment, the main control unit 8 and at least one subcontroUer unit 9, 10 are connected to each other via a serial interface data transfer bus 12.
In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the compressor system includes one main control unit 8 and two subcontroUer units 9, 10. To the main control unit 8 and the subcontroUer units 9, 10 are taken the output sig- nals from pressure sensors 6, 6', 6'' adapted to measure the discharge pressure of the compressors, as well as from a desired number of pressure sensors 7, 7', 7'' adapted to measure the line pressure of the compressed- air network 2. From the main control unit and the subcontroUer units, control signal cabling is passed to the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' and connections are made to the dedicated control systems 15, 15', 15'' of the compressor units. The main control unit and a desired number of the subcontroUer units are connected to each other via a pair cable or similar signal transfer means.
The main control unit reads the serial data transmitted from the subcontroUer units via the pair cable, whereby the transmitted information contains the pressure data gathered and processed from pressure sensor elements 6', 6'', 7', 7'' of the subcontroUer units, as well as the operating status data of the compressor units.
On the basis of pressure data obtained from the pressure sensors 6, 7 connected directly to the main control unit and the status data obtained from the subcontroUer units 9, 10, the main, control unit 8 controls the basic line pressure level of the compressed-medium system to a proper value by steering the operation of the compressor units 1, 1', 1'' according to a programmed operating system. Furthermore, the main control unit 8 is allowed to decide, on the basis of the measured pressure levels, which sections of the network appear to need an increase of local compressor duty capacity.
Via an operator interface, the main control unit 8 is programmed with operating parameters related to the compressor-specific control scheme. The functions of such an operator interface may be provided by, e.g., a programming terminal, a remote-control room computer, a graphic terminal with a touch panel, or simply, a display terminal with a keyboard.
By virtue of the data transmitted over the serial interface bus, the main control unit is continuously furnished with updated information on the pressure levels at all the pressure measurement points and on the directions of pressure changes at said points, as well as on the pressure rate-of-change at said points. The control unit may be programmed with the criticality of the dynamic pressure level value at each pressure measurement point in regard to the function of the plant that uses the compressed-air supply. Consequently, the main control unit can always select an optimal control scheme suitable for securing the desired pressure set value using the minimum possible compressor input power.
The control system operating parameters may be selected from the group of the compressor-specific delay time values that characterize the capability of each compressor unit to respond in a given time to the control commands issued by the control system. The delay time required to respond to a control command issued by the main control unit is a critical factor which determines the system capability of keeping the line pressure within its set values. Thus, the control scheme does not require any system-specific parameters to be known in beforehand from the compressed-air system (e.g., the pressure vessel volumes) , which makes the installation and commissioning of the novel control system easy.
As the pressure information processing is distributed to occur at the compressor unit/station level, even a large control system can be implemented using a relatively cost-efficient equipment combination.
Over the serial interface bus, the compressor control commands can be transferred from the main control unit to the subcontroUer units that then implement the commands. Additionally, the bus may be used for transmitting data of allowable maximum and minimum pressure levels, for instance .
The main control unit performs functional status monitoring of subcontroUer unit, and in the case of a possible fault, controls the compressors to manual operating mode. Should a fault of the main control unit occur, the sub- controller units can assume a self-contained running mode, where "tilting" of the entire control system is made almost impossible. This property is a most important benefit, because a fall of line pressure to an insufficiently low level causes almost invariably the shutdown of the process utilizing compressed air.
To those versed in the art it is obvious that the invention is not limited by the exemplifying embodiments described above, but rather, can be varied within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims :
1. A method of controlling a fluid medium compression system, said compression system comprising at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1'') and/or groups of said compressor means units for compressing a fluid medium and means (2) for taking said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand (3, 4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the method are determined the allowable minimum and maximum values of the line pressure for at least one point of demand (3, 4) , the discharge pressure of the compressor means units (1, 1', 1'') is monitored, the line pressure at at least one point of demand (3, 4) or at a point along the distribution network of the compressed fluid is monitored, the directions of rate-of-change are monitored and at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1'') is controlled by means of the main control unit (8) and/or at least one sub- controller unit (9, 10) on the basis of at least one of the monitored parameters defined above.
2. A method as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the discharge pressure measurement data from at least one compressor means unit (1', 1'') and/or from at least one point of demand (3, 4) are transmitted to a subcontroUer unit (9, 10), the measurement data are processed in the subcontroUer unit as required, and the processed or raw data are transmitted from said subcontroUer units (9, 10) to a main control unit (8) .
3. A method as defined in claim l o 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the information related to the control of the compressor means units such as compressor operation control commands, control parameters and pressure level set data are transmitted from the main control unit (8) to the subcontroUer units (9, 10) .
4. A method as defined in any of foregoing claims 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pressure status of the fluid medium is monitored at a plurality of points of demand, or alternatively, of points (7, 7', 7'') along the distribution piping.
5. A method as defined in any of foregoing claims 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main control unit (8) is adapted to control the basic line pressure level of the compressed-medium system to a proper value by steering the operation of the compressor means units (1, 1', 1'') either directly or according to a programmed operating system.
6. An apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compression system, said compression system comprising at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1'') and/or groups of said compressor means units for compressing a fluid medium and means (2) for taking said compressed fluid medium to at least one point of demand (3, 4) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said apparatus comprises a main control unit and at least one subcontroUer unit, which units are connected to the operating control system (15, 15', 15'') of at least one compressor means unit (1, 1', 1") and which units are further connected via data transfer means (13, 13', 13"; 14, 14', 14") to at least one first sensor element (6, 6', 6") adapted to measure the status of the fluid medium in the vicinity of said compressor means unit or compressor means unit groups (1, 1', 1") and to at least one second sensor element (7, 7', 7") adapted to measure the status of the fluid medium at at least one point of demand (3, 4) and/or at a desired point along the distribution network (2) of the compressed fluid medium.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, c h a r a c e r i z e d in that said first sensor element (6, 6', 6") is placed upstream preceding the fluid medium postprocessing equipment (5) and said second sensor element (7, 7', 7") is placed downstream after the fluid medium post-processing equipment (5) .
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said main control unit (8) and said at least one subcontroUer unit (9, 10) are adapted connectable to each other via data transfer means (11, 12) .
9. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 6 - 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said main control unit (8) and said at least one subcontroUer unit (9, 10) are connected to each other via a serial interface bus (12) .
PCT/FI1998/000090 1997-01-28 1998-01-28 Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system WO1998032971A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU58669/98A AU5866998A (en) 1997-01-28 1998-01-28 Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI970350 1997-01-28
FI970350A FI970350A (en) 1997-01-28 1997-01-28 Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid compression system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998032971A1 true WO1998032971A1 (en) 1998-07-30

Family

ID=8547872

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI1998/000090 WO1998032971A1 (en) 1997-01-28 1998-01-28 Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5866998A (en)
FI (1) FI970350A (en)
WO (1) WO1998032971A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008009073A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air unit and a controller and compressed air unit for applying such a method
WO2008009072A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air installation and controller and compressed air installation for employing such a method
BE1017421A3 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-09-02 Atlas Copco Airpower Nv Compressed air installation control method, uses controller employing neural network or fuzzy technique

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0209499A2 (en) * 1985-06-10 1987-01-21 Institut Cerac S.A. A compressor plant
US4976588A (en) * 1989-05-15 1990-12-11 Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc. Compressor control system to improve turndown and reduce incidents of surging
WO1991006762A1 (en) * 1989-11-06 1991-05-16 Ingersoll-Rand Company Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid compression system
WO1996016271A1 (en) * 1994-11-24 1996-05-30 Sarlin-Hydor Oy Method and control system of controlling a fluid compression system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0209499A2 (en) * 1985-06-10 1987-01-21 Institut Cerac S.A. A compressor plant
US4976588A (en) * 1989-05-15 1990-12-11 Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc. Compressor control system to improve turndown and reduce incidents of surging
WO1991006762A1 (en) * 1989-11-06 1991-05-16 Ingersoll-Rand Company Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid compression system
WO1996016271A1 (en) * 1994-11-24 1996-05-30 Sarlin-Hydor Oy Method and control system of controlling a fluid compression system

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008009073A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air unit and a controller and compressed air unit for applying such a method
WO2008009072A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air installation and controller and compressed air installation for employing such a method
BE1017231A3 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-05-06 Atlas Copco Airpower Nv METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMPRESSED AIR PLANT AND CONTROLLER AND COMPRESSED AIR PLANT FOR USING SUCH METHOD.
BE1017230A3 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-05-06 Atlas Copco Airpower Nv METHOD FOR SUSPENDING A COMPRESSED AIR PLANT AND CONTROLLER AND COMPRESSED AIR PLANT FOR USING SUCH METHOD.
BE1017421A3 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-09-02 Atlas Copco Airpower Nv Compressed air installation control method, uses controller employing neural network or fuzzy technique
JP2009543965A (en) * 2006-07-18 2009-12-10 アトラス コプコ エアーパワー，ナームローゼ フェンノートシャップ Method for controlling a compressed air device and a controller and compressed air device for using the method
JP2009543964A (en) * 2006-07-18 2009-12-10 アトラス コプコ エアーパワー，ナームローゼ フェンノートシャップ Method for controlling a compressed air device and a controller and compressed air device for using the method
KR101149174B1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2012-05-25 아틀라스 캅코 에어파워, 남로체 벤누트삽 Method for controlling a compressed air installation and controller and compressed air installation for employing such a method
US8337167B2 (en) 2006-07-18 2012-12-25 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air unit and a controller and compressed air unit for applying such a method
US9828985B2 (en) 2006-07-18 2017-11-28 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Method for controlling a compressed air installation and controller and compressed air installation for employing such a method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI970350A0 (en) 1997-01-28
AU5866998A (en) 1998-08-18
FI970350A (en) 1998-07-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP3137643B2 (en) Control unit installed on site
US6047220A (en) Device in a process system for validating a control signal from a field device
US4317049A (en) Frequency adaptive, power-energy re-scheduler
CA1244914A (en) Control for liquid ring vacuum pumps
US4497031A (en) Direct digital control apparatus for automated monitoring and control of building systems
US5682329A (en) On-line monitoring of controllers in an environment control network
US6939109B2 (en) Pump control system
CN101581491B (en) Load control energy-saving system of central air conditioning system
US20080264086A1 (en) Method for improving efficiency in heating and cooling systems
CN1164899C (en) Self-adapting energy saving control device with variable flux for compression type central conditioner
CN1247832A (en) Remote control of elevator device
EP0793779B1 (en) Method and control system of controlling a fluid compression system
KR920020150A (en) Current controller of air conditioner system
US6142740A (en) Compression system having means for sequencing operation of compressors
KR20100067320A (en) Method of operating air-compressure system for improving energy efficiency and subsidiary equipment for the method
WO1998032971A1 (en) Method and apparatus for controlling a fluid medium compressor system
JP2000018687A (en) Central management system for air conditioner
US4921399A (en) Gas pipeline temperature control
KR20170039114A (en) Conveyance energy-saving control apparatus in HVAC equipment
CN108138760B (en) Control system and method for controlling a compression system
JPH01118051A (en) Power demand controller
JPH0324591B2 (en)
EP3926243A1 (en) Method, apparatus and system for balancing the fluid pressure of fluid distribution systems
EP4115259B1 (en) Method and system for controlling a plurality of compressors coupled to a compressed-air installation
US4611619A (en) Air conserving restriction for use in pneumatic systems

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM GW HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 1998531656

Format of ref document f/p: F

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase