Compressor unit of gas compression station and control method, medium and program product thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a gas compression station compressor unit and a control method, medium and program product thereof, relates to the technical field of compressors, and aims to solve the problem of resource waste during test drag of a gas compression station compressor unit. The gas compression station compressor unit comprises a compressor, an inlet valve, an outlet valve, an inlet bypass pipeline, an inlet bypass valve, a warming-up mode, and a warming-up operation. The one end of the inlet bypass pipeline is connected to one side of the inlet valve, and the other end is connected to the other side of the inlet valve. The inlet bypass pipeline is provided with the inlet bypass valve. After the purge operation included in the warming-up mode is executed, the inlet bypass valve is opened, the inlet valve is closed, and the outlet valve is closed, so that the compression pipeline is inflated through the inlet bypass valve. The compression pipeline is a pipeline between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. When the pressure of the compression pipeline reaches a first set pressure value, the warming-up operation included in the warming-up mode is executed. The first set pressure value is lower than a second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of compressor technology, and in particular to a compressor station compressor unit and its control method, medium and program products. Background Technology

[0002] In energy transmission systems, compressor stations are crucial for ensuring stable and efficient gas transmission, and the stable operation of their core equipment, the compressor unit, is paramount. To ensure the compressor unit is in good working condition, the industry commonly employs a test-and-run maintenance method. By regularly operating the equipment, potential faults can be identified promptly, ensuring the reliability and safety of the equipment.

[0003] However, currently, when testing and starting up compressor units at gas stations, the same timing sequence as normal startup is typically used. While this method can comprehensively monitor the equipment's operating status, in practice, it often leads to unnecessary high-pressure venting of natural gas and prolonged warm-up processes, resulting in significant energy consumption.

[0004] Therefore, how to reduce resource waste during the testing and operation of compressor units at air compressor stations has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a compressor unit for a compressor station and its control method, medium and program products, which aim to solve the problem of reducing resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit for a compressor station.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a compressor unit for a gas compressor station, comprising: a compressor, the compressor inlet being connected to an inlet pipeline for conveying natural gas to be compressed, and the compressor outlet being connected to an outlet pipeline for conveying compressed natural gas; an inlet valve disposed on the inlet pipeline for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet pipeline; an outlet valve disposed on the outlet pipeline for controlling the opening or closing of the outlet pipeline; an inlet bypass pipeline, one end of which is connected to one side of the inlet valve, and the other end of which is connected to the other side of the inlet valve; an inlet bypass valve is also disposed on the inlet bypass pipeline; after performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, by controlling the inlet bypass valve to open, the inlet valve to close, and the outlet valve to close, gas is supplied to the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve; the compression pipeline is the pipeline between the inlet valve and the outlet valve; when the pressure of the compression pipeline reaches a first set pressure value, the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode is performed; wherein, the first set pressure value is lower than the second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

[0008] The compressor unit of the compressor station provided in this application embodiment requires opening the inlet and outlet valves to pressurize the compression pipeline after performing a purging operation in the start-up mode. However, since the compressor is not running during the purging operation, the compression pipeline is not pressurized, resulting in a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves. Therefore, before opening the inlet and outlet valves, it is necessary to balance the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves, and then open the inlet and outlet valves to gradually pressurize the compression pipeline until the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches the second set pressure value.

[0009] In warm-up mode, after the purging operation, there is no need to balance the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves, nor is it necessary to open the inlet and outlet valves to charge the compression line. Simply open the bypass valve and charge the compression line through the inlet bypass valve until the pressure in the compression line reaches the first set pressure value, which is lower than the second set pressure value.

[0010] Thus, compared to the start-up mode, the warm-up mode reduces the venting losses of natural gas through the inlet and outlet valves by only charging the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve, thereby reducing resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit at the compressor station. Furthermore, since the compression pipeline only needs to be charged to a first set pressure value lower than the second set pressure value in the warm-up mode, the compressor can be tested at a lower pressure, further reducing resource consumption.

[0011] In some embodiments, the compressor unit of the compressor station further includes: an anti-surge pipeline, one end of which is connected to the inlet of the compressor and the other end of which is connected to the outlet of the compressor; an anti-surge valve, disposed on the anti-surge pipeline, for controlling the opening or closing of the anti-surge pipeline; and a controller configured to: in response to receiving a warm-up mode execution command, control the anti-surge valve to open and start executing the warm-up mode.

[0012] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: acquire valve information of the anti-surge valve; the valve information includes one or more of the following: opening information, status information of the fully open contact; determine, based on the valve information, whether the anti-surge valve is in a fully open state; and output a prompt message when the anti-surge valve is in a partially open state, the prompt message being used to remind the user that the anti-surge valve needs to be opened.

[0013] In some embodiments, the compressor unit of the compressor station further includes: an ejector device, one end of which is connected to the outlet pipeline and the other end of which is connected to the compression pipeline; performing the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode, including: ejecting the compressed natural gas in the outlet pipeline through the outlet valve into the compression pipeline through the ejector device to continue charging the compression pipeline; and starting the compressor to perform the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode when the pressure in the compression pipeline meets the dry gas sealing requirements of the compressor.

[0014] In some embodiments, the warm-up operation is used to instruct the compressor to operate at a second speed lower than the first speed until a set time is reached; wherein, the first speed is the lower limit of the speed range corresponding to the compressor to meet the main line pressure; and the main line pressure is the pressure required to transmit natural gas in the main line pipeline.

[0015] In some embodiments, the compressor unit of the air station further includes: an air cooler; an oil cooler; and before performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, by running the air cooler for a first preset duration and / or running the oil cooler at a preset frequency for a second preset duration, the operating status of the air cooler and / or the oil cooler is determined, the operating status being used to determine whether there is an abnormality in the air cooler and / or the oil cooler.

[0016] Secondly, this application provides a control method for a compressor unit in a compressor station, comprising: after performing a purging operation included in a warm-up mode, controlling the opening of an inlet bypass valve, the closing of an inlet valve, and the closing of an outlet valve to allow gas to be supplied to the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve; the compression pipeline is the pipeline between the inlet valve and the outlet valve; when the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a first set pressure value, performing a warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode; the first set pressure value is lower than a second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

[0017] Thirdly, this application provides a control device for a compressor station compressor unit, including: a processor and a memory; wherein the memory is used to store one or more programs, the one or more programs including computer-executable instructions, and when the device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to cause the control device to perform the control method described in the second aspect.

[0018] Fourthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium in which computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium are executed by a processor of an electronic device, enabling the electronic device to perform the control method described in the second aspect above.

[0019] Fifthly, this application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the control method described in the second aspect above.

[0020] It should be noted that the descriptions of the second to fifth aspects in this application can be referenced to the detailed description of the first aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a compressor unit for a compressor station provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another compressor unit for a compressor station provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a hardware configuration block diagram of a compressor unit for a compressor station provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a compressor unit in a compressor station according to an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or relative positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and for simplification, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Unless otherwise specified, the above-mentioned orientational descriptions can be flexibly set in practical applications, provided that the relative positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings are satisfied.

[0028] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "communication" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] In embodiments of this application, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0031] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0032] In the description of this specification, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0033] To reduce resource waste during the testing and start-up of compressor units in a gas station, this application provides a compressor unit that, in start-up mode, requires opening the inlet and outlet valves to pressurize the compression pipeline after a purging operation. However, since the compressor is not running during the purging operation, the compression pipeline is not pressurized, resulting in a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves. Therefore, before opening the inlet and outlet valves, the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves needs to be balanced, and then the inlet and outlet valves are opened to gradually pressurize the compression pipeline until the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a second set pressure value.

[0034] In warm-up mode, after the purging operation, there is no need to balance the pressure difference across the inlet valve and outlet valve, nor is it necessary to open the inlet and outlet valves to charge the compression line. Simply open the inlet bypass valve to charge the compression line until the pressure in the compression line reaches the first set pressure value, which is lower than the second set pressure value.

[0035] Thus, compared to the start-up mode, the warm-up mode reduces the venting losses of natural gas through the inlet and outlet valves by only charging the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve, thereby reducing resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit at the compressor station. Furthermore, since the compression pipeline only needs to be charged to a first set pressure value lower than the second set pressure value in the warm-up mode, the compressor can be tested at a lower pressure, further reducing resource consumption.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a compressor unit for a compressor station provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown, the compressor unit of the compressor station includes a compressor 101, an inlet pipe 102, an outlet pipe 103, an inlet valve 104, an outlet valve 105, an inlet bypass pipe 106, an inlet bypass valve 107, an outlet bypass pipe 108, and an outlet bypass valve 109.

[0037] The compressor 101 has its inlet connected to the inlet pipe 102 and its outlet connected to the outlet pipe 103. One end of the inlet bypass pipe 106 is connected to one side of the inlet valve 104, and the other end is connected to the other side of the inlet valve 104.

[0038] Compressor 101 is a key component of the compressor unit in the gas compressor station. It is used to compress natural gas, increase the pressure of natural gas, provide sufficient power for natural gas, enable natural gas to overcome the resistance in pipeline transportation, and realize long-distance transportation of natural gas.

[0039] The inlet pipe 102 is used to supply natural gas to be compressed to the compressor 101. The natural gas to be compressed can come from a gas source or from natural gas to be compressed in the previous stage system; this application does not limit this.

[0040] The outlet pipeline 103 is used to transport compressed natural gas. For example, it can transport compressed natural gas to the next stage system or to a natural gas user terminal; this application does not limit this.

[0041] An inlet valve 104 is installed on the inlet pipe 102 and is used to control the opening and closing of the inlet pipe 102.

[0042] The outlet valve 105 is installed on the outlet pipeline 103 and is used to control the opening and closing of the outlet pipeline 103.

[0043] The inlet bypass line 106 is an auxiliary channel, with one end connected to one side of the inlet valve 104 and the other end connected to the other side of the inlet valve 104. It should be understood that the diameter of the inlet bypass line 106 is typically smaller than that of the inlet line 102 and the outlet line 103.

[0044] An inlet bypass valve 107 is installed on the inlet bypass pipeline 106. Since the diameter of the inlet bypass pipeline 106 is typically smaller than that of the inlet pipeline 102 and the outlet pipeline 103, the size of the inlet bypass valve 107 is also smaller than that of the inlet valve 104 and the outlet valve 105. Furthermore, by adjusting the opening degree of the inlet bypass valve 107, the flow rate of natural gas from the inlet bypass pipeline 106 to the compression pipeline can be controlled, thereby regulating the pressure in the compression pipeline. The compression pipeline is the pipeline between the inlet valve 104 and the outlet valve 105.

[0045] The outlet bypass line 108 is an auxiliary channel, with one end connected to one side of the outlet valve 105 and the other end connected to the other side of the outlet valve 105. It should be understood that the diameter of the inlet bypass line 106 is typically smaller than that of the inlet line 102 and the outlet line 103.

[0046] The outlet bypass valve 109 is installed on the outlet bypass pipeline 108. By adjusting the opening of the outlet bypass valve 109, the flow rate of natural gas flowing out of the outlet bypass pipeline 108 can be controlled, thereby adjusting the pressure of the compression pipeline.

[0047] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another compressor station compressor unit provided in this application according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the compressor unit of the compressor station also includes an anti-surge pipeline 201 and an anti-surge valve 202.

[0048] The anti-surge pipeline 201 is designed to prevent the compressor 101 from experiencing surge during operation. One end of the pipeline is connected to the inlet of the compressor 101, and the other end is connected to the outlet of the compressor 101.

[0049] Anti-surge valve 202 is installed on anti-surge pipeline 201. By adjusting the opening of anti-surge valve 202, a portion of the high-pressure gas at the outlet of compressor 101 can be returned to the inlet of compressor 101 through anti-surge pipeline 201, thereby maintaining the minimum flow requirement of compressor 101 and preventing gas instability (surge phenomenon) inside the compressor due to excessively low flow.

[0050] Figure 3 This is a hardware configuration block diagram of a compressor unit for a compressor station provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the compressor unit of the air compressor station may include an air cooler 301, an oil cooler 302, and a controller 303.

[0051] Air cooler 301 is used to cool the high-temperature gas at the outlet of compressor 101 to prevent compressor 101 from overheating, which could lead to reduced efficiency or equipment damage.

[0052] The oil cooler 302 is used to regulate the oil temperature of the lubrication system of the compressor 101. By heat exchange (water cooling or air cooling), the oil temperature of the lubrication system is maintained within a suitable range, thereby enabling the lubrication system of the compressor 101 to operate stably, and thus enabling the compressor 101 to operate stably.

[0053] Controller 303 refers to a device that can generate operation control signals based on instruction opcodes and timing signals, instructing the compressor unit of the compressor station to execute control commands. Exemplarily, controller 303 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. Controller 303 can also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules; this application embodiment does not impose any limitations on this.

[0054] In some embodiments, the compressor unit of the compressor station may further include a booster pump, an ejector device, and a host computer.

[0055] The booster pump is used to provide high-pressure sealing gas to meet the dry gas sealing requirements of compressor 101.

[0056] One end of the ejector device is connected to the outlet pipeline 103, and the other end is connected to the compression pipeline. It is used to eject the compressed natural gas in the outlet pipeline 103 through the outlet valve 105 into the compression pipeline to charge the compression pipeline and meet the dry gas sealing requirements of the compressor 101.

[0057] The host computer refers to a computer that can directly issue control commands. These control commands include, but are not limited to, mode start commands, which instruct the compressor unit of the compressor station to operate in the operating mode indicated by the mode start command.

[0058] In some embodiments, the operating modes of the compressor unit in the gas station include a warm-up mode and a start-up mode. The warm-up mode is specifically designed for run-through testing of the compressor unit, in which the compressor operates at a lower speed and load. The start-up mode is the standard operating mode for the compressor unit to start and operate normally to transmit natural gas, in which the compressor operates at its rated speed and load.

[0059] For example, scenarios where the host computer controls the compressor unit of the air station to operate in warm-up mode include: direct start of warm-up mode and timed start of warm-up mode. Direct start of warm-up mode refers to maintenance personnel manually setting the compressor unit to operate in warm-up mode via the host computer, which then issues an operation command to the compressor unit to operate in warm-up mode. Timed start of warm-up mode refers to maintenance personnel pre-setting the start time of warm-up mode via the host computer; when the start time is reached, the host computer automatically issues an operation command to the compressor unit to operate in warm-up mode.

[0060] Similarly, the scenarios in which the host computer controls the compressor unit of the air station to operate in start-up mode include: direct start-up mode. Direct start-up mode refers to the operation and maintenance personnel manually setting the compressor unit of the air station to operate in start-up mode through the host computer, and then the host computer issues an operation command to the compressor unit to operate in start-up mode.

[0061] In some embodiments, to provide a more convenient operating experience, a switching button can be set on the host computer. Maintenance personnel can then quickly switch the operating mode of the compressor unit by clicking or triggering the button, allowing the compressor unit to operate in warm-up mode or start-up mode. Furthermore, the warm-up mode and start-up mode are interlocked, operating independently without interference, thus effectively avoiding program conflicts.

[0062] Optionally, after the compressor unit in the compressor station finishes operating in warm-up mode, the compressor unit will automatically switch to start-up mode in order to prepare to receive and execute start-up commands sent by the control center.

[0063] It should be pointed out that, Figure 3 The structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the compressor unit of the compressor station, except Figure 3 In addition to the components shown, the compressor station compressor unit may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0064] In some embodiments, the main purpose of the warm-up mode is to reduce the temperature difference between the various components inside the compressor, preventing damage to components due to excessive temperature differences. It also ensures that the compressor is in a suitable operating condition before startup, avoiding malfunctions caused by shocks during startup. Furthermore, warming up can extend the compressor's lifespan and reduce maintenance costs.

[0065] As a feasible implementation method, the warm-up mode includes air cooler trial operation, oil cooler trial operation, purging operation, and warm-up operation. When the compressor unit of the compressor station executes the warm-up mode, it usually needs to perform the above operations in sequence.

[0066] In some embodiments, the air cooler commissioning operation is used to determine the operating status of the air cooler by running it, thereby determining whether the air cooler is malfunctioning based on its operating status.

[0067] It should be understood that the trial run of the air cooler is a crucial step in the warm-up process. The main function of the air cooler is to cool the heat generated by the compressor, ensuring that the compressor operates at a suitable temperature.

[0068] Optionally, the trial operation of an air cooler typically includes: sending a start command to the air cooler to supply power, controlling the air cooler to run at a low speed for a set period of time, and then sending a stop command. In this way, the operating status of the air cooler, including temperature, airflow, and whether there are any abnormal sounds or vibrations, can be detected through the trial operation.

[0069] In some embodiments, the oil cooler commissioning operation is used to determine the operating status of the air cooler and / or the oil cooler by running the oil cooler, thereby determining whether the oil cooler is malfunctioning based on the operating status of the oil cooler.

[0070] The main function of an oil cooler is to cool the lubricating oil in the compressor, preventing it from deteriorating or failing due to overheating. The oil cooler trial run includes: before starting, checking that all components of the oil cooler are intact and that the cooling medium is sufficient. Next, a start command is sent to the oil cooler to supply power, and after controlling the oil cooler to operate at a set frequency for a set duration, a stop command is sent. This trial run allows for the monitoring of the oil cooler's operating status, including temperature, fan speed, and the presence of any abnormal sounds or vibrations.

[0071] In some embodiments, the purging operation is used to remove impurities or harmful gases from the pipelines of the compressor unit in the compressor station, so as to ensure that the pipeline is clean and free of impurities or harmful gases, thereby ensuring the normal operation and long-term stability of the compressor unit.

[0072] Purging is a process that uses high-pressure natural gas to remove impurities or residues from pipelines and equipment to ensure proper operation. The purging process includes: opening the inlet bypass valve to allow high-pressure natural gas to enter and purge the inlet valve, inlet pipeline, unit casing, and anti-surge pipeline; and opening the outlet bypass valve to allow high-pressure natural gas to enter and purge the outlet valve and check valve pipeline.

[0073] In some embodiments, warm-up operation is the core of the warm-up mode. Its main purpose is to allow the compressor to gradually warm up to a suitable operating state before starting, avoiding excessive stress caused by sudden loading or high-speed operation.

[0074] As a feasible implementation method, the warm-up mode includes a warm-up operation to instruct the compressor to operate at a second speed lower than the first speed until a set time is reached, in order to conduct a drag test on the compressor unit of the compressor station.

[0075] Wherein, the first speed is the lower limit of the speed range of the compressor required to meet the main line pressure; the main line pressure is the pressure required to transmit natural gas in the main line pipeline. It should be noted that the second speed can be a fixed value lower than the first speed, or it can be a range lower than the first speed; this application does not impose any limitation on it.

[0076] For example, since the start-up mode is the standard operating mode in which the compressor unit of the gas station starts up and runs normally to transmit natural gas, the first speed mentioned above can be the compressor speed used in the start-up operation included in the start-up mode.

[0077] In some embodiments, since the compressor is not running during the purging operation of the warm-up mode, the compression line is not pressurized, resulting in a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves. Therefore, after the purging operation and before the warm-up operation, the inlet and outlet valves need to be opened to purge the compression line with gas. This ensures that the compression line is filled with gas before the warm-up operation, thereby preventing abnormal compressor operation or damage due to insufficient gas or an incomplete filling of the line during the warm-up process.

[0078] Based on this, the compressor unit of the compressor station provided in this application, after performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, controls the opening of the inlet bypass valve, the closing of the inlet valve, and the closing of the outlet valve to allow gas to be supplied to the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve. Then, when the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a first set pressure value, the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode is performed.

[0079] The first set pressure value is lower than the second set pressure value corresponding to the compression line in start-up mode. Optionally, to prevent compressor surge, the first set pressure value is also higher than the critical pressure for compressor surge.

[0080] As can be seen, the solution provided in this application does not require balancing the pressure difference between the two sides of the inlet valve and the two sides of the outlet valve, nor does it require opening the inlet and outlet valves to charge the compression pipeline. It is only necessary to control the inlet bypass valve to open and charge the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve until the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a first set pressure value that is lower than the second set pressure value.

[0081] Thus, the warm-up mode reduces the venting losses of natural gas through the inlet and outlet valves by charging the compression pipeline only through the inlet bypass valve, thereby reducing resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit at the compressor station. Furthermore, since the compression pipeline only needs to be charged to a first set pressure value lower than the second set pressure value in warm-up mode, the compressor can be tested at a lower pressure, further reducing resource consumption.

[0082] As one possible implementation, when the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a first set value, a closing command can be sent to the power circuit breaker of the compressor unit to supply power to the compressor unit. Then, after confirming that the compressor unit meets the operating conditions, the frequency converter starts its inverter function to convert DC power into adjustable frequency AC power, thereby driving the compressor to operate at a second speed until the set duration is reached.

[0083] In some embodiments, in order to prevent the compressor from surging during operation, the anti-surge valve needs to be opened during the warm-up mode of the compressor unit at the compressor station, so that the compressor unit at the compressor station can perform the warm-up mode with the anti-surge valve open.

[0084] As one possible implementation, the compressor unit of the compressor station responds to receiving the warm-up mode execution command by controlling the anti-surge valve to open and starting to execute the warm-up mode.

[0085] In some embodiments, during the warm-up mode of the compressor unit in the air station, after the anti-surge valve is opened, in order to ensure the reliability of the anti-surge function, it is necessary to further detect the opening status of the anti-surge valve to further determine that the anti-surge valve is in a fully open state.

[0086] As one possible implementation, the controller can acquire the valve information of the anti-surge valve and then determine whether the anti-surge valve is fully open based on the valve information. If the anti-surge valve is not fully open, it will output a prompt message to remind the user that the anti-surge valve needs to be opened.

[0087] The valve information includes one or more of the following: opening degree information and the status information of the fully open contact. The fully open contact is an electrical switch installed on the anti-surge valve. When the status information of the fully open contact indicates that the fully open contact is closed, the anti-surge valve has reached the fully open position. When the status information of the fully open contact indicates that the fully open contact is open, the anti-surge valve has not reached the fully open position.

[0088] For example, the controller can determine the opening information (e.g., 0%-100%) of the anti-surge valve by the valve position feedback signal from the valve sensor (valve positioner or displacement sensor).

[0089] For example, if the opening information indicates that the anti-surge valve is 100% open, it can be determined whether the anti-surge valve is fully open; otherwise, it can be determined that the anti-surge valve is not fully open. Alternatively, if the status information of the fully open contact indicates that the anti-surge valve has reached the fully open position, it can be determined that the anti-surge valve is fully open; otherwise, it can be determined that the anti-surge valve is not fully open.

[0090] Alternatively, the anti-surge valve can be determined to be fully open if the opening information indicates that the anti-surge valve is 100% open and the status information of the fully open contact indicates that the anti-surge valve has reached the fully open position. Otherwise, it can be determined that the anti-surge valve is not fully open.

[0091] Understandably, relying solely on opening information could lead to misjudgments of the valve being fully open when the valve sensor malfunctions (e.g., signal drift or disconnection). Similarly, relying solely on the status information of the fully open contact could result in incorrect feedback of the anti-surge valve's opening status if the fully open contact is mechanically stuck or has poor contact, also leading to misjudgments. Therefore, dual detection of the anti-surge valve's opening status based on both opening information and the status information of the fully open contact can reduce the risk of misjudgments when relying on only a single piece of information.

[0092] In some embodiments, air coolers and oil coolers, as key auxiliary equipment, are crucial for the normal operation of the compressor unit in a gas station. Failures in these critical auxiliary devices, such as fan damage, fin blockage, or internal pipe blockage in the oil cooler, will directly affect the overall operating efficiency of the compressor unit and may even lead to damage or shutdown, posing serious safety hazards. Therefore, during the warm-up mode, it is necessary to set up trial runs for the air cooler and oil cooler to monitor their operational status, promptly identify potential problems, and improve the reliability and safety of the compressor unit's operation.

[0093] As one possible implementation, before performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, the operating status of the air cooler and / or oil cooler is determined by running the air cooler for a first preset duration and / or running the oil cooler at a preset frequency for a second preset duration.

[0094] The operating status is used to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the air cooler and / or oil cooler.

[0095] Understandably, in the warm-up mode of the compressor unit in this application, before the purging operation, the air cooler is run for a first preset duration, and / or the oil cooler is run at a preset frequency for a second preset duration, to detect the operating status of the air cooler and / or oil cooler. This method allows for the timely detection of potential anomalies in key auxiliary equipment within the compressor unit. For example, if the air cooler has fan malfunctions or fin damage, poor cooling or abnormal noise may occur after running for the first preset duration, thus being detected promptly. Similarly, if the oil cooler has internal pipe blockages or oil pump malfunctions, changes in oil temperature and pressure fluctuations will reflect these anomalies after running at the preset frequency for the second preset duration. Furthermore, this method further improves the warm-up mode, ensuring that the compressor unit testing process is not limited to the main body of the compressor unit but also includes comprehensive testing of all key auxiliary equipment within the compressor unit, thereby enhancing the completeness of the compressor unit testing.

[0096] For example, a start signal can be sent to the air cooler to initiate its trial operation, causing the air cooler to run for a first preset duration. For instance, the first preset duration could be 300 seconds.

[0097] And / or, switch the oil cooler's operating mode from automatic control mode to manual control mode, so that maintenance personnel can set the oil cooler's operating frequency to a preset frequency and the operating duration to a second preset operating duration in manual control mode. For example, the preset frequency can be 50 Hz, and the second preset duration can be 300 seconds.

[0098] In some embodiments, since the compressor line only needs to be pressurized to a first set pressure value lower than the second set pressure value during warm-up mode, the compressor can be tested at a lower pressure. Therefore, the pressure of the compressed natural gas passing through the outlet valve in the outlet line is always higher than the pressure in the compression line. For example, the pressure difference between the compressed natural gas passing through the outlet valve in the outlet line and the pressure in the compression line is always greater than 0.25 MPa. Therefore, the compressed natural gas passing through the outlet valve in the outlet line can be injected into the compression line until the pressure in the compression line meets the compressor's dry gas seal requirements.

[0099] One possible implementation is to use an ejector device to inject the compressed natural gas from the outlet pipeline through the outlet valve into the compression pipeline, continuing to charge the compression pipeline. Then, once the pressure in the compression pipeline meets the compressor's dry gas seal requirements, the compressor starts operating to perform the warm-up operations included in the warm-up mode. In this way, the booster pump does not need to operate, thereby extending its lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.

[0100] The following analysis compares and contrasts the startup mode and warm-up mode based on experimental data.

[0101] For example, taking a compressor unit at a 110kV station with a total installed capacity of 64MW as an example, in start-up mode, the compressor pipeline of this compressor unit needs to be pressurized to the mains pressure, and the compressor runs at 3280rpm for more than 30 minutes. At this time, the power of the compressor unit is approximately 4500kW, and the maximum load is approximately 5000kW.

[0102] In warm-up mode, the compressor line of this air compressor station only needs to be pressurized to 2MPa, lower than the mains pressure. The compressor operates at 800rpm for 20 minutes. At this time, the power of the air compressor station is approximately 30kW, with a maximum load of approximately 530kW. Furthermore, the electricity cost of the air compressor station in warm-up mode is lower than that in start-up mode.

[0103] Thus, based on these experimental data, it can be seen that the compressor unit provided in this application can reduce resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit.

[0104] The control method of the compressor unit of the air compressor station provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0105] like Figure 4 As shown, this application provides a control method for a compressor unit in a compressor station, including:

[0106] S401. After performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, the inlet bypass valve is opened, the inlet valve is closed, and the outlet valve is closed to allow air to be supplied to the compression line through the inlet bypass valve.

[0107] The compression pipeline is the pipeline between the inlet valve and the outlet valve.

[0108] S402. When the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches the first set pressure value, execute the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode.

[0109] The first set pressure value is lower than the second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

[0110] based on Figure 4The embodiment shown in this application provides a control method for a compressor unit in a compressor station. In the start-up mode, after performing a purging operation, the inlet and outlet valves need to be opened to pressurize the compression pipeline. However, since the compressor is not running during the purging operation, the compression pipeline is not pressurized, resulting in a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves. Therefore, before opening the inlet and outlet valves, it is necessary to balance the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet valves, and then open the inlet and outlet valves to gradually pressurize the compression pipeline until the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches a second set pressure value.

[0111] In warm-up mode, after the purging operation, there is no need to balance the pressure difference across the inlet valve and outlet valve, nor is it necessary to open the inlet and outlet valves to charge the compression line. Simply open the inlet bypass valve to charge the compression line until the pressure in the compression line reaches the first set pressure value, which is lower than the second set pressure value.

[0112] Thus, compared to the start-up mode, the warm-up mode reduces the venting losses of natural gas through the inlet and outlet valves by only charging the compression pipeline through the inlet bypass valve, thereby reducing resource waste during the test run of the compressor unit at the compressor station. Furthermore, since the compression pipeline only needs to be charged to a first set pressure value lower than the second set pressure value in the warm-up mode, the compressor can be tested at a lower pressure, further reducing resource consumption.

[0113] The foregoing mainly describes the solutions provided by the embodiments of this application from a methodological perspective. To achieve the above functions, it includes corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for executing each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0114] This application embodiment can divide the compressor unit of the compressor station into functional modules according to the above method example. For example, each function can be divided into a separate functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or software functional modules. Optionally, the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods.

[0115] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which includes computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed on the computer, the computer performs the control method for the compressor unit of the compressor station as provided in the above embodiments.

[0116] This application also provides a computer program product that can be directly loaded into a memory and contains software code. After being loaded and executed by a computer, the computer program product can implement the control method of the compressor unit of the compressor station provided in the above embodiments.

[0117] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A compressor unit for a gas compressor station, characterized in that, include: The compressor has its inlet connected to an inlet pipeline for conveying natural gas to be compressed, and its outlet connected to an outlet pipeline for conveying compressed natural gas. An inlet valve is installed on the inlet pipeline to control the opening or closing of the inlet pipeline; An outlet valve is installed on the outlet pipeline to control the opening or closing of the outlet pipeline; An inlet bypass pipeline is connected at one end to one side of the inlet valve and at the other end to the other side of the inlet valve; an inlet bypass valve is also provided on the inlet bypass pipeline. After performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, the inlet bypass valve is opened, the inlet valve is closed, and the outlet valve is closed to allow air to be supplied to the compression line through the inlet bypass valve; the compression line is the line between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. When the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches the first set pressure value, the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode is executed; the first set pressure value is lower than the second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

2. The compressor unit of the air compressor station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressor unit of the compressor station also includes: The anti-surge pipeline is connected at one end to the inlet of the compressor and at the other end to the outlet of the compressor. An anti-surge valve is installed on the anti-surge pipeline and is used to control the opening or closing of the anti-surge pipeline; The controller is configured as follows: In response to receiving a warm-up mode execution command, the anti-surge valve is opened and the warm-up mode is started.

3. The compressor unit of the air compressor station according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: Obtain the valve information of the anti-surge valve; the valve information includes one or more of the following: opening degree information, status information of fully open contacts; Based on the valve information, determine whether the anti-surge valve is in a fully open state; When the anti-surge valve is not fully open, a prompt message is output to remind the user that the anti-surge valve needs to be opened.

4. The compressor unit of the air compressor station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressor unit of the compressor station also includes: The ejector device has one end connected to the outlet pipeline and the other end connected to the compression pipeline; The warm-up operations included in executing the warm-up mode include: The compressed natural gas that has passed through the outlet valve in the outlet pipeline is injected into the compression pipeline through the ejector device to continue filling the compression pipeline with gas. When the pressure in the compression line meets the dry gas sealing requirements of the compressor, the compressor starts to operate to perform the warm-up operations included in the warm-up mode.

5. The compressor station compressor unit according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The warm-up operation is used to instruct the compressor to operate at a second speed lower than the first speed until a set time is reached; wherein, the first speed is the lower limit of the speed range corresponding to the compressor to meet the main line pressure; the main line pressure is the pressure required to transmit natural gas in the main line pipeline.

6. The compressor station unit according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The compressor unit of the air compressor station also includes: Air cooler; Oil cooler; Before performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, the operating status of the air cooler and / or the oil cooler is determined by running the air cooler for a first preset duration and / or running the oil cooler at a preset frequency for a second preset duration. The operating status is used to determine whether there is any abnormality in the air cooler and / or the oil cooler.

7. A control method for a compressor unit in a gas compressor station, characterized in that, The compressor unit applied to any one of claims 1-6 comprises: After performing the purging operation included in the warm-up mode, the inlet bypass valve is opened, the inlet valve is closed, and the outlet valve is closed to allow air to be supplied to the compression line through the inlet bypass valve; the compression line is the line between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. When the pressure in the compression pipeline reaches the first set pressure value, the warm-up operation included in the warm-up mode is executed; the first set pressure value is lower than the second set pressure value corresponding to the compression pipeline in the start-up mode.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control method further includes: In response to receiving a warm-up mode execution command, the anti-surge valve is opened and the warm-up mode is started.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, When the computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium are executed by the processor of the electronic device, the electronic device is able to perform the control method as described in claim 7 or 8.

10. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes: a computer program or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the control method as described in claim 7 or 8.

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