Nitrogen generator control device, control method, and nitrogen generator system

Abstract

The present application relates to nitrogen generator technical field, especially in nitrogen generator control device, control method and nitrogen generator system. Nitrogen generator control device includes detection unit, execution unit and processing unit. Detection unit is used for collecting at least one state parameter representing nitrogen generator gas production state; Execution unit is used for adjusting at least two gas production process parameters affecting gas production state in response to control instruction;Processing unit is electrically connected with detection unit and execution unit respectively, and is configured to predict future gas production state caused by a group of candidate gas production process parameters based on prediction model and state parameters collected by detection unit in response to instruction of target gas production state;By optimization algorithm, the combination control instruction of gas production process parameters is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state, and the control instruction is sent to the execution unit to cooperatively adjust multiple gas production process parameters, so as to realize the dynamic control of gas production state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nitrogen generator technology, and in particular to nitrogen generator control devices, control methods, and nitrogen generator systems. Background Technology

[0002] Nitrogen is often used as a gas source in laboratory instrument analysis. Although existing nitrogen generators have the ability to produce nitrogen, different experiments have different requirements for nitrogen purity and flow rate, which require parameter adjustments to meet specific conditions. This results in long waiting times and insufficient stability of the device during operation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One objective of this application is to provide a nitrogen generator control device that enables the nitrogen generator to rapidly adjust and stably control the gas production process based on the command of the target gas production state and the currently collected gas production state parameters, so as to meet the target gas production requirements.

[0004] According to an embodiment of this application, a first aspect provides a nitrogen generator control device, the nitrogen generator control device comprising: The detection unit is used to acquire at least one state parameter characterizing the gas production state of the nitrogen generator; An execution unit is configured to respond to control commands to adjust at least two gas generation process parameters that affect the gas generation state; A processing unit, connected to the detection unit and the execution unit, is configured to: In response to instructions regarding the target gas production state; Based on the prediction model and the state parameters obtained by the detection unit, the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters is predicted. By optimizing the algorithm, a combined control command for at least two gas production process parameters is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state. The combined control command is sent to the execution unit to coordinate the adjustment of the at least two gas generation process parameters.

[0005] In one embodiment, the gas production status detected by the detection unit includes nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate.

[0006] In one embodiment, the detection unit includes an oxygen concentration sensor and / or a mass flow meter; wherein the oxygen concentration sensor is used to acquire data characterizing nitrogen purity, and the mass flow meter is used to acquire data characterizing nitrogen flow rate.

[0007] In one embodiment, the at least two gas production process parameters are selected from: The operating frequency of the air compressor that provides compressed air to the gas separation unit in the nitrogen generator, the timing cycle time for controlling the switching between adsorption and desorption processes of the gas separation unit in the nitrogen generator, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve located at the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator are at least two of the following:

[0008] In one embodiment, the nitrogen generator control device further includes: The recirculation line connecting the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator to the inlet of the air compressor; and An adjustable bypass valve is installed on the recirculation pipeline; The execution unit is also used to respond to control commands to adjust the adjustable bypass valve.

[0009] According to an embodiment of this application, a second aspect provides a control method for controlling the nitrogen generator control device. The control method includes: Obtain the current operating requirements and use the detection unit to collect status data characterizing the current nitrogen state; Based on the prediction model and the state parameters, the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters is predicted. By optimizing the algorithm, a combined control command is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state to coordinate the adjustment of at least two gas production process parameters. The combined control commands are executed to adjust the parameters of the at least two gas production processes.

[0010] In one embodiment, the state-space equation of the prediction model is: in, For discrete time steps, For the predicted system output vector, It is a historical state sequence. For historical control input sequences, For the external input sequence related to the operating conditions, It is a nonlinear mapping function.

[0011] In one embodiment, the prediction system outputs a vector This includes the predicted nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate; The historical state sequence Includes a historical sequence of measurements of nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate; The historical control input sequence This includes the historical operating frequency of the air compressor, the opening degree of the proportional control valve, the setpoint sequence of the timing cycle time used to control the switching of the adsorption and desorption processes in the gas separation unit, and / or the opening degree of the adjustable bypass valve.

[0012] In one embodiment, the expression of the optimization algorithm is: The first term is a penalty for the tracking error between the predicted nitrogen state and the operating condition requirements, and the second term is a penalty for drastic changes in the gas production process parameters. and This is the weight matrix.

[0013] According to an embodiment of this application, a third aspect provides a nitrogen generator system, the nitrogen generator system including the aforementioned nitrogen generator control device and a nitrogen generator body.

[0014] The nitrogen generator control device of this application includes a detection unit, an execution unit, and a processing unit. The detection unit collects at least one state parameter characterizing the gas production state of the nitrogen generator. The execution unit responds to control commands and adjusts at least two gas production process parameters affecting the gas production state. The processing unit is electrically connected to both the detection unit and the execution unit and is configured to respond to commands indicating a target gas production state. Based on a prediction model and the state parameters collected by the detection unit, it predicts the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters. Through an optimization algorithm, based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state, it determines a combined control command for the gas production process parameters and sends this control command to the execution unit to coordinate the adjustment of multiple gas production process parameters, thereby achieving dynamic control of the gas production state. The nitrogen generator control device of this application enables rapid adjustment and stable maintenance of the gas production state, effectively reducing waiting time and improving the adaptability and operational stability of the nitrogen generator under varying experimental conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a nitrogen generator control device in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a nitrogen generator control device in another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the control method in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Explanation of the attached drawing numbers: 100. Detection unit; 110. Oxygen concentration sensor; 120. Mass flow meter; 200. Actuator unit; 210. Air compressor; 220. Proportional control valve; 230. Adjustable bypass valve; 300. Processing unit; 400. Nitrogen generator. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0018] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, 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 invention.

[0019] Furthermore, 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. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0020] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0022] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0023] As mentioned in the background, nitrogen is frequently used as a gas source in laboratory instrument analysis. While existing nitrogen generators possess gas production capabilities, the varying requirements for nitrogen purity and flow rate in different experiments necessitate parameter adjustments to meet specific conditions, leading to long waiting times and insufficient stability during operation. To better address this issue, this application proposes a nitrogen generator control device. This device collects state parameters characterizing the gas production state, combines them with a predictive model to predict future gas production states caused by candidate gas production process parameters, and uses an optimization algorithm to determine combined control commands for the coordinated adjustment of multiple gas production process parameters. This achieves dynamic control of the gas production process, improving the response speed of the gas production state and the stability of system operation, thus meeting the diverse experimental requirements for nitrogen purity and flow rate.

[0024] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a nitrogen generator control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] In this embodiment, the nitrogen generator control device includes: The detection unit 100 is used to acquire at least one state parameter characterizing the gas production state of the nitrogen generator 400; Execution unit 200 is used to respond to control commands to adjust at least two gas production process parameters that affect the gas production state; The processing unit 300 is connected to the detection unit 100 and the execution unit 200. The processing unit 300 is configured to: respond to an instruction for a target gas production state; predict a future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters based on a prediction model and state parameters acquired by the detection unit 100; determine a combined control instruction for at least two gas production process parameters based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state through an optimization algorithm; and send the combined control instruction to the execution unit 200 to coordinately adjust at least two gas production process parameters.

[0026] In this embodiment, it can be combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the nitrogen generator control device includes a detection unit 100, an execution unit 200, and a processing unit 300. The detection unit 100 is located at the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator 400 and is used to acquire at least one state parameter characterizing the gas production state of the nitrogen generator 400, wherein the state parameter includes nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate.

[0027] The execution unit 200 responds to the control command and adjusts the gas production process by adjusting at least two gas production process parameters that affect the gas production state. The at least two gas production process parameters include at least two of the following: the operating frequency of the air compressor 210 that provides compressed air to the gas separation unit of the nitrogen generator 400; the timing cycle time for switching between adsorption and desorption processes in the gas separation unit of the nitrogen generator 400; and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220 located at the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator 400.

[0028] In the execution unit 200, the operating frequency of the air compressor 210 can be adjusted via frequency converter control to regulate the supply of compressed air, thereby controlling the intake parameters of the gas separation unit. The timing cycle time can be set and adjusted via a timer to change the switching frequency of the adsorption and desorption processes in the gas separation unit of the nitrogen generator 400. The opening degree of the proportional control valve 220 can be adjusted via a stepper motor or a solenoid valve to control the output flow rate of nitrogen at the outlet. By responding to control commands, the execution unit 200 can jointly adjust at least two gas production process parameters to achieve process control of the gas production state.

[0029] The processing unit 300 is connected to both the detection unit 100 and the execution unit 200. On one hand, the processing unit 300 receives instructions regarding the target gas production state, as well as current gas production state parameters collected and transmitted by the detection unit 100. Since different experimental conditions have different requirements for nitrogen purity and flow rate, the instruction regarding the target gas production state can correspond to the nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate parameters required in a specific experimental scenario, or the corresponding target values ​​can be directly input by an external control system or operator.

[0030] Upon receiving the target gas production state command and the current gas production state parameters, the processing unit 300 executes a processing flow including prediction and optimization calculations. Prediction refers to: based on a built-in prediction model and combined with the current gas production state parameters, estimating the possible gas production states that a set of candidate combinations of gas production process parameters might result in during future detection cycles. The prediction model can be a time-series modeling structure trained based on historical operating data. Specifically, it can employ a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network or other algorithms capable of modeling dynamic temporal causal relationships to describe the relationship between changes in gas production process parameters and nitrogen output state.

[0031] After completing the above predictions, the processing unit 300 evaluates the differences between the target gas production state and the predicted future gas production states of each candidate combination by invoking an optimization algorithm. The objective function can be minimizing this difference to determine the optimal combination of gas production process parameters. The optimization algorithm may include, but is not limited to, gradient descent, particle swarm optimization, or other multivariate optimization algorithms with convergence capabilities. The final calculation result is a set of combined control commands for adjusting gas production process parameters such as the frequency of the air compressor 210, the timing cycle time, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220.

[0032] It should be noted that, within each detection cycle, the detection unit 100 collects the current gas production state parameters and sends the collected parameter data to the processing unit 300. After acquiring the data, the processing unit 300 predicts the future state using a predictive model and calls an optimization algorithm to calculate the parameter combination control command that meets the target state requirements. This control command is then sent to the execution unit 200 to drive the relevant components to complete the actual adjustment of the process parameters. In subsequent detection cycles, the system repeats the above process, forming a closed-loop control mechanism based on real-time data feedback, thereby continuously bringing the nitrogen production state closer to the target state.

[0033] To better illustrate the workflow of the nitrogen generator control device in this embodiment, the following example is given: Assume that a chemical experiment requires nitrogen with a purity of 99.99% and a flow rate of 2 L / min. After the user inputs these target parameters, the processing unit 300 acquires the current nitrogen purity and flow rate data. The processing unit 300 calls the prediction model to calculate the possible purity and flow rate outputs for several combinations in the next cycle based on the current state and candidate parameter combinations. Subsequently, the processing unit 300 calls the optimization module to select the optimal parameter combination, for example, adjusting the frequency of the air compressor 210 to f1, the timing cycle time to t1, and setting the opening of the proportional control valve 220 to α1. This parameter combination is sent as a control command to the execution unit 200, driving the corresponding components to complete the adjustment. In the next detection cycle, the system will re-acquire the state, update the prediction, and optimize again, thereby maintaining a stable gas production state that approaches the target value during the dynamic operation of the system.

[0034] In this embodiment, by setting up a detection unit 100, an execution unit 200, and a processing unit 300, and by using the processing unit 300 to jointly adjust at least two gas generation process parameters based on a prediction model and an optimization algorithm, a closed-loop control mechanism is constructed, realizing dynamic regulation and continuous optimization of nitrogen purity and flow rate. This effectively solves the problems of long response time and insufficient gas generation stability of the existing nitrogen generator 400 in experimental scenarios.

[0035] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 As shown, the detection unit 100 includes an oxygen concentration sensor 110 and / or a mass flow meter 120; wherein, the oxygen concentration sensor 110 is used to acquire data characterizing the purity of nitrogen, and the mass flow meter 120 is used to acquire data characterizing the flow rate of nitrogen.

[0036] In this embodiment, an oxygen concentration sensor 110 is installed at the gas outlet of the nitrogen generator 400 to measure the residual oxygen content in the nitrogen gas, thereby obtaining parameter information characterizing the nitrogen purity. The analog electrical signal output by the sensor is amplified and filtered by a signal conditioning circuit, then converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter module, and transmitted to the processing unit 300 as input data for nitrogen purity.

[0037] A mass flow meter 120 is installed in the gas outlet pipeline of the nitrogen generator 400 to measure the nitrogen flow rate through the pipeline per unit time. The electrical signal output by the mass flow meter 120 is converted into a standard data format that can be used for numerical calculation by the signal processing module and then transmitted to the processing unit 300 to characterize the current nitrogen flow rate status.

[0038] In one embodiment, at least two of the gas generation process parameters are selected from: the operating frequency of the air compressor 210 that provides compressed air to the gas separation unit, the timing cycle time for switching between adsorption and desorption processes in the gas separation unit of the nitrogen generator 400, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220 located at the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator 400.

[0039] In this embodiment, the operating frequency of the air compressor 210 is adjusted by frequency conversion control, thereby regulating the intake pressure and flow rate of the gas separation unit, which in turn affects the nitrogen production capacity; the time-series cycle time is set by a timer to control the periodic switching of the adsorbent material between adsorption and desorption, so as to regulate the dynamic balance state of the separation process; the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220 is adjusted by a stepper motor or a solenoid valve, which can continuously regulate the output flow rate of nitrogen.

[0040] In one embodiment, see Figure 2 As shown, the nitrogen generator control device also includes: a recirculation pipeline connecting the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator 400 to the inlet of the air compressor 210; and an adjustable bypass valve 230 disposed on the recirculation pipeline; wherein the execution unit 200 is also used to adjust the adjustable bypass valve 230 in response to control commands.

[0041] In this embodiment, the nitrogen generator control device includes a recirculation pipeline connecting the nitrogen generator 400's gas outlet to the air compressor 210's inlet, and an adjustable bypass valve 230 installed on the recirculation pipeline. The recirculation pipeline guides a portion of the generated nitrogen gas, after the gas storage unit and before entering the external gas consumption end, to be diverted from the main passage and returned to the air compressor 210's inlet end, where it mixes with externally drawn air to form intake gas. The adjustable bypass valve 230 is controlled by the execution unit 200, and its opening degree is dynamically adjusted based on the calculation results of the processing unit 300, used to control the proportion of recirculated nitrogen introduced. (See also...) Figure 2 As shown, in Figure 2 After the airflow enters the air compressor 210, it enters the main body of the nitrogen generator 400. Part of the generated nitrogen flows out along arrow a, and part of the nitrogen circulates back into the main body of the nitrogen generator 400 along arrow b.

[0042] In actual operation, when the external system's demand for nitrogen flow is low, the actual processing capacity of the air compressor 210 and the gas separation unit in the nitrogen generator 400 will be relatively higher than the external load. If the air compressor 210 is operated directly at a low gas production rate, it will lead to decreased operating efficiency and may cause frequent start-ups and shutdowns, increasing energy consumption and equipment wear. By adjusting the adjustable bypass valve 230, a portion of the produced nitrogen is returned to the inlet. This introduces an additional load variable into the control strategy, maintaining the air compressor 210 and the gas separation unit within a relatively stable and economical operating range even under low external gas flow conditions, thereby improving operating efficiency and reducing operational fluctuations.

[0043] When the system needs to increase the purity of the produced gas in a short period of time, or when the purity decreases due to external environmental factors such as temperature changes, adjusting the frequency of the air compressor 210 or the cycle time of the gas separation unit may result in a response lag. In this case, the processing unit 300 can increase the opening of the adjustable bypass valve 230 to quickly introduce some high-purity nitrogen into the inlet, thereby increasing the nitrogen concentration in the raw material gas and reducing the oxygen ratio. This allows for rapid adjustment of the separation conditions on the inlet side, helping to accelerate the recovery of the gas production state or approach the target purity level.

[0044] During the transition from high flow rate and low purity to low flow rate and high purity in nitrogen production, the system experiences a dynamic transition phase. The processing unit 300 can identify the changing operating conditions based on a predictive model and guide the smooth transition of the reflux ratio by adjusting the opening of the adjustable bypass valve 230. This allows the intake gas composition to gradually approach the newly set conditions, thereby reducing fluctuations and overshoot in the production state during the operating condition transition.

[0045] Therefore, by setting up a recirculation pipeline and an adjustable bypass valve 230, and introducing the bypass gas flow rate as an adjustable parameter into the overall control strategy, the nitrogen generator control device provides an effective adjustment path for dealing with low external flow demand, rapid purity adjustment, disturbance response, and transition between operating conditions, thereby improving the device's operational stability, energy efficiency, and adaptability.

[0046] This application also proposes a control method, see reference. Figure 3 As shown, the control method is used to control a nitrogen generator control device, and the control method includes: S110: Obtain the current operating conditions and use the detection unit 100 to collect status data characterizing the current nitrogen state; S120: Based on the prediction model and state parameters, predict the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters; S130: By optimizing the algorithm, a combined control command is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state to coordinate the adjustment of at least two gas production process parameters; S140: Execute combined control commands to adjust at least two gas production process parameters.

[0047] In this embodiment, the current operating requirements are obtained through step S110, and the detection unit 100 collects status data characterizing the current nitrogen state. The detection unit 100 may include an oxygen concentration sensor 110 and a mass flow meter 120, which are used to acquire measurement data of nitrogen purity and nitrogen flow rate, respectively. The status data serves as the input of the current system operating status, providing real-time basis for subsequent control processes.

[0048] In step S120, the processing unit 300 invokes the prediction model to predict the possible gas production states of a set of candidate gas production process parameter combinations within future detection cycles based on the current state parameters. The prediction model is stored in a non-volatile storage medium within the processing unit 300. The model can be trained based on historical operating data and typical operating condition samples. The modeling algorithm used can be a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network or other model structures with time series prediction capabilities. This prediction model is used to establish the mapping relationship between gas production process parameters and nitrogen output state, thereby estimating the target gas production state before the execution of control commands, serving as the input basis for the optimization algorithm.

[0049] In step S130, the processing unit 300, based on the difference between the predicted result and the target gas production state, invokes an optimization algorithm to generate combined control commands for adjusting at least two gas production process parameters. The optimization algorithm may include particle swarm optimization, gradient descent, genetic algorithms, etc., to solve for the parameter combination that minimizes the gas production state deviation while satisfying the control system boundary conditions and operational constraints. The optimization result serves as the decision input for the gas production process, and the control method directly generates control commands.

[0050] In step S140, the processing unit 300 sends the combined control command to the execution unit 200 to jointly adjust multiple gas production process parameters, such as the working frequency of the air compressor 210, the switching sequence of adsorption and desorption in the gas separation unit, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220, so that the actual gas production state gradually approaches the set target.

[0051] In this embodiment, the execution unit 200 may include an air compressor 210, a timing control component for controlling the switching between adsorption and desorption processes, a proportional control valve 220 disposed at the nitrogen outlet, and an adjustable bypass valve 230 disposed on the recirculation pipeline. The training process is based on historical operating data, collecting the correspondence between the above process parameters and nitrogen purity and flow rate to construct a time series sample set, which is used by the prediction model to establish the mapping relationship between input parameters and gas production status.

[0052] The control method in this embodiment establishes a multi-parameter collaborative control mechanism that integrates predictive modeling and optimization calculation. Using nitrogen purity and flow rate data collected by the detection unit 100 as input, and combining the predictive model and optimization algorithm in the processing unit 300, it enables the joint adjustment of key parameters such as the operating frequency of the air compressor 210, the adsorption-desorption switching sequence, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220. The control method in this embodiment can adjust the gas generation process parameters, such as the frequency of the air compressor 210, the timing cycle time, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220, in response to different requirements for nitrogen purity and flow rate under experimental conditions. This allows for adjustment of the system output according to the target gas generation state, helping to reduce the response delay after parameter setting and maintain a relatively stable nitrogen output state during system operation. This improves upon the problems of long waiting times and insufficient operational stability in existing nitrogen generators 400 when meeting differentiated experimental needs.

[0053] In one embodiment, the state-space equation of the prediction model is: in, For discrete time steps, For the predicted system output vector, It is a historical state sequence. For historical control input sequences, For the external input sequence related to operating conditions, It is a nonlinear mapping function.

[0054] In this embodiment, the prediction model is constructed using a state-space structure to predict the gas production state of the nitrogen generator 400 in future detection cycles based on historical state sequences, historical control inputs, and external inputs related to operating conditions. The prediction model can be trained using a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network, reflecting the dynamic impact of control inputs and external disturbances on the gas production process over time by jointly modeling short-term changes and long-term trends in the time series. During control system operation, the prediction model receives the current state parameters and control inputs collected by the detection unit 100 in each detection cycle, and constructs an input data window by combining it with the historical sequence from the previous cycle to estimate the future gas production state. The processing unit 300 calls an optimization algorithm to generate control commands based on the prediction results, thereby adjusting at least two gas production process parameters in a coordinated manner. In subsequent detection cycles, the latest state and input data update the historical sequence and are re-inputted into the prediction model, achieving continuous tracking of the system's operating state and dynamic updates to the control strategy.

[0055] It should be noted that the prediction system output vector Including predicted nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate; historical state sequence Includes a historical sequence of nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate measurements; historical control input sequences. This includes the historical operating frequency of the air compressor 210, the opening degree of the proportional control valve 220, the set value sequence of the pressure swing adsorption cycle time, and / or the opening degree of the adjustable bypass valve 230.

[0056] In one embodiment, the expression for the optimization algorithm is: The first item is a penalty for the tracking error between the predicted nitrogen state and the operating condition requirements, and the second item is a penalty for drastic changes in the parameters of the gas production process. and This is the weight matrix.

[0057] In this embodiment, during the control flow, the processing unit 300 performs predictive simulations on multiple sets of candidate control inputs to obtain corresponding future state sequences, and calculates the target deviation and input fluctuation intensity for each set of inputs based on the aforementioned performance index function. The optimization algorithm selects the control sequence that best suits the performance index from all candidate control sequences. The smallest input group indicates that, within the current prediction range, this input group performs best in tracking the target gas production state and limiting changes in control input. Finally, the control input corresponding to the current moment is extracted from this optimal input group as the actual execution command and sent to the execution unit 200 to drive components such as the air compressor 210, timing switching component, and proportional control valve 220 to complete the process parameter adjustment.

[0058] This application also proposes a nitrogen generator system, which includes a nitrogen generator control device and a main body of a nitrogen generator 400.

[0059] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A nitrogen generator control device, characterized in that, The nitrogen generator control device includes: The detection unit is used to acquire at least one state parameter characterizing the gas production state of the nitrogen generator; An execution unit is configured to respond to control commands to adjust at least two gas generation process parameters that affect the gas generation state; A processing unit, connected to the detection unit and the execution unit, is configured to: In response to instructions regarding the target gas production state; Based on the prediction model and the state parameters obtained by the detection unit, the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters is predicted. By optimizing the algorithm, a combined control command for at least two gas production process parameters is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state. The combined control command is sent to the execution unit to coordinate the adjustment of the at least two gas generation process parameters.

2. The nitrogen generator control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas production status detected by the detection unit includes nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate.

3. The nitrogen generator control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The detection unit includes an oxygen concentration sensor and / or a mass flow meter; wherein the oxygen concentration sensor is used to acquire data characterizing nitrogen purity, and the mass flow meter is used to acquire data characterizing nitrogen flow rate.

4. The nitrogen generator control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least two gas-generating process parameters are selected from: The operating frequency of the air compressor that provides compressed air to the gas separation unit in the nitrogen generator, the timing cycle time for controlling the switching between adsorption and desorption processes of the gas separation unit in the nitrogen generator, and the opening degree of the proportional control valve located at the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator are at least two of the following:

5. The nitrogen generator control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nitrogen generator control device also includes: The recirculation line connecting the nitrogen outlet of the nitrogen generator to the inlet of the air compressor; and An adjustable bypass valve is installed on the recirculation pipeline; The execution unit is also used to respond to control commands to adjust the adjustable bypass valve.

6. A control method, said control method being used to control the nitrogen generator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The control method includes: Obtain the current operating requirements and use the detection unit to collect status data characterizing the current nitrogen state; Based on the prediction model and the state parameters, the future gas production state caused by a set of candidate gas production process parameters is predicted. By optimizing the algorithm, a combined control command is determined based on the difference between the predicted future gas production state and the target gas production state to coordinate the adjustment of at least two gas production process parameters. The combined control commands are executed to adjust the parameters of the at least two gas production processes.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The state-space equation of the prediction model is: in, For discrete time steps, For the predicted system output vector, It is a historical state sequence. For historical control input sequences, For the external input sequence related to the operating conditions, It is a nonlinear mapping function.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The prediction system output vector This includes the predicted nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate; The historical state sequence Includes a historical sequence of measurements of nitrogen purity and / or nitrogen flow rate; The historical control input sequence This includes the historical operating frequency of the air compressor, the opening degree of the proportional control valve, the setpoint sequence of the timing cycle time used to control the switching of the adsorption and desorption processes in the gas separation unit, and / or the opening degree of the adjustable bypass valve.

9. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The expression for the optimization algorithm is: The first term is a penalty for the tracking error between the predicted nitrogen state and the operating condition requirements, and the second term is a penalty for drastic changes in the gas production process parameters. and This is the weight matrix.

10. A nitrogen generator system, characterized in that, The nitrogen generator system includes the nitrogen generator control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and the main body of the nitrogen generator.

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