Regenerative-drying control system and method for dryer of air compressor of locomotive

Abstract

The present invention relates to a regenerative-drying control system and method for a dryer of an air compressor of a locomotive. The system comprises: an air-compressor contactor; an air compressor, which is connected to the air-compressor contactor; a regenerative dryer, which is connected to the air compressor and is connected to a main air reservoir; and an air-compressor unloading valve, which is in communication connection with the regenerative dryer, wherein the air-compressor unloading valve takes an action in response to the air-compressor contactor being closed and the air pressure of the main air reservoir reaching a threshold pressure, and the regenerative dryer performs regenerative drying once receiving an action instruction from the air-compressor unloading valve. In addition, the present invention further relates to a corresponding control method. The present invention solves the problem in the prior art of it being impossible for a regenerative dryer to remove moisture when an air compressor is in a delay mode, improves the drying effect regarding compressed air, and improves the quality of an air source of an air compression system of a locomotive.

Description

A locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system and method Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of locomotive air treatment, and more particularly, relates to a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system and method. Background Art

[0002] The locomotive's air compression system primarily provides dried compressed air to the vehicle's braking system and other air-using equipment. It consists of an air compressor (referred to as the air compressor) and a regenerative dryer that dries the compressed air passing through the compressor. As shown in Figure 1, the control of existing regenerative dryers primarily relies on the state of the compressor contactor. When the compressor contactor closes, power is supplied to the compressor, and the compressor begins operating. The regenerative dryer then dries the air compressed by the compressor. When the compressor contactor opens, power is cut off to the compressor, and the compressor stops operating. At this point, the regenerative dryer is controlled by an auxiliary contact signal from the compressor contactor to regenerate (i.e., drain water from the previously dried compressed air). This ensures effective drying of the compressed air the next time it is dried, preventing poor drying results due to excessive moisture accumulation.

[0003] However, according to the air demand of the entire vehicle, the air compressor is usually set to start when the total air pressure is 750kpa, and the air compressor stops working when the total air pressure reaches 900kpa. Air compressors currently all use screw compressors. Due to their structural characteristics, their working time needs to be increased. Too short a working time will cause the problem of emulsification of the air compressor lubricating oil. Therefore, the air compressor is generally set to a delayed working mode, that is, after the air compressor pumps the total air cylinder used to store compressed air to 900kpa, the unloading valve is opened, the air compressor stops compressing air, and continues to idle for 20 minutes to ensure the operating time of the air compressor and avoid emulsification of the air compressor lubricating oil. The drying of the regenerative dryer in the existing technical solution is controlled by the change of the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor. In the delayed mode, the air compressor is always working, that is, the unloading valve is opened after the total air cylinder air pressure reaches 900kpa. At this time, the air compressor is still in working state, but the air is not compressed and sent to the regenerative dryer. In actual use, the contactor is often in the closed state after the air compressor pumps the main air cylinder to 900kpa. During the idling period of the air compressor, the air pressure of the main air cylinder will often drop to below 750kpa, and then the air compression work will be carried out again, so the air compressor contactor will always be in the closed state. Since the air compressor contactor is always in the closed state, the auxiliary contacts of all air compressor contactors will not change, which will cause the regenerative dryer to be unable to regenerate. If this continues, the water content of the compressed air entering the braking system and air-using equipment will increase, causing corrosion and rust on the pipelines of the braking system and air-using equipment, and thus causing locomotive operation failures.

[0004] Therefore, the existing technology needs to be improved.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the regenerative dryer cannot regenerate and dry when the air compressor is in the delayed working mode. Therefore, a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control system and method are proposed.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control system is provided, comprising:

[0009] Air compressor contactor;

[0010] an air compressor connected to the air compressor contactor;

[0011] a regenerative dryer connected to the air compressor and the regenerative dryer connected to the main air cylinder;

[0012] The air compressor unloading valve is communicatively connected to the regenerative dryer. The air compressor unloading valve is actuated in response to the closing of the air compressor contactor and the total air cylinder air pressure reaching a threshold pressure. The regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying upon receiving the actuation instruction of the air compressor unloading valve.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control system further comprises:

[0014] an air compressor contactor auxiliary contact, the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact being enabled in response to the air compressor contactor opening;

[0015] The locomotive microcomputer control system is communicatively connected with the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor and the regenerative dryer respectively. The locomotive microcomputer control system sends an instruction to the regenerative dryer in response to receiving a signal from the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor. The regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying after receiving the instruction.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor is connected to the regenerative dryer through an air pipeline, and the regenerative dryer is connected to the main air cylinder through an air pipeline.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, electric energy is transmitted between the air compressor contactor and the air compressor through wires, electric signals are transmitted between the regenerative dryer and the air compressor unloading valve and microcomputer control system through wires, and electric signals are transmitted between the microcomputer control system and the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor through wires.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the threshold pressure is 900 kPa.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor is a screw compressor.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling regeneration and drying of a locomotive air compressor dryer is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0021] After closing the air compressor contactor, electrical energy is sent to the air compressor, causing the air compressor to start working;

[0022] The air compressed by the air compressor is dried by a regenerative dryer and then the total air is sent to the main air cylinder after drying;

[0023] The air compressor unloading valve is activated in response to the total air cylinder air pressure reaching a threshold pressure, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration drying upon receiving an activation instruction of the air compressor unloading valve.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control method further comprises the following steps:

[0025] enabling the air compressor contactor auxiliary contacts in response to the air compressor contactor opening;

[0026] In response to receiving the signal from the auxiliary contact of the air compressor contactor, the locomotive microcomputer control system sends an instruction to the regenerative dryer, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying after receiving the instruction.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the threshold pressure is 900 kPa.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor is a screw compressor.

[0029] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0030] The present invention completely solves the problem that the regenerative dryer cannot clean moisture when the air compressor is in delay mode or after the air compressor is powered off, thereby improving the drying effect of compressed air and the air source quality of the locomotive air compression system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG1 shows a control system block diagram of a regenerative dryer used in the prior art;

[0032] FIG2 shows a block diagram of a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control system provided by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention shown in the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in the present invention, it is easy for those skilled in the art to appreciate that various modifications are feasible without actually departing from the teachings of the subject matter of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications should be included within the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the gist of the present invention, other replacements, modifications, variations, and deletions may be made to the design, operating conditions, and parameters of the following exemplary embodiments.

[0034] As shown in FIG2 , the present invention provides a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control system, comprising: an air compressor contactor, an air compressor, a regenerative dryer, a main air cylinder, an air compressor unloading valve, an air compressor contactor auxiliary contact, and a locomotive microcomputer control system TCMS. The air compressor is connected to the air compressor contactor, the regenerative dryer is connected to the air compressor, and the regenerative dryer is connected to the main air cylinder. The air compressor unloading valve is communicatively connected to the regenerative dryer. The air compressor unloading valve is actuated in response to the closing of the air compressor contactor and the air pressure in the main air cylinder reaching a threshold pressure. The regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying upon receiving an actuation instruction from the air compressor unloading valve. The air compressor contactor auxiliary contact is activated in response to the disconnection of the air compressor contactor. The locomotive microcomputer control system is communicatively connected to the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact and the regenerative dryer, respectively. The locomotive microcomputer control system issues an instruction to the regenerative dryer in response to receiving a signal from the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact. The regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying upon receiving the instruction.

[0035] Through the above technical solution of the present invention, the present invention completely solves the failure of the regenerative dryer to clean moisture due to the air compressor being in delay mode and the air compressor being externally powered off, thereby improving the drying effect of the compressed air and improving the air source quality of the locomotive air compression system.

[0036] In the above control system, the air compressor is connected to the regenerative dryer through an air pipeline, and the regenerative dryer is connected to the main air cylinder through an air pipeline; electric energy is transmitted between the air compressor contactor and the air compressor through wires, electric signals are transmitted between the regenerative dryer and the air compressor unloading valve and the microcomputer control system through wires, and electric signals are transmitted between the microcomputer control system and the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor through wires.

[0037] In the above control system, the threshold pressure is 900kPa.

[0038] In the above control system, the air compressor adopts a screw compressor.

[0039] In addition, the present invention also provides a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control method, including the following steps: after closing the air compressor contactor, electric energy is sent to the air compressor to start the air compressor; the air compressed by the air compressor is dried by the regenerative dryer, and the total air is sent to the main air cylinder after drying; the air compressor unloading valve is activated in response to the total air cylinder air pressure reaching a threshold pressure, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying as soon as it receives the action instruction of the air compressor unloading valve; the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact is enabled in response to the air compressor contactor being disconnected; the locomotive microcomputer control system sends an instruction to the regenerative dryer in response to receiving a signal from the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying after receiving the instruction.

[0040] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, referring again to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration and drying control system provided by the present invention. The framed area contains equipment: wires for transmitting electrical energy between the compressor contactor and the air compressor; air piping between the air compressor and the regenerative dryer; air piping between the regenerative dryer and the main air cylinder; wires for transmitting electrical signals between the regenerative dryer and the air compressor unloading valve and TCMS (microcomputer control system); and wires for transmitting electrical signals between the TCMS and the auxiliary contacts of the compressor contactor.

[0041] For the above devices:

[0042] Air compressor contactor: A switching device used to connect the air compressor to the power supply.

[0043] Air compressor: A device used to compress air.

[0044] Regenerative dryer: A compressed air drying device with regenerative drying function.

[0045] Main air cylinder: a device used to store compressed air.

[0046] Air compressor contactor auxiliary contact: A small-capacity contact that changes with the state of the air compressor contactor, mostly used to feedback the state of the air compressor contactor.

[0047] TCMS: Locomotive microcomputer control system, a device used to control equipment.

[0048] Air compressor unloading valve: a control valve used to control whether the air compressor is compressing air or idling.

[0049] When the control system is operating, after the air compressor contactor is closed, power is supplied to the air compressor, and the air compressor starts to work. At this time, the regenerative dryer dries the air compressed by the air compressor and sends the total air to the main air cylinder after drying. When the air pressure of the main air cylinder reaches 900kpa, the air compressor unloading valve is activated. At this time, the air compressor is in an idling state. At the same time, the regenerative dryer receives the action command of the air compressor unloading valve and then performs regeneration and drying. In addition, when the air compressor contactor is disconnected for some reason, the TCMS receives a signal from the auxiliary contact of the air compressor contactor and can also issue a command to the regenerative dryer. After receiving the command, the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying.

[0050] It can be seen that the present invention solves the problem that the regenerative dryer cannot clean moisture when the air compressor is in delay mode and the air compressor is externally powered off, improves the drying effect of compressed air, and improves the air source quality of the locomotive air compression system.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. If the present invention is modified or replaced with equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it should be included in the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system, characterized in that: include: Air compressor contactor; an air compressor, the air compressor being connected to the air compressor contactor; A regenerative dryer, the regenerative dryer is connected to the air compressor and the regenerative dryer is connected to the main air cylinder; An air compressor unloading valve is communicatively connected with the regenerative dryer, and the air compressor unloading valve is actuated in response to the closing of the air compressor contactor and the air pressure of the total air cylinder reaching a threshold pressure. The regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying upon receiving the actuation instruction of the air compressor unloading valve.

2. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: an air compressor contactor auxiliary contact, the air compressor contactor auxiliary contact being enabled in response to the air compressor contactor being disconnected; A locomotive microcomputer control system, wherein the locomotive microcomputer control system is communicatively connected with the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor and the regenerative dryer respectively, and the locomotive microcomputer control system sends a command to the regenerative dryer in response to receiving a signal from the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying after receiving the command.

3. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air compressor is connected to the regenerative dryer through an air pipeline, and the regenerative dryer is connected to the main air cylinder through an air pipeline.

4. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Electric energy is transmitted between the air compressor contactor and the air compressor through wires, electric signals are transmitted between the regenerative dryer and the air compressor unloading valve and the microcomputer control system through wires, and electric signals are transmitted between the microcomputer control system and the auxiliary contacts of the air compressor contactor through wires.

5. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The threshold pressure is 900 kPa.

6. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air compressor is a screw compressor.

7. A locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control method, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: After the air compressor contactor is closed, electrical energy is sent to the air compressor, causing the air compressor to start working; The air compressed by the air compressor is dried by a regenerative dryer, and the total air is sent to the main air cylinder after drying; The air compressor unloading valve is activated in response to the total air cylinder air pressure reaching a threshold pressure, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying upon receiving an activation command of the air compressor unloading valve.

8. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The following steps are also included: enabling the air compressor contactor auxiliary contacts in response to the air compressor contactor opening; In response to receiving the signal from the auxiliary contact of the air compressor contactor, the locomotive microcomputer control system sends a command to the regenerative dryer, and the regenerative dryer performs regeneration and drying after receiving the command.

9. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The threshold pressure is 900 kPa.

10. The locomotive air compressor dryer regeneration drying control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The air compressor is a screw compressor.

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