Compressed Air Dryer Control Using Dew Point Depression Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed air supply systems for utility vehicles face challenges in achieving high dryer power while minimizing energy consumption, as high regeneration phases are typically required to prevent moisture condensation but result in energy losses.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for controlling the compressed air supply system that adjusts the operating mode based on the current and target dew point depression, optimizing the number and duration of regeneration phases to balance drying capacity and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long regeneration phases are set to ensure high dryer power and prevent moisture condensation, then the dew point depression is sufficiently high, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the regeneration phase duration variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the length of regeneration phases based on real-time monitoring of dew point depression values, allowing the system to adapt between longer phases when high drying power is needed and shorter phases when moisture levels are already low, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring the dew point depression and using this information to regulate the regeneration phase duration. The control unit receives feedback on the actual drying performance and adjusts the regeneration phases accordingly, ensuring sufficient moisture prevention while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from overly long regeneration cycles
2Use of energy by moving object
If short regeneration phases are used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the dew point depression may be insufficient to prevent moisture condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts regeneration phase duration based on actual drying needs rather than using a fixed short duration. The control unit extends regeneration phases when dew point depression measurements indicate insufficient drying, ensuring reliability is maintained while avoiding unnecessarily long phases that would waste energy
Solution Approach 2:
Feedback control ensures that short regeneration phases are only used when actually sufficient for achieving the required dew point depression. The control unit continuously monitors drying effectiveness and extends regeneration phases when needed, preventing moisture condensation issues while maintaining energy efficiency when conditions allow
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for high dryer power with reduced energy consumption by dynamically adjusting regeneration phases according to dew point depression, thereby preventing moisture condensation while minimizing energy losses.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (6), which takes in and compresses air
Implementation Method 2
in regeneration phases, the compressed air is returned from the outlet region via a regeneration valve device, partially expanded and guided backwards through the air dryer unit in order to remove its moisture
Implementation Method 3
A sufficiently high dew point depression may prevent moisture condensing in the subsequently stored compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a compressed air supply device of a compressed air system of a utility vehicle. The compressed air supply device has a compressor, an air dryer unit and a regeneration valve device and being operated in an operating mode with delivery phases and regeneration phases. In the method, a current humidity, e.g. a relative or absolute humidity, is ascertained in the compressed air system, a current dew point depression (c-DPD) is ascertained from the ascertained humidity, a target dew point depression (t-DPD) is ascertained from current and/or projected ambient temperature data (T0, T(t)) and/or from current and/or projected vehicle operating data, and a target dew point depression (t-DPD) is subsequently ascertained from current and/or projected ambient temperature data (T0, T(t)) and compared with the current dew point depression (c-DPD). The operating mode and/or the regeneration phases are subsequently set and/or changed.