Compressor Fault Diagnosis Using Fuzzy Anomaly Vectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional algorithms for diagnosing compressor faults are not always accurate and can be ambiguous, making it difficult to determine the relevance of symptoms and identify potential failure modes effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that generate a feature vector from compressor measurement data, using fuzzy constraints to create an aggregated anomaly vector, and calculating a corroborating measure between this vector and predefined rules to identify potential faults or failure modes, incorporating fuzzy thresholds to assess parameter deviations and risk levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional algorithms are used for diagnosing compressor faults, then the diagnostic process is simple, but the accuracy and clarity of fault identification deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault identification accuracyVSAvoiddiagnostic system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The diagnostic system segments the fault identification process into distinct modules: feature extraction from measurement data, anomaly detection using fuzzy constraints, rule-based fault mode matching, and corroborating measure calculation. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall diagnostic accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary aggregated anomaly vector that mediates between raw measurement data and fault diagnosis. This anomaly vector serves as an intermediate representation that captures system deviations without directly exposing the complexity of the underlying fuzzy logic operations, thereby improving measurement precision while shielding the user from excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional anomaly detection methods are used, then the system is easy to operate, but the reliability of maintenance decisions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance decision reliabilityVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through the corroborating measure calculation, which continuously evaluates the consistency between observed anomalies and predefined fault rules. This feedback mechanism enhances maintenance decision reliability by providing quantitative validation, while the automated nature of the feedback loop maintains ease of operation without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms raw measurement parameters into an aggregated anomaly vector using fuzzy constraints, changing the parameter representation to better suit diagnostic purposes. This parameter transformation improves reliability by capturing subtle deviations that traditional methods might miss, while the automated transformation process preserves ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If detailed symptom analysis is performed, then fault identification becomes more accurate, but the time required for diagnosis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymptom analysis accuracyVSAvoiddiagnosis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining fault rules and constraints before actual diagnosis occurs. During operation, the aggregated anomaly vector is quickly compared against these pre-established rules, enabling accurate symptom analysis without requiring time-consuming real-time complex calculations, thus reducing diagnosis time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by focusing the detailed analysis only on the most significant anomalies identified through fuzzy constraints, rather than analyzing all possible symptoms equally. This selective approach maintains high accuracy for critical fault indicators while reducing overall diagnosis time by avoiding unnecessary analysis of less relevant parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9709980B2Method and system for diagnosing compressors
Publication Date: 2017.07.18 NUOVO PIGNONE TECH SRL
  • US9709980B2 patent drawing
  • US9709980B2 patent drawing
  • US9709980B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Method, system and computer software for diagnosing a compressor. The method includes generating a feature vector of the compressor, the feature vector of the compressor including components describing states of various parts of the compressor; determining, based on fuzzy constraints, an aggregated anomaly vector corresponding to the feature vector; defining rules for a preset list of possible faults/failure modes of the compressor; calculating a corroborating measure between the aggregated anomaly vector and the rules; and identifying a fault/failure mode of the compressor based on a result of the corroborating measure.