Compressor Valve Control via Gripper Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressor systems face challenges in efficiently regulating flow and other target values, such as temperature and pressure, due to technical restrictions on compressor motor speed variation, leading to suboptimal energy consumption and response times.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented procedure determines target positions for suction valve incentives and/or bypass valves in a compressor system, using actual and target values, along with pre-generated maps, to optimize flow, energy efficiency, and response time without varying compressor speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable-speed compressor motors are used to regulate flow rate, then flow rate control is improved, but the lowest possible speed is not low enough to achieve sufficiently reduced flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the flow control function into multiple independent suction valve lift-off grippers (first, second, third grippers) that can be controlled separately. Each gripper can be positioned independently to lift the suction valve by different amounts, allowing fine-grained control of the bypass flow and enabling the system to achieve very low flow rates that cannot be obtained with a single speed control mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple suction valve lift-off grippers and bypass valves are used for flow control, then flow rate regulation capability is improved, but energy consumption varies and optimization becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the control parameters from continuous speed variation to discrete positional settings of multiple lift-off grippers. By controlling each gripper's position independently (first position, second position, third position), the system can select from multiple operational modes that optimize energy consumption for different flow rate requirements, rather than simply varying motor speed.
3Measurement precision
If iterative adjustment of setpoints is used to achieve desired flow rate, then precision is improved, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention pre-calculates and stores optimal target positions for all combinations of suction valve lift-off grippers and bypass valves in characteristic maps before operation. During actual operation, the controller simply looks up the pre-computed optimal positions based on the desired flow rate, eliminating the need for iterative adjustments and achieving both high precision and fast response time simultaneously.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods for determining at least one target position of at least one suction valve lifting gripper and/or at least one bypass valve of a compressor system comprising at least one compressor. Methods for controlling a compressor system comprising at least one compressor. Computer-implemented methods for generating at least one characteristic map, characteristic maps, control systems, compressor systems, computer programs, and methods for compressing a gaseous energy carrier.