Pre-emptive air dryer control in a compressed air system
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company
InventorsJimmy L. Levan, Vipul R. Mistry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid compression system includes a compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid and a refrigerated dryer coupled to the compressor and operable to separate the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid. A first sensor is positioned to measure a property of the second flow of compressed fluid, and a controller is operable to initiate operation of the refrigerated dryer at a first time and at least partially in response to the measured property, and to initiate operation of the compressor at a second time. The first time is before the second time.
Claims23
A fluid compression system comprising:
- a compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid;
- a refrigerated dryer coupled to the compressor and operable to separate the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid;
- a first sensor positioned to measure a property of the second flow of compressed fluid;
- and
- a controller operable to initiate operation of the refrigerated dryer at a first time and at least partially in response to the measured property, and to initiate operation of the compressor at a second time, wherein the first time is before the second time.
A method of operating a fluid compression system, the method comprising:
- measuring a first parameter of a compressed fluid;
- starting a refrigerated dryer system at least partially in response to the first measured parameter;
- measuring a second parameter after starting the refrigerated dryer system;
- and
- starting a compressor at least partially in response to the second parameter.
A method of operating a fluid compression system that delivers compressed fluid to a point of use, the method comprising:
- measuring a property of the compressed fluid at the point of use with a first sensor;
- initiating operation of a refrigerated dryer at least partially in response to the measured property;
- initiating operation of a compressor after initiating operation of the refrigerated dryer, the compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid;
- directing the flow of compressed fluid to the refrigerated dryer;
- separating the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid using the refrigerated dryer;
- and
- stopping operation of the compressor and the refrigerated dryer at least partially in response to the measured property.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.