Method for calculating the probability of moisture build-up in a compressor
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorDavid F. Rowe, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for calculating the probability of moisture build-up in a compressor includes the steps of sensing a temperature of the ambient air, sensing a discharge pressure of the compressor, sensing a temperature of the compressor, processing the ambient air temperature and operating pressure sensed to obtain a required temperature at which condensation will form, and comparing the temperature of the compressor to the required temperature.
Claims16
A method for calculating the probability of moisture build-up in a compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature of the ambient air;
- sensing a discharge pressure of the compressor;
- sensing a temperature of the compressor;
- processing the ambient air temperature and the discharge pressure sensed with a controller to obtain a required temperature at which condensation will form;
- comparing the temperature of the compressor to the required temperature;
- calculating a moisture register variable which depends on the comparison of the temperature of the compressor to the required temperature;
- and
- adding a value to the moisture register variable when the temperature of the compressor is less than the required temperature.
A method for inhibiting water condensation in a compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature of the ambient air;
- sensing an operating pressure of the compressor;
- sensing a temperature of the compressor;
- processing the ambient air temperature and operating pressure sensed with a controller to obtain a required temperature at which condensation will form;
- comparing the required temperature to the sensed temperature of the compressor;
- adjusting a moisture register variable in response to the comparison;
- varying the operation of the compressor when the required temperature is higher than the sensed compressor temperature to increase the compressor temperature;
- and
- providing a signal to an operator when the moisture register variable is greater than a preset value.
A method for inhibiting water condensation in a compressor, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature of the ambient air;
- sensing a operating pressure of the compressor;
- sensing a temperature of the compressor;
- processing the ambient air temperature and operating pressure sensed with a controller to obtain a required temperature at which condensation will form;
- comparing the required temperature to the sensed temperature of the compressor;
- adjusting a moisture register variable in response to the comparison;
- varying the operation of the compressor when the required temperature is higher than the sensed compressor temperature to increase the compressor temperature;
- and
- adding a value to the moisture register variable when the temperature of the compressor is less than the required temperature.
An air compression system comprising:
- an air compressor including an ambient air inlet and a compressed fluid discharge, the compressor operable to draw in ambient air via the ambient air inlet and to discharge compressed air via the discharge;
- a variable speed prime mover operable between a low non-zero speed and a high speed to drive the air compressor;
- an ambient air temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of the ambient air;
- a discharge temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature indicative of an air compressor operating temperature;
- a pressure sensor positioned to measure a pressure indicative of an operating pressure of the compressor;
- a controller operable at a predetermined frequency to sample the measured ambient air temperature and the measured pressure and use those values to calculate a required temperature, wherein the controller compares the required temperature to the measured operating temperature and varies a moisture register variable in response to the comparison, wherein the controller adds a value to the moisture register variable when the sensed compressor temperature is less than the required temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.