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US 8,984,930 B2Granted
System and method for diagnosing a reciprocating compressor
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBret Dwayne Worden, Milan Karunaratne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a compressor including a crankcase. A condition of the compressor may be diagnosed based on a valve leak condition of the compressor based on piston motion within the crankcase. Once a diagnosis is made, appropriate remedial action can be taken to minimize severity.
Claims26
A method for a reciprocating compressor, comprising:
- detecting a leak condition of a valve via recognition of displacement of an associated piston, which is caused by air flow through the valve during a time period in which no piston motion is expected;
- and
- closing an unloader valve during the time period to facilitate a pressurized state within the reciprocating compressor, the unloader valve forces open an intake valve to one or more cylinders in the reciprocating compressor.
A method for a reciprocating compressor, comprising:
- detecting a leak condition of a valve via recognition of displacement of an associated piston, which is caused by air flow through the valve during a time period in which no piston motion is expected;
- and
- opening an unloader valve during the time period to facilitate an unpressurized state for at least one cylinder within the reciprocating compressor, while a closed volume is still maintained in a high pressure cylinder.
A reciprocating compressor comprising:
- a piston coupled to a crankshaft and disposed within a cylinder;
- a reservoir configured to store charged air output from the cylinder;
- an exhaust valve that allows air compressed by the piston to transmit from the cylinder to the reservoir;
- an intake valve that allows air to enter the cylinder;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a leak condition of the exhaust valve via recognition of displacement of the piston, which is caused by air flow through the exhaust valve during a time period in which no piston motion is expected, responsive to an unloader valve being closed during the time period to facilitate a pressurized state within the reciprocating compressor, such that the unloader valve forces open the intake valve to the cylinder in the reciprocating compressor.
3 more elements
A reciprocating compressor comprising:
- a piston coupled to a crankshaft and disposed within a first cylinder;
- a reservoir configured to store charged air output from the first cylinder;
- an exhaust valve that allows air compressed by the piston to transmit from the first cylinder to the reservoir;
- an intake valve that allows air to enter the first cylinder;
- and
- a sensor configured to detect a leak condition of the exhaust valve via recognition of displacement of the piston, which is caused by air flow through the exhaust valve during a time period in which no piston motion is expected, and responsive to an unloader valve being opened during the time period to facilitate an unpressurized state for a second cylinder within the reciprocating compressor, while a closed volume is still maintained in the first cylinder.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.