US 9,382,798 B2Granted

Method and system for fluid flow control in a fluid network system

AssigneeABB Research Ltd.

InventorsMichael Lundh, Jan Nyqvist

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Abstract

A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by means of a plurality of fluid machines. The disclosure provides a simple empirical method of identifying network characteristics of the fluid network system used for providing the required fluid flow rate in the fluid network system utilizing minimal fluid machine power. The method includes the steps of determining a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically; determining a minimum total fluid machine power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint involving the relation between the fluid flow rate and the corresponding fluid machine speed, and controlling a speed of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine power in the fluid network system is attained.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by means of a plurality of fluid machines, wherein the method comprises:

a) calculating, via a processor, a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically,
b) determining, via the processor, a minimum total fluid machine electric power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint comprising the relation between the change in fluid machine speed and the corresponding change in fluid flow rate and based on an equation defining each individual fluid machine electric power and expressed as:
E
=
Δ
⁢
⁢
p
·
Q
η
,
wherein Δp is differential pressure for the respective fluid machine, Q is fluid flow rate for the respective fluid machine, and η is efficiency of the respective fluid machine, and
c) controlling, via the processor in communication with the plurality of fluid machines, a speed of each of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine electric power in the fluid network system is attained,
wherein the steps a)-c) are performed without dynamically modeling real-time locations of machinery and personnel in the fluid network system.

12 more elements

A control system for fluid flow control in a fluid network system comprising a plurality of fluid machines, which control system comprises:

a processing unit arranged to calculate a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically,
the processing system being arranged to determine a minimum total fluid machine electric power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint comprising the relation between the change in fluid machine speed and the corresponding change in fluid flow rate and based on an equation defining each individual fluid machine electric power and expressed as:
E
=
Δ
⁢
⁢
p
·
Q
η
,
wherein Δp is differential pressure for the respective fluid machine, Q is fluid flow rate for the respective fluid machine, and η is efficiency of the respective fluid machine, and
a control unit arranged to control a speed of each of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine electric power in the fluid network system is attained, the control unit communicating with the processing unit, wherein the control unit provides fluid flow control without dynamically modeling real-time locations of machinery and personnel in the fluid network system.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/096,883Filed 4 Dec 2013 · continuation
Priority: 16 Jun 2011
Published: US 2014/0094105 A13 Apr 2014
Granted: 5 Jul 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

E21F 1/00
Ventilation of mines or tunnels
E21F 1/02
Ventilation of mines or tunnels; Distribution of ventilating currents: test models
G05D 7/0617
Characterised by the use of electric means: specially adapted for fluid materials
G05D 7/0676
Characterised by the type of regulator means: by action on flow sources