Systems and methods for detecting compressor surge

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for detecting a surge condition in a compressor system, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of flow measurements relating to a flow rate through the compressor system, the plurality of flow measurements comprising an air inlet flow rate and a low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;
• performing an amplitude calculation to identify a possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements, wherein performing the amplitude calculation comprises:
• comparing the air inlet flow rate with the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;
• determining that a difference between the air inlet flow rate and the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate is larger than a first threshold or less than a second threshold;
• counting, based on at least one of the flow measurements, a number of flow rate oscillation events;
• determining that the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeds a value;
• and
• identifying a possible surge event based on the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeding the value;
• performing a frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements;
• detecting a surge condition based on results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation;
• generating a surge detection control signal based on the detected surge condition;
• and
• adjusting an operating parameter of the compressor system based on the surge detection control signal.

A system comprising:

• a compressor system
• a flow meter disposed in an inlet path of the compressor system configured to generate a plurality of flow measurements;
• and
• a compressor control system communicatively coupled with the flow meter and the compressor system configured to:
• receive the plurality of flow measurements;
• perform an amplitude calculation to identify a possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements, wherein performing the amplitude calculation comprises:
• comparing an air inlet flow rate with a low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;
• determining that a difference between the air inlet flow rate and the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate is larger than a first threshold or less than a second threshold;
• counting, based on at least one of the flow measurements, a number of flow rate oscillation events;
• determining that the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeds a value;
• and
• identifying a possible surge event based on the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeding the value;
• perform a frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements;
• detect a surge condition based on the results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation;
• and
• generate a surge detection control signal based on the detected surge condition.