# US 9,436,188 B2 · Systems and methods for detecting compressor surge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,188 B2 - Document ID: US9436188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/901,976 - Filed: 2013-05-24 - Published: 2014-11-27 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-24 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Yanyan Zhang; Joseph Mussro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436188B2 ## CPC - G05D 7/0617: {specially adapted for fluid materials} - F04D 27/001: {Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring} - F04D 27/02: Surge control {(surge detection F04D27/001)} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract System and methods for detecting surge conditions in a compressor system are presented. In some embodiments, a method for detecting surge conditions may include receiving a plurality of flow measurements relating to a flow rate through the compressor system. Amplitude calculations may be performed based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements to identify a possible surge condition. Frequency calculations may also be performed to identify a possible surge condition. A surge condition may be detected based on the results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation and, in response, a surge detection control signal may be generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flow measurements further comprise a derivative of the air inlet flow rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein performing the frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition comprises: comparing a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold determining that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold; maintaining a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements; determining that the count exceeds a value; and identifying a possible surge event based on count exceeding the value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the surge detection control signal is configured to implement one or more surge condition mitigation methods. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the plurality of flow measurements further comprise a derivative of the air inlet flow rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein performing the frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition comprises: comparing a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold. determining that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold; maintaining a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements; determining that the count exceeds a value; and identifying a possible surge event based on the count exceeding the value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the surge detection control signal is configured to implement one or more surge condition mitigation methods. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein in performing the frequency calculation the compressor control system is further configured to: compare a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold, determine that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold; maintain a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements; determine that the count exceeds a value; and identify a possible surge event based on the count exceeding the value. ### Claim 15 The system 14, wherein compressor control system is further configured to reset the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed or if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold.