Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage liquid injection into a fluid flow in a multi-stage compressor, comprising: means for measuring a fluid pressure in said interstage; means for calculating a saturation temperature of said fluid based on said fluid pressure and, control means effective to control a flow rate of said liquid injection to a value which reduces a temperature of said fluid at a downstream end of said interstage to a predetermined amount above said saturation temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage liquid injection into a fluid flow in a multi-stage compressor, comprising: means for measuring a fluid pressure in said interstage; means for calculating a saturation temperature of said fluid based on said fluid pressure and, control means effective to control a flow rate of said liquid injection to a value which reduces a temperature of said fluid at a downstream end of said interstage to a predetermined amount above said saturation temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liquid is water and the fluid is steam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes a temperature sensor at said downstream end effective to produce a temperature signal related to said temperature of said steam at said downstream end, and means for controlling a flow rate of said water injection in dependence upon a relationship between said temperature signal and said predetermined amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 3 wherein said temperature sensor is of a type substantially unaffected by a residue of liquid water droplets in said interstage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 4 wherein said temperature sensor is an aspirator-type temperature sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 2 wherein said means for calculating a saturation temperature includes a lookup table in a digital computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes a temperature sensor effective to produce a temperature signal related to a temperature of said steam in said interstage upstream of said water injection, means responsive to said temperature signal, the calculated saturation temperature and a mass rate of steam flow in said multi-stage compressor to calculate a desired rate of water injection to reduce a temperature of said steam to said predetermined amount above said saturation temperature, and means for controlling an actual rate of water injection to a value substantially equal to said desired rate of water injection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus for controlling interstage water injection according to claim 7 wherein said means for controlling an actual rate includes means for comparing said actual rate and said desired rate and means for increasing and decreasing said actual rate in dependence on the comparison.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for controlling interstage water injection into a steam flow in a multi-stage compressor, comprising: measuring a pressure of steam in said interstage; calculating a saturation temperature of said steam based on said pressure; and controlling a flow rate of said water injection to a value effective to reduce a temperature of said steam at a downstream end of said interstage to a predetermined amount above said saturation temperature.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for controlling interstage water injection into a steam flow in a multi-stage compressor, comprising: measuring a pressure of steam in said interstage; calculating a saturation temperature of said steam based on said pressure; and controlling a flow rate of said water injection to a value effective to reduce a temperature of said steam at a downstream end of said interstage to a predetermined amount above said saturation temperature.