US3737252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of gas compression apparatus
Assignee: Elliott Turbomachinery Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-23
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A control system for regulating operation of gas compression apparatus operable on base mode. The discharge pressure of the gas from the compression plant is sensed and a signal related thereto is compared to a predetermined signal to produce a resultant control signal, operable to modulate a dump valve which governs the venting of excess discharge gas to the atmosphere. When the magnitude of the resultant control signal reaches a predetermined value, a second control signal is transmitted to cause the dump valve to assume a fully open position. The second control signal also causes a valve regulating flow of gas to the inlet of the compressor to assume a fully closed position. The compressor is thereby in an idle state.
Inventors
- 👤 K Pilarczyk
- 👤 H Pennink
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:40
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D27/00; F04D27/02; F04D27/0207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A control system for automatically placing gas compression apparatus in an unloaded state during base mode operation, when the load on said compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus, including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the pressure of the gas flowing through said discharge means and for creating a first signal related to said discharge pressure; b. means for receiving a first signal of a predetermined magnitude and said signal relating to said discharge pressure and transmitting a resultant control signal; c. first means for receiving said resultant signal and operable to modulate said bypass valve means to maintain a substantially constant discharge pressure; d. second means for receiving said resultant control signal and operable when the magnitude of said signal has reached a predetermined value due to the load on said compression apparatus having decreased below a predetermined level to send a second control signal to cause said bypass valve means to assume a fully open position and to further cause said inlet valve means to assume a fully closed position; and e. means operable to prevent said first resultant control signal froM being transmitted to said bypass valve means when said second control signal is being transmitted, said bypass valve means thereby being maintained in a fully open position so long as the load on said compression apparatus remains below said predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A control system for automatically placing gas compression apparatus in an unloaded state during base mode operation, when the load on said compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus, including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the pressure of the gas flowing through said discharge means and for creating a first signal related to said discharge pressure; b. means for receiving a first signal of a predetermined magnitude and said signal relating to said discharge pressure and transmitting a resultant control signal; c. first means for receiving said resultant signal and operable to modulate said bypass valve means to maintain a substantially constant discharge pressure; d. second means for receiving said resultant control signal and operable when the magnitude of said signal has reached a predetermined value due to the load on said compression apparatus having decreased below a predetermined level to send a second control signal to cause said bypass valve means to assume a fully open position and to further cause said inlet valve means to assume a fully closed position; and e. means operable to prevent said first resultant control signal froM being transmitted to said bypass valve means when said second control signal is being transmitted, said bypass valve means thereby being maintained in a fully open position so long as the load on said compression apparatus remains below said predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes valve means having first and second operating positions, said valve means transmitting said first resultant control signal when in its first operating position and being further operable to exhaust any signal from said bypass valve means when in its second operating position, said valve means being placed in its second operating position upon transmission of said second control signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of regulating the operation of gas compression apparatus operating on base mode, whereby said apparatus is automatically placed in an unloaded state when the load on the apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said apparatus including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, a valve governing the flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and storage means and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. sensing the pressure of the gas flowing through the discharge means; b. generating a first signal relating to said sensed discharge pressure; c. receiving the signal relating to said discharge pressure and comparing same to a signal of a predetermined magnitude to produce a resultant control signal; d. transmitting the resultant control signal through a first flow path to modulate the bypass valve means to maintain a substantially constant discharge pressure; and e. transmitting the resultant control signal through a second flow path, when the magnitude of said resultant signal has reached a predetermined value due to the load on the compression apparatus having decreased below a predetermined level whereby a second control signal is generated to cause said bypass valve means to assume a fully open position and said inlet valve means to assume a fully closed position, said bypass and inlet valve means being maintained in said positions until the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of regulating the operation of gas compression apparatus operating on base mode, whereby said apparatus is automatically placed in an unloaded state when the load on the apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said apparatus including a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, a valve governing the flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storage of gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and storage means and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. sensing the pressure of the gas flowing through the discharge means; b. generating a first signal relating to said sensed discharge pressure; c. receiving the signal relating to said discharge pressure and comparing same to a signal of a predetermined magnitude to produce a resultant control signal; d. transmitting the resultant control signal through a first flow path to modulate the bypass valve means to maintain a substantially constant discharge pressure; and e. transmitting the resultant control signal through a second flow path, when the magnitude of said resultant signal has reached a predetermined value due to the load on the compression apparatus having decreased below a predetermined level whereby a second control signal is generated to cause said bypass valve means to assume a fully open position and said inlet valve means to assume a fully closed position, said bypass and inlet valve means being maintained in said positions until the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising the step of blocking the transmission of the resultant control signal through said first flow path when the magnitude of the signal has reached the predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
260 words
A control system for automatically placing a gas compression apparatus in an unloaded state during base mode operation when the load on such compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus including; a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means covering flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storing gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the magnitude of the load on said gas compression apparatus; b. means for generating a first control signal, the magnitude thereof varying in response to changes in said load; c. means for receiving said first control signal and being operable to generate a resultant control signal, the magnitude thereof varying in response to changes in load on said compression apparatus; and d. means operable to receive said resultant control signal, when the load on said compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, the magnitude of said resultant control signal being at a value whereby said resultant signal receiving means is operable to place said compression apparatus in an unloaded state wherein the inlet valve means is closed and said bypass valve means is open, therEafter when the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level, the magnitude of said resultant control signal will vary whereby said resultant signal receiving means is further operable to place said bypass and inlet valves in their loaded base mode states.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
260 words
A control system for automatically placing a gas compression apparatus in an unloaded state during base mode operation when the load on such compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus including; a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means covering flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storing gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising: a. means for sensing the magnitude of the load on said gas compression apparatus; b. means for generating a first control signal, the magnitude thereof varying in response to changes in said load; c. means for receiving said first control signal and being operable to generate a resultant control signal, the magnitude thereof varying in response to changes in load on said compression apparatus; and d. means operable to receive said resultant control signal, when the load on said compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, the magnitude of said resultant control signal being at a value whereby said resultant signal receiving means is operable to place said compression apparatus in an unloaded state wherein the inlet valve means is closed and said bypass valve means is open, therEafter when the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level, the magnitude of said resultant control signal will vary whereby said resultant signal receiving means is further operable to place said bypass and inlet valves in their loaded base mode states.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of placing gas compression apparatus operating on base mode in an unloaded state when the load on such compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus including; a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storing the gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising the steps of: a. sensing that the load on said compression apparatus has fallen below a predetermined level; b. regulating the bypass valve means so it is placed in a fully open position and the inlet valve means so it is placed in a fully closed position when the decrease in the load has been sensed, to place the compression apparatus in an unloaded mode of operation; c. maintaining the inlet and bypass valves in their unloaded mode so long as the load on said compression apparatus remains below the predetermined level; and d. sensing that the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level to thereby place said valves in their loaded base mode states.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of placing gas compression apparatus operating on base mode in an unloaded state when the load on such compression apparatus has decreased below a predetermined level, said compression apparatus including; a gas compressor, an inlet conduit, valve means governing flow of gas through the inlet conduit to the compressor, means for storing the gas delivered by the compressor, discharge means connecting the compressor and the storage means, and bypass valve means for venting the discharge of the compressor to the atmosphere comprising the steps of: a. sensing that the load on said compression apparatus has fallen below a predetermined level; b. regulating the bypass valve means so it is placed in a fully open position and the inlet valve means so it is placed in a fully closed position when the decrease in the load has been sensed, to place the compression apparatus in an unloaded mode of operation; c. maintaining the inlet and bypass valves in their unloaded mode so long as the load on said compression apparatus remains below the predetermined level; and d. sensing that the load on said compression apparatus has increased above said predetermined level to thereby place said valves in their loaded base mode states.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |