초록 ▼

A system and a method useful for determining and controlling flow in an engine load compressor 102 having an inlet 104 and an outlet 106. Means 108 are provided for measuring static pressure at one or more locations within the load compressor inlet 104. Means 108 are also provided for measuring stat

A system and a method useful for determining and controlling flow in an engine load compressor 102 having an inlet 104 and an outlet 106. Means 108 are provided for measuring static pressure at one or more locations within the load compressor inlet 104. Means 108 are also provided for measuring static pressure at one or more locations within the load compressor outlet 106. The system further comprises means 112 for measuring temperature at at least one location within the compressor, and one or more processors 114 adapted for calculating ratios relating compressor outlet and inlet pressures, optionally normalizing the calculated pressure ratios according to any one or more of reference temperatures, inlet guide vane positions, and compressor speeds, and for determining, using the optionally normalized pressure ratios, desired load compressor output flow rates Q.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system useful for controlling flow in a load compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the system comprising: means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet;means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor outlet;means for measuring temperature at at least one locati

1. A system useful for controlling flow in a load compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the system comprising: means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet;means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor outlet;means for measuring temperature at at least one location within the compressor;a processor adapted for calculating a ratio relating the measured compressor outlet pressure to the measured compressor inlet pressure, normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference temperature, and for determining, using the normalized pressure ratio, a desired load compressor output flow rate, the desired load compressor output flow rate useable for preventing surge in the load compressor or operating at a desired pressure, flow rate or efficiency. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet is configured for measuring said static inlet pressure downstream of one or more inlet guide vanes. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet is configured for measuring said static inlet pressure upstream of one or more variable-position inlet guide vanes, and the processor is further adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference inlet guide vane position in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference compressor speed in a variable-speed compressor in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the load compressor output flow rate according to the calculated desired flow rate. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the load compressor output flow rate comprises means for controlling a surge control valve. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring temperature at at least one location within the load compressor is configured to measure at least one of a compressor inlet temperature and a compressor outlet temperature. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference temperature by use of a programmed table look-up function. 9. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference inlet guide vane position by use of a programmed table look-up function. 10. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference compressor speed by use of a programmed table look-up function. 11. A method for controlling flow in a load compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the method performed by an automatic data processor and comprising: receiving a signal representative of a measured static pressure at the load compressor inlet;receiving a signal representative of a measured static pressure at the load compressor outlet;receiving a signal representative of a measured temperature at at least one location within the compressor;calculating a ratio relating the measured compressor outlet pressure to the measured compressor inlet pressure, normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference temperature, anddetermining, using the normalized pressure ratio, at least one signal representative of a desired load compressor output flow rate, the at least one signal representative of the desired load compressor output flow rate being useful for preventing surge in the load compressor or operating at a desired pressure, flow rate or efficiency. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the static pressure at the load compressor inlet is measured downstream of one or more inlet guide vanes. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the static pressure at the load compressor inlet is measured upstream of one or more variable-position inlet guide vanes, and the method comprises normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference inlet guide vane position in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 14. The method of claim 11, comprising normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference compressor speed in a variable-speed compressor in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the load compressor output flow rate according to the calculated desired flow rate. 16. A load compressor comprising: an inlet, and means for measuring static pressure at the inlet;an outlet, and means for measuring static pressure at the outlet;means for measuring temperature at at least one location within the compressor;a processor adapted for calculating a ratio relating the measured outlet pressure to the measured inlet pressure, normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference temperature, and for determining, using the normalized pressure ratio, a desired load compressor output flow rate, the desired load compressor output flow rate useable for preventing surge in the load compressor. 17. The load compressor of claim 16, further comprising one or more inlet guide vanes, wherein the means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet is configured for measuring said static inlet pressure downstream of said one or more inlet guide vanes. 18. The load compressor of claim 16, further comprising variable-position inlet guide vanes, wherein the means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet is configured for measuring said static inlet pressure upstream of the one or more variable-position inlet guide vanes, and the processor is further adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference inlet guide vane position in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 19. The load compressor of claim 16, wherein the load compressor is a variable speed compressor, and the processor is further adapted for normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference compressor speed in determining the desired load compressor output flow rate. 20. The load compressor of claim 16, further comprising means for controlling the load compressor output flow rate according to the calculated desired flow rate. 21. The load compressor of claim 20, wherein the means for controlling the load compressor output flow rate comprises means for controlling a surge control valve. 22. A system useful for measuring flow in a load compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the system comprising: means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor inlet;means for measuring static pressure at the load compressor outlet;means for measuring temperature at at least one location within the compressor;a processor adapted for calculating a ratio relating the measured compressor outlet pressure to the measured compressor inlet pressure, normalizing the calculated pressure ratio according to a reference temperature, and for determining, using the normalized pressure ratio, a desired load compressor output flow rate, the desired load compressor output flow rate useable for preventing surge in the load compressor or operating at a desired pressure, flow rate or efficiency.