METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WORK PERFORMED BY A COMPRESSOR

• US 20070132603A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gas Machinery Research Council
• Original Assignee: Gas Machinery Research Council
• Inventors: Harris, Ralph, Edlund, Carl, Franke, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US11/627,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0201 Position of the piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0206 Length of piston stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0801 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/121 Load on the sucker rod
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/01 Pressure before the pump inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/05 Pressure after the pump outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/00 Control , e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring a reciprocating member of a reciprocating piston compressor is presented. The apparatus and method provide a means for measuring parameters of the reciprocating member, such as road load or cross-head temperature and the like, and wirelessly transmitting the data to a receiver. A mobile assembly is attached to a reciprocating member of the compressor, the mobile assembly having a sensor assembly, a wireless transmitter and a power generation assembly. The sensor assembly measures a parameter of the reciprocating member and generates a representative sensor signal. The wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits a corresponding data signal to a stationary assembly mounted nearby. The power assembly powers the transmitter and sensor assembly. The measured data is used, in conjunction with other measurements, such as a crankshaft encoder, to calculate the work performed by the compressor, the power used by the compressor and other information. The compressor utilization is then optimized based on the gathered information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a reciprocating machine, the machine having at least one reciprocating member, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile assembly attachable to a reciprocating member of the machine, the mobile assembly having a sensor assembly, a wireless transmitter and a power assembly, the sensor assembly operable to measure a parameter of the reciprocating member and generate a representative sensor signal, the representative sensor signal able to be input to the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly transmit a data signal related to the representative sensor signal, and the power assembly operable to power the transmitter and sensor assembly; and

a stationary assembly having a receiver operable to receive the data signal from the transmitter.

2. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the reciprocating member comprises at least a connecting rod, the connecting rod linking a rotating member of the machine to the linear motion of the reciprocating member.

3. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of strain gauges.

4. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a temperature sensor.

5. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a load monitor.

6. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the transmitter further comprises a smart circuit capable of manipulating the representative sensor signal.

7. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the representative sensor signal is a plurality of signals.

8. An apparatus as in 3, the reciprocating member having a load bearing surface, and wherein the sensor assembly comprises strain sensors mounted to the load bearing surface.

9. An apparatus as in 3 wherein the strain gauges are mounted to measure the axial strain on the reciprocating member.

10. An apparatus as in 4, the reciprocating member comprising a cross-head bushing, the sensor assembly mounted to measure the temperature of the cross-head bushing.

11. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting a radio frequency signal.

12. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting an optical signal.

13. An apparatus as in 6 wherein the representative sensor signal is a voltage signal and the smart circuit of the transmitter is capable of manipulating the voltage signal to produce a related frequency signal.

14. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary device attached to the machine.

15. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary device comprising a processor capable of manipulating the data signal received from the transmitter.

16. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly processor capable of receiving representative signals from various other sensor devices.

17. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of transmitting the received data signal.

18. An apparatus as in 1, the machine further comprising a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet, pressure sensors mounted to measure the pressure at the pressure inlet and outlet, the pressure sensors capable of generating representative pressure signals, the stationary assembly capable of receiving the representative pressure signals.

19. An apparatus as in 1, the compressor further comprising a crankshaft and crankshaft encoder capable of generating a representative crankshaft signal, the stationary assembly capable of receiving the representative crankshaft signal.

20. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of calculating the load on the reciprocating member.

21. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of calculating the power used by the compressor.

22. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of regulating the operation of the compressor.

23. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of optimizing the operation of the compressor.

24. An apparatus as in 1, the power generation assembly comprising an inductive coil assembly.

25. An apparatus as in 1, the inductive coil assembly comprising an inductive coil mounted to the reciprocating member.

26. An apparatus as in 25, the compressor having a stationary portion, the power generation assembly further comprising a magnetic array mounted to the stationary portion in proximity to the inductive coil.

27. An apparatus as in 1, the power assembly comprising a battery assembly.

28-62. -62. (canceled)

63. An apparatus as in 1 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a bending monitor.

64. An apparatus as in 2 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a velocity sensor.

65. An apparatus as in 3 wherein at least two of the plurality of strain gauges are mounted on opposite sides of the reciprocating member.

66. An apparatus as in 3, the reciprocating member having a load-bearing surface and wherein the sensor assembly comprises strain gauge sensors mounted to the load-bearing surface.

67. An apparatus as in 4, the reciprocating member comprising moving components, the temperature sensor mounted to measure temperatures of at least one of the moving components.

68. An apparatus as in 1, the stationary assembly capable of calculating the load on the reciprocating member.

69. An apparatus as in 8, wherein the strain sensors comprise two pairs of strain sensors.

70. An apparatus as in 69, wherein each pair of strain sensors are mounted on the load bearing surface opposite one another.

71. An apparatus as in 1, wherein the reciprocating machine is a piston compressor.

72. An apparatus as in 1, wherein the reciprocating machine is a pump.

73. An apparatus as in 1, wherein the reciprocating machine is an internal combustion engine.

74. An apparatus for monitoring reciprocating machinery, the machinery having at least one reciprocating member, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile assembly attachable to a reciprocating member of the machinery, the mobile assembly having a sensor assembly, a wireless transmitter and a power assembly, the sensor assembly operable to measure a parameter of the reciprocating member and generate a representative sensor signal, the representative sensor signal able to be input to the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly transmit a data signal related to the representative sensor signal, and the power assembly operable to power the transmitter and sensor assembly; and

a stationary assembly having a receiver operable to receive the data signal from the wireless transmitter, the stationary assembly spaced apart from the mobile assembly.

75. An apparatus as in 74 wherein the reciprocating member comprises at least a connecting rod.

76. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least one strain gauge.

77. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a temperature sensor.

78. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a load monitor.

79. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a bending monitor.

80. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the transmitter further comprises a smart circuit capable of manipulating the representative sensor signal.

81. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the representative sensor signal is a plurality of signals.

82. An apparatus as in 71, the reciprocating member having a surface, and wherein the sensor assembly comprises strain sensors mounted to the surface.

83. An apparatus as in 71 wherein the strain gauges are mounted to measure the axial strain on the reciprocating member.

84. An apparatus as in 72, the reciprocating member comprising a cross-head bushing, the sensor assembly mounted to measure the temperature of the cross-head bushing.

85. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting a radio frequency signal.

86. An apparatus as in 69 wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting an optical signal.

87. An apparatus as in 75 wherein the representative sensor signal is a voltage signal and the smart circuit of the transmitter is capable of manipulating the voltage signal to produce a related frequency signal.

88. An apparatus as in 69, the stationary device attached to the machinery.

89. An apparatus as in 69, the stationary device comprising circuitry capable of manipulating the data signal received from the transmitter.

90. An apparatus as in 69, the stationary assembly circuitry capable of receiving representative signals from various other sensor devices.

91. An apparatus as in 69, the stationary assembly capable of transmitting data signals.

92. An apparatus as in 69, the reciprocating machinery a reciprocating compressor.

93. An apparatus as in 69, the reciprocating machinery a multi-stage compressor.

94. An apparatus as in 69, the reciprocating machinery a reciprocating piston machine.

95. An apparatus as in 69, the machinery further comprising a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet, pressure sensors mounted to measure the pressure at the pressure inlet and outlet, the pressure sensors capable of generating representative pressure signals, the stationary assembly capable of receiving the representative pressure signal.

96. An apparatus as in 69, the compressor further comprising a rod location sensor.

97. An apparatus as in 69, the apparatus capable of calculating the load on the machinery.

98. An apparatus as in 69, the apparatus capable of calculating the power used by the machinery.

99. An apparatus as in 69, the apparatus capable of regulating the operation of the machinery.

100. An apparatus as in 69, the stationary assembly capable of optimizing the operation of the compressor.

101. An apparatus as in 69, the power generation assembly comprising an inductive coil assembly and magnetic array.