COMPRESSOR SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A compressor system comprising:
- a lead compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a first output;
a lag compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a second output, the sum of the first output and the second output defining a system output;
a lead variable speed motor operable to drive the lead compressor at a first compressor speed to vary the first output;
a lag variable speed motor operable to drive the lag compressor at a second compressor speed to vary the second output;
a sensor operable to measure a system load; and
a lead motor drive operable to control the speed of the lead variable speed motor and to set a desired operating state of the lag variable speed motor in response to a comparison of the system load and the system output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compressor system includes a lead compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a first output and a lag compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a second output. The sum of the first output and the second output defines a system output. A lead variable speed motor is operable to drive the lead compressor at a first compressor speed to vary the first output and a lag variable speed motor is operable to drive the lag compressor at a second compressor speed to vary the second output. A sensor is operable to measure a system load, and a lead motor drive is operable to control the speed of the lead variable speed motor and to set a desired operating state of the lag variable speed motor in response to a comparison of the system load and the system output.
24 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A compressor system comprising:
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a lead compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a first output; a lag compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a second output, the sum of the first output and the second output defining a system output; a lead variable speed motor operable to drive the lead compressor at a first compressor speed to vary the first output; a lag variable speed motor operable to drive the lag compressor at a second compressor speed to vary the second output; a sensor operable to measure a system load; and a lead motor drive operable to control the speed of the lead variable speed motor and to set a desired operating state of the lag variable speed motor in response to a comparison of the system load and the system output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A compressor system comprising:
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a lead compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a first output; a lag compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a second output, the sum of the first output and the second output defining a system output; a lead variable speed motor operable to drive the lead compressor at a first compressor speed to vary the first output; a lag variable speed motor operable to drive the lag compressor at a second compressor speed to vary the second output; a sensor operable to measure a system load; a lag motor drive operable to control the speed of the lag variable speed motor; and a lead motor drive operable in a first region of operation to drive the lead variable speed motor at a speed that maintains the first output between a first minimum and a first maximum, and to provide a desired operating state to the lag motor drive to maintain the second output between a second minimum and a second maximum, the lead motor drive also operable in a second region of operation to drive the lead variable speed motor at a speed that maintains the first output between a third minimum and a third maximum, the third minimum being different than the first minimum. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating multiple compressors in a compressor system, the method comprising:
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operating a lead compressor between a minimum output and a maximum output to define a lead compressor output; operating a lag compressor between a minimum output and a maximum output to define a lag compressor output; combining the lead compressor output and the lag compressor output to define a system output; measuring a system load with a sensor; comparing the system load and the system output; setting the speed of the lead compressor using a lead variable speed drive; determining a desired operating state for the lag compressor using the lead variable speed drive and a comparison of the system load and the system output; providing to a lag variable speed drive the desired operating state; and operating the lag compressor in the desired operating state in response to receipt of the desired operating state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification