Method and system for controlling a pressure regulator
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a pressure regulator and an electric actuator means for operating the pressure regulator to control the pressure of control fluid regulated by the pressure regulator in response to a reference signal, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating feedback signals including a first feedback signal as a function of the actual pressure of the regulated control fluid;
generating an error signal based on the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signals, the error signal being representative of a desired amount of control fluid pressure change; and
generating a first control signal as a function of the error signal to control the actuator means, wherein the improvement comprises;
generating an expected pressure differential signal based on the difference between the reference signal and the first feedback signal;
generating a second feedback signal as a function of the pressure of the regulated control fluid in response to the first control signal;
generating an actual pressure differential signal as a function of the difference between the first and second feedback signals;
generating a correction factor based on the difference between the actual pressure differential signal and the expected pressure differential signal;
modifying the error signal as a function of the correction factor;
storing the correction factor; and
generating a second control signal as a function of the modified error signal to control the actuator means as a function of the actual level of regulated control fluid pressure to compensate for varying system operating conditions.
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for controlling a pressure regulator and an electric actuator mechanism for operating the pressure regulator by modifying a generated error signal as a function of at least one correction factor so that the actuator mechanism is controlled as a function of the actual level of regulated control fluid pressure to compensate for varying system operating conditions. A first correction factor is generated as a function of the difference between an actual pressure differential signal and an expected pressure differential signal. A second correction factor is based on the level of a feedback signal which is a function of the actual pressure of the regulated control fluid. An error signal generated by the method and system defines a ramp signal, wherein the shape of the ramp signal is defined by a data matrix of actual pressure differentials. The ramp signal may have a linear, exponential or a constant accelerationdeceleration shape. Preferably, the pressure regulator is a pilot operated pressure regulator and the actuator mechanism includes an up solenoid and a down solenoid.
101 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a pressure regulator and an electric actuator means for operating the pressure regulator to control the pressure of control fluid regulated by the pressure regulator in response to a reference signal, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating feedback signals including a first feedback signal as a function of the actual pressure of the regulated control fluid;
generating an error signal based on the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signals, the error signal being representative of a desired amount of control fluid pressure change; and
generating a first control signal as a function of the error signal to control the actuator means, wherein the improvement comprises;generating an expected pressure differential signal based on the difference between the reference signal and the first feedback signal; generating a second feedback signal as a function of the pressure of the regulated control fluid in response to the first control signal; generating an actual pressure differential signal as a function of the difference between the first and second feedback signals; generating a correction factor based on the difference between the actual pressure differential signal and the expected pressure differential signal; modifying the error signal as a function of the correction factor; storing the correction factor; and generating a second control signal as a function of the modified error signal to control the actuator means as a function of the actual level of regulated control fluid pressure to compensate for varying system operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- generating feedback signals including a first feedback signal as a function of the actual pressure of the regulated control fluid;
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8. A control system for controlling a pressure regulator to control the pressure of control fluid regulated by the pressure regulator in response to a reference signal, the control system including electric actuator means adapted to be coupled to the pressure regulator for operating the pressure regulator as a function of control signals, feedback means for generating feedback signals including a first feedback signal as a function of the actual pressure of the regulated control fluid;
- means for generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signals, and control means for generating a control signal as a function of the error signal to control the actuator means, the feedback means generating a second feedback signal as a function of the pressure of the regulated control fluid in response to the control signal;
the error signal being representative of a desired amount of control fluid pressure change, wherein the improvement comprises;means for generating an expected pressure differential signal based on the difference between the reference signal and the first feedback signal; means for generating an actual pressure differential signal as a function of the difference between the first and second feedback signals; means for generating a correction factor based on the difference between the actual pressure differential signal and the expected pressure differential signal; means for storing the correction factor; and error signal modifying means for modifying the error signal as a function of the correction factor, the control means generating a second control signal as a function of the modified error signal to control the actuator means as a function of the actual level of control fluid pressure to compensate for varying system operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- means for generating an error signal as a function of the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signals, and control means for generating a control signal as a function of the error signal to control the actuator means, the feedback means generating a second feedback signal as a function of the pressure of the regulated control fluid in response to the control signal;
Specification