Compressed air control system
First Claim
1. An air control system for a main conduit of a substantially continuous flow compressed air system in which air-weight flow throughout the air control system is controlled comprising compressed air supply means providing an air supply, air-operated equipment served by said compressed air supply means and providing an air demand and a main air supply conduit connected between said compressed air supply means and said air-operated equipment to channel said air supply to said air demand, said air supply being subject to fluctuation according to variations in said air supply means and in said air demand wherein said air control system comprises:
- a) a continuously variable adjustable flow controller for controlling air flow through said main air supply conduit, said flow controller comprising a plurality of flow sub-controls in parallel configuration, each of said sub-controls having a low inertial, mechanical and fluid dynamic hysteresis;
b) pressure monitoring means downstream of said flow controller and generating a pressure related demand signal, said demand signal fluctuating over time as a function of variations in said pressure;
c) actuator means to operate said flow controller in response to said demand signal to stabilize downstream air pressure;
thereby to adjust said flow controller to vary said air flow rate in said main air conduit according to downstream pressure variations; and
d) a by-pass sub-control openable in response to a predetermined pressure difference across said control unit to provide a substantially free-flow by-pass airway.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides an air control system which is retrofittable in an intermediate position between upstream compressors and air storage vessels and downstream useful production equipment or the like to provide benefits of greater air-utilization efficiency and a better air system balance between supply and demand, especially on an air-weight flow basis. A preferred embodiment employs a plurality of servo-driven flow controllers in parallel between a pair of header tanks and controls them in response to sensed downstream pressures and to the pressure differential across the control system.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An air control system for a main conduit of a substantially continuous flow compressed air system in which air-weight flow throughout the air control system is controlled comprising compressed air supply means providing an air supply, air-operated equipment served by said compressed air supply means and providing an air demand and a main air supply conduit connected between said compressed air supply means and said air-operated equipment to channel said air supply to said air demand, said air supply being subject to fluctuation according to variations in said air supply means and in said air demand wherein said air control system comprises:
-
a) a continuously variable adjustable flow controller for controlling air flow through said main air supply conduit, said flow controller comprising a plurality of flow sub-controls in parallel configuration, each of said sub-controls having a low inertial, mechanical and fluid dynamic hysteresis; b) pressure monitoring means downstream of said flow controller and generating a pressure related demand signal, said demand signal fluctuating over time as a function of variations in said pressure; c) actuator means to operate said flow controller in response to said demand signal to stabilize downstream air pressure;
thereby to adjust said flow controller to vary said air flow rate in said main air conduit according to downstream pressure variations; andd) a by-pass sub-control openable in response to a predetermined pressure difference across said control unit to provide a substantially free-flow by-pass airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A compressed air system comprising:
-
a) a plurality of air compressor units connected to a main feed supply duct, said compressor units having outputs which are mixed in said duct to provide a common pressurized air supply and including compressor units with differing energy efficiency characteristics; b) useful air-powered equipment connectable in pneumatic-circuit with said common pressurized air supply downstream of said duct and providing a variable demand for said common pressurized air supply; c) continuously variable adjustable flow controller means for controlling air flow through said main air supply conduit, said flow controller means providing a flow path in a full-open position said flow path being substantially non-constricting to air flow from said main feed duct; e) detector means to detect imbalances between air flow upstream of said flow controller means and air flow downstream of said flow controller means; and f) actuator means to actuate said air flow controller means to reduce said imbalances; wherein said air-powered equipment receives a controlled air supply and overall energy efficiency of said plurality of compressors is improved. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification