Method and device for regulating individual sub-flows of a system for conveying fluid media

• US 6,532,978 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agsystems Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Agsystems Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Müller-Kuhrt, Lutz, God, Ralf, Gumm, Holger, Binkele, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/856,131
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1, 137/118.04, 137/118.06, 137/487.5, 137/599.01, 137/599.05, 137/599.06, 137/883
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/32 of pressure or speed G01N30/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2657 Flow rate responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets

Abstract

The invention relates a method and a device for regulating individual sub-flows of a conveying system while the main flow is conveyed in a constant manner. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and a device which enable the sub-flows of the conveying lines of a system for conveying fluid media to be regulated as required in said individual conveying lines with just one conveyor unit. To this end, the inventive device for regulating individual sub-flows of a system for conveying fluid media has several conveying lines which are guided in parallel. The invention is characterized in that the following are arranged in the conveying system: at least one total pressure measuring device (10), at least one sub-flow measuring unit (D) in each conveying line, at least one valve (7) with a throttle (B) and a data acquisition, processing and control value output module (C), these being functionally interconnected by hardware and/or software.

Claims

1. A method for regulating a conveying system for fluid media with several parallel conveying lines (11) with the proviso of a constant total conveyed flow, the conveying lines (11) being supplied from a single conveying unit (9), wherein the constant conveyed total flow is divided in the respective conveying lines (11) into specified sub-flows by regulating sub-flow resistances (1), which are ascertained continuously as a ratio of a total pressure value to a sub-flow value, in that the ascertained ratios, as actual values, are compared with a specified value for each conveying line (11) and, depending on the magnitude of the respective deviation between the actual value and the specified value, a regulation of the respective sub-flow resistance (1) and, with that, of the sub-flow of the fluid medium in the respective conveying line, takes place.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the total flow is divided into precisely identical sub-flows.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the total pressure value of the conveying system is measured at the inlet side and sub-flow values are measured directly in the conveying lines (11).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the total pressure value of the conveying system is measured at the inlet side and sub-flow values are measured indirectly in the conveying lines (11).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified value is determined by the ratio of a product of the total pressure and the number of conveying lines (11) to the total flow.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, in the event that different sub-flows are specified, the specified value is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the specified sub-flow.

7. An apparatus for regulating individual sub-flows of a conveying system for fluid media with specification of a total flow, constantly conveyed, with several parallel conveying lines and a single conveying unit (9), wherein at least one total pressure measuring device (10), a distributor (8), at least one sub-flow measuring unit (D) and at least one valve (7) with a throttling site (B), as well as a data acquisition, processing and set value output module (C), are disposed in each conveying line (11.1 to 11.8) and connected over hardware and/or software functionally with one another and are suitable for regulating flow resistances (1) that are ascertained by forming ratios of a total pressure value to a sub-flow values as actual values, for comparing the actual values with specified nominal values and for putting out control values arising from these comparisons for regulation of respective sub-flow resistances (1).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sub-flow measuring unit (D) has a measuring capillary (2) and a partial pressure measuring device (3).

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sub-flow measuring unit (D) has a measuring capillary (2) and two partial pressure measuring devices (3, 12).

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sub-flow measuring unit (D) has a measuring capillary (2) with a pressure difference measuring device.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sub-flow measuring unit (D) has a flow meter.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data acquisition, processing and set value output module (C) have an actual value determination (4), a nominal value delivery part (5), a comparison site (A) as well as a controller (6) with proportional and/or integral and/or differential control behavior.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the total pressure measuring device (10) is disposed at the output side of a conveying unit (9).

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flow resistances (1) are disposed at the output side of the distributor (8).

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the throttling site (B) of the value (7) and the sub-flow measuring unit (D) are disposed in a conveying line between the total pressure meter (10) and serially to the flow resistance (1).

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve (7) with the throttling site (B) and the sub-flow measuring unit (D) are disposed in a conveying line on the outlet side of the flow resistance (1).

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve (7) with the throttling site (B) and the sub-flow measuring unit (D) are disposed on the inlet side of the flow resistance (1).

18. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the valve (7) with the throttling site (B) is disposed on the outlet side and the sub-flow measuring unit (D) is disposed on the inlet side of the flow resistance (1).

19. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sub-flow measuring unit (D) is disposed on the outlet side and the valve (7) with the throttling site (B) on the inlet side of the flow resistance (1).