Method and apparatus for flow control
First Claim
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1. A flow control system, comprising:
- a first fluid flowing at a first fluid flow rate;
a flow control valve through which a second fluid flows, the flow control valve having a coil and a spool, such that an electric current flowing through the coil generates an electromagnetic force on the spool;
a temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature of the second fluid;
a control system coupled to the temperature sensor and the coil, the control system operable to determine a desired flow rate of the second fluid based on the first fluid flow rate;
a flow sensor coupled to the control system, the control system operable to determine a measured flow rate of the second fluid based on the flow sensor, the control system further operable to compare the measured flow rate of the second fluid to an expected flow rate of the second fluid and to establish a scaling factor based on the comparison of the measured and expected flow rates of the second fluid, such that the control system is operable to adjust the electromagnetic force on the spool based on the temperature of the second fluid and on the scaling factor to substantially achieve the desired flow rate of the second fluid.
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Abstract
A flow control system (10) is provided in which a flow control valve (12) is controlled by a control system (14). The control system (14) measures a flow rate or temperature of a fluid flowing through the flow control valve (12) and adjusts the flow control valve (12) to achieve a desired flow rate. The flow control valve (12) includes an electromagnetically adjustable spool (26).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A flow control system, comprising:
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a first fluid flowing at a first fluid flow rate; a flow control valve through which a second fluid flows, the flow control valve having a coil and a spool, such that an electric current flowing through the coil generates an electromagnetic force on the spool; a temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature of the second fluid; a control system coupled to the temperature sensor and the coil, the control system operable to determine a desired flow rate of the second fluid based on the first fluid flow rate; a flow sensor coupled to the control system, the control system operable to determine a measured flow rate of the second fluid based on the flow sensor, the control system further operable to compare the measured flow rate of the second fluid to an expected flow rate of the second fluid and to establish a scaling factor based on the comparison of the measured and expected flow rates of the second fluid, such that the control system is operable to adjust the electromagnetic force on the spool based on the temperature of the second fluid and on the scaling factor to substantially achieve the desired flow rate of the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a flow control system wherein there are a plurality of demands for flow separated by times when there is no demand for flow, comprising:
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determining a fluid flow rate of a first fluid; determining a desired flow rate for a second fluid based on the fluid flow rate of the first fluid; sensing a parameter of the second fluid; setting a flow rate of the second fluid with a control setting to substantially achieve the desired flow rate, wherein setting the flow rate comprises adjusting a position of a spool by adjusting an electromagnetic force on the spool, and wherein the control setting varies from a first control setting to a last control setting during a demand for flow; and establishing the control setting by remembering the last control setting from a previous demand for flow and applying said last control setting from said previous demand for flow as the first control setting in a subsequent demand for flow, and then varying the control setting based on the sensed parameter of the second fluid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification