Ingersoll-rand Company

Marty L Connell

James D Mehaffey

Paul A Kirkpatrick

A fluid compression system includes a plurality of compressors, each compressor having a local controller for controlling operation thereof and a sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed fluid discharged therefrom. A method for controlling operation of the fluid compression system includes establishing a set point pressure threshold for loading and unloading each compressor, and assigning a ranking to each compressor for identifying a highest ranked compressor and a lowest ranked compressor, whereby the highest ranked compressor for the compression system initiates all commands for controlling all of the lower ranked compressors in the compression system. The method also includes commencing a loading subroutine including loading the highest ranked unloaded compressor, setting a load delay timer, sensing the pressure of the compressed fluid discharged from the highest ranked compressor, comparing the sensed discharge pressure of the highest ranked compressor to the set point pressure threshold established for the highest ranked compressor, and transmitting a load command from the controller of the highest ranked compressor to the controller of the next highest ranked unloaded compressor if the sensed discharge pressure of the highest ranked compressor remains less than or equal to the set point pressure threshold established for the highest ranked compressor, and the load delay timer equals zero. The loading subroutine is repeated until the discharge pressure of the highest ranked compressor is greater than the set point pressure threshold established therefor.

Method for controlling the operation of a compression system having a plurality of compressors

A compression system includes a sequencing switch movable between a first switch position and a second switch position for alternating a first compressor and a second compressor between a lead mode and a lag mode so that one of the compressors is always in the lead mode and one of the compressors is always in the lag mode. The compression system includes a first compressor including a first microcontroller having a data entry device for establishing a lead mode pressure range and a lag mode pressure range. The first compressor includes a first pressure gauge for sensing the pressure level of compressed fluid discharged therefrom and for relaying the sensed pressure level to the first microcontroller. The first microcontroller continuously monitors the pressure level of the compressed fluid discharged from the first compressor and compares the pressure level of the compressed fluid to the lead mode pressure range and the lag mode pressure range. The second compressor includes a second microcontroller having a data entry device for establishing a lead mode pressure range and a lag mode pressure range, the second compressor including a second pressure gauge for sensing a pressure level of compressed fluid discharged therefrom and for relaying the sensed pressure level to the second microcontroller. The second microcontroller continuously monitors the pressure level of the compressed fluid discharged from the second compressor and compares the sensed pressure level of the compressed fluid to the lead mode pressure range and the lag mode pressure range. The first microcontroller and the first pressure gauge function independently of the second microcontroller and the second pressure gauge, thereby obviating the need for additional external controllers which are generally complex and costly.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Marty L Connell