Method for operating gas generators in tandem
View Patent ↗A gas generating system (S) has a plurality of product gas generating modules ( 18 ) each of which comprises a plurality of molecular sieve beds (bed 1 , bed 2 ) generating a product gas acting in a repetitive cycle with each cycle having a period of the cycle with peak product gas flow ( 106 ). A manifold ( 52 ) combines the product gas from the plurality of modules ( 18 ). The processor ( 58 ) generates a control signal that is communicated to the gas generating modules ( 18 ) such that the peak product gas flow period ( 106 ) of the repetitive cycle of the modules ( 18 ) is adjusted in response to the control signal. The processor ( 58 ) causes the peak period ( 106 ) for the modules ( 18 ) to be timed across the repetitive cycles in a controlled distribution.
1. An improved gas generating system of the type including a plurality of product gas generating modules each of which comprises a plurality of molecular sieve beds generating a product gas in a repetitive cycle with each cycle having a period of peak product gas flow, the improvement comprising:
a manifold for combining the product gas from the plurality of modules; and
a processor means for generating a control signal communicated to the gas generating modules; the control signal causing peak product gas flow periods of the repetitive cycle of the modules to be adjusted in response to the control signal; and the processor causing the peak period for the modules to be timed across the repetitive cycles in a controlled distribution.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the peak period for each module is shifted from the peak period of the remaining module cycles by W/N time units where W represents the period of time between successive peaks for each of the number N modules.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the peak period for each module to be substantially synchronized.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein one module acts as a master module for establishing control of the peak period for coordinated phasing of the peak period for the remaining modules to be synchronized.
5. A method for generating a desired product gas with a gas generating system of the type including a plurality of product gas generating modules each of which comprises a plurality of molecular sieve beds generating a product gas in a repetitive cycle with each cycle having a period of peak product gas flow, the steps including:
combining the product gas from the plurality of modules with a manifold; and
generating a control signal with a processor with the control signal communicated to the gas generating modules; the control signal causing peak product gas flow periods of the repetitive cycle of the modules to be adjusted in response to the control signal; and the processor causing the peak period for the modules to be timed across the repetitive cycles in a controlled distribution.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the peak period for each module is shifted from the peak period of the remaining module cycles by W/N time units where W represents the period of time between successive peaks for each of the number N modules.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the processor adjusts the peak period for each module to be substantially synchronized.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein one module acts as a master module for establishing control of the peak period for coordinated phasing of the peak period for the remaining modules to be synchronized.