Systems and methods for detecting compressor surge

1. A method for detecting a surge condition in a compressor system, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of flow measurements relating to a flow rate through the compressor system, the plurality of flow measurements comprising an air inlet flow rate and a low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;

performing an amplitude calculation to identify a possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements, wherein performing the amplitude calculation comprises:

comparing the air inlet flow rate with the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;

determining that a difference between the air inlet flow rate and the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate is larger than a first threshold or less than a second threshold;

counting, based on at least one of the flow measurements, a number of flow rate oscillation events;

determining that the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeds a value; and

identifying a possible surge event based on the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeding the value;

performing a frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements;

detecting a surge condition based on results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation;

generating a surge detection control signal based on the detected surge condition; and

adjusting an operating parameter of the compressor system based on the surge detection control signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flow measurements further comprise a derivative of the air inlet flow rate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition comprises:

comparing a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold

determining that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold;

maintaining a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements;

determining that the count exceeds a value; and

identifying a possible surge event based on count exceeding the value.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surge detection control signal is configured to implement one or more surge condition mitigation methods.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for detecting a surge condition in a compressor system, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of flow measurements relating to a flow rate through the compressor system, the plurality of flow measurements comprising an air inlet flow rate and a low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;

performing an amplitude calculation to identify a possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements, wherein performing the amplitude calculation comprises:

comparing the air inlet flow rate with the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;

determining that a difference between the air inlet flow rate and the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate is larger than a first threshold or less than a second threshold;

counting, based on at least one of the flow measurements, a number of flow rate oscillation events;

determining that the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeds a value; and

identifying a possible surge event based on the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeding the value;

performing a frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements;

detecting a surge condition based on results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation;

generating a surge detection control signal based on the detected surge condition; and

adjusting an operating parameter of the compressor system based on the surge detection control signal.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of flow measurements further comprise a derivative of the air inlet flow rate.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein performing the frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition comprises:

comparing a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold.

determining that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold;

maintaining a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements;

determining that the count exceeds a value; and

identifying a possible surge event based on the count exceeding the value.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises resetting the count if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the surge detection control signal is configured to implement one or more surge condition mitigation methods.

13. A system comprising:

a compressor system

a flow meter disposed in an inlet path of the compressor system configured to generate a plurality of flow measurements; and

a compressor control system communicatively coupled with the flow meter and the compressor system configured to:

receive the plurality of flow measurements;

perform an amplitude calculation to identify a possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements, wherein performing the amplitude calculation comprises:

comparing an air inlet flow rate with a low pass filtered air inlet flow rate;

determining that a difference between the air inlet flow rate and the low pass filtered air inlet flow rate is larger than a first threshold or less than a second threshold;

counting, based on at least one of the flow measurements, a number of flow rate oscillation events;

determining that the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeds a value; and

identifying a possible surge event based on the number of flow rate oscillation events exceeding the value;

perform a frequency calculation to identify the possible surge condition based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements;

detect a surge condition based on the results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation; and

generate a surge detection control signal based on the detected surge condition.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein in performing the frequency calculation the compressor control system is further configured to:

compare a derivative of an air inlet flow rate with a third threshold,

determine that the derivative of the air inlet flow rate is larger than the third threshold;

maintain a count of a number of flow rate oscillation events based on at least one of the flow measurements;

determine that the count exceeds a value; and

identify a possible surge event based on the count exceeding the value.

15. The system 14 , wherein compressor control system is further configured to reset the count if a speed of the compressor system is less than a threshold speed or if a time span between flow rate oscillation events exceeds a time threshold.