IP Library Granted Patent US 11,486,408
Granted Patent B2
US 11,486,408 · App. 16/783,234 · Granted Nov 1, 2022

Systems and methods for adapting compressor controller based on field conditions

Inventors: Richard Hall (Arvada, CO); Thomas Pesek (Ankeny, IA); Serge Staroselsky (Des Moines, IA); Michael Lev Tolmatsky (Des Moines, IA)
Assignee: Compressor Controls LLC
F04D27/0223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,486,408
App. No.
16/783,234
Granted
Nov 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An antisurge controller for a turbocompressor system stores multiple control algorithms in a memory for the antisurge controller. The antisurge controller identifies capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system. The field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors. The antisurge controller selects one of the multiple control algorithms based on the identified capabilities and applies the selected control algorithm to the turbocompressor system. The selected control algorithm provides the smallest surge control margin, of the surge control margins in the multiple control algorithms, that are supported by the identified capabilities.

Claims (86)

1. A method of antisurge control for a turbocompressor system including an antisurge controller, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory of the antisurge controller, multiple control algorithms;

identifying, by the antisurge controller, capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system,

wherein the field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors, and

wherein the identifying includes sending a polling request, to one or more of the field devices and receiving, from the one or more of the field devices, a polling response that includes the capabilities of the one or more field devices;

selecting, by the antisurge controller, one of the multiple control algorithms and one or more operating features of the field devices based on the identified capabilities; and

applying, by the antisurge controller, the selected control algorithm to the turbocompressor system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving process feedback from the field devices;

determining; by the antisurge controller, that the process feedback has a monitoring impact;

identifying, by the antisurge controller and in response to the determining, updated capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system; and

selecting, by the antisurge controller, another one of the multiple control algorithms based on the updated capabilities.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving the process feedback from the field devices includes:

receiving raw data from the field devices.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving the process feedback from the field devices includes:

receiving a signal indicating a pre-diagnosed condition of one of the field devices.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

providing, via a user interface associated with the antisurge controller, an alert signal indicating the selection of the other one of the multiple control algorithms.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

receiving process feedback from the field devices; and

determining, by the antisurge controller, that the process feedback does not have a monitoring impact.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving process feedback from the field devices; and

displaying, by the antisurge controller, the process feedback from the field devices for the turbocompressor system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying capabilities of the field devices comprises:

identifying self-diagnostic capabilities of the one or more field devices.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, by the antisurge controller and via a user interface, the capabilities of the one or more field devices.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more field devices includes an antisurge valve, a pressure transmitter, and a flow transmitter, and

wherein the polling response from each of the one or more field devices is received with a different format.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing, by the antisurge controller, a data configuration from the polling response with a corresponding data configuration of the antisurge controller; and

generating, by the antisurge controller, an alert signal when a discrepancy is detected, based on the comparing, between the data configuration from the polling response and the corresponding data configuration.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

invoking, by the antisurge controller and based on the polling response, a calibration algorithm of a control valve actuator to set parameters of the control valve actuator.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capabilities include one or more of:

stiction detection, or

valve erosion detection.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the multiple control algorithms includes:

selecting the one of the multiple control algorithms that has a smallest surge control margin, of the surge control margins in the multiple control algorithms that are supported by the identified capabilities.

15. An antisurge controller for a turbocompressor system, comprising:

a memory device for storing instructions;

a communication interface for receiving data from field devices in the turbocompressor system; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

store, in the memory, multiple control algorithms,

obtain, via the communication interface, a list of capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system, wherein the field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors,

display, via a user interface, parameters for the capabilities of the field devices,

select one of the multiple control algorithms based on the identified capabilities, and

apply the selected control algorithm to the turbocompressor system.

16. The antisurge controller of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

identify, after the applying, updated capabilities of the field devices in the turbocompressor system; and

select another one of the multiple control algorithms based on the updated capabilities.

17. The antisurge controller of claim 16 , wherein, when identifying the updated capabilities, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive process feedback from the field devices; and

determine that the process feedback has a monitoring impact.

18. The antisurge controller of claim 17 , wherein, when receiving the process feedback from the field devices, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a signal indicating a pre-diagnosed condition of one of the field devices.

19. The antisurge controller of claim 15 , wherein, when obtaining a list of capabilities of field devices, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

send a polling request to one or more of the field devices; and

receive, from the one or more of the field devices, a polling response that includes the capabilities of the one or more field devices.

20. The antisurge controller of claim 15 , wherein, when obtaining a list of capabilities of field devices, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive polling responses with different formats from the one or more field devices.

21. The antisurge controller of claim 15 , wherein, when obtaining a list of capabilities of field devices, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

identify one or more valve response times for the field devices, and

wherein, when selecting one of the multiple control algorithms based on the identified capabilities, the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

invoke an algorithm to prevent rundown surge when the one or more valve response times meet required valve response times to the algorithm to prevent rundown surge.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor, the computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions to:

store; in a memory, multiple surge control algorithms for a turbocompressor system;

obtain, via a communication interface, a list of capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system,

wherein the field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors, and

wherein the obtaining includes sending a polling request to one or more of the field devices and receiving, from the one or more of the field devices, a polling response that includes the capabilities of the one or more field devices;

select one of the multiple surge control algorithms based on the identified capabilities; and

apply the selected surge control algorithm to the turbocompressor system.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium claim 22 , further comprising one or more instructions to:

identify, after the applying, updated capabilities of the field devices in the turbocompressor system; and

select another one of the multiple surge control algorithms based on identifying the updated capabilities.

24. An antisurge controller for a turbocompressor system, comprising:

a memory device for storing instructions;

a communication interface for receiving data from field devices in the turbocompressor system; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

send a polling request to one or more field devices in the turbocompressor system, wherein the field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors,

receive, from the one or more of the field devices, a polling response that includes the capabilities of the one or more field devices,

compare a data configuration from the polling response with a corresponding data configuration of the antisurge controller, and

generate an alert signal when a discrepancy is detected between the data configuration from the polling response and the corresponding data configuration, based on the comparing.

25. The antisurge controller of claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

automatically update the corresponding data configuration to match the data configuration from the polling response.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 61997 FRAME: 614. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 13, 2025
From: ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES LLC; AMOT CONTROLS LLC; COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC; CORNELL PUMP COMPANY LLC; DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS LLC; HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES LLC; METRIX INSTRUMENT CO., L.P.; PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.; ROPER HOLDINGS, LLC; ROPER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC; ROPER PUMP COMPANY LLC; STRUERS LLC; VIA TRAN CORPORATION
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073434/0453 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded May 30, 2025
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES LLC; AMOT CONTROLS LLC; COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC; CORNELL PUMP COMPANY LLC; DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS LLC; HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES LLC; METRIX INSTRUMENT CO., L.P.; PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.; ROPER HOLDINGS, LLC; ROPER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC; ROPER PUMP COMPANY LLC; STRUERS LLC; VIATRAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071476/0346 →
PARTIAL 1ST LIEN RELEASE (REEL 061997 / FRAME 0614) Recorded Jul 4, 2023
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC
Reel/Frame 064196/0203 →
PARTIAL 2ND LIEN RELEASE (REEL 062003 / FRAME 0566) Recorded Jul 4, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC
Reel/Frame 064196/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 28, 2022
From: ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES LLC; AMOT CONTROLS LLC; COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC; CORNELL PUMP COMPANY LLC; DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS LLC; HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES LLC; METRIX INSTRUMENT CO., L.P.; PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.; ROPER HOLDINGS, LLC; ROPER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC; ROPER PUMP COMPANY LLC; STRUERS LLC; VIATRAN CORPORATION
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061997/0614 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 28, 2022
From: ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES LLC; AMOT CONTROLS LLC; COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC; CORNELL PUMP COMPANY LLC; DYNISCO INSTRUMENTS LLC; HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES LLC; METRIX INSTRUMENT CO., L.P.; PETROLEUM ANALYZER COMPANY L.P.; ROPER HOLDINGS, LLC; ROPER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC; ROPER PUMP COMPANY LLC; STRUERS LLC; VIATRAN CORPORATION
To: ROYL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062003/0566 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: COMPRESSOR CONTROLS CORPORATION
To: COMPRESSOR CONTROLS LLC
Reel/Frame 061916/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2020
From: HALL, RICHARD; PESEK, THOMAS; STAROSELSKY, SERGE; TOLMATSKY, MICHAEL LEV
To: COMPRESSOR CONTROLS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052320/0478 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62801759 · Feb 6, 2019
Related Publication 20200248707A1 · Aug 6, 2020