Pre-emptive air dryer control in a compressed air system

Abstract

A fluid compression system includes a compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid and a refrigerated dryer coupled to the compressor and operable to separate the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid. A first sensor is positioned to measure a property of the second flow of compressed fluid, and a controller is operable to initiate operation of the refrigerated dryer at a first time and at least partially in response to the measured property, and to initiate operation of the compressor at a second time. The first time is before the second time.

1 . A fluid compression system comprising:
 a compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid;   a refrigerated dryer coupled to the compressor and operable to separate the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid;   a first sensor positioned to measure a property of the second flow of compressed fluid; and   a controller operable to initiate operation of the refrigerated dryer at a first time and at least partially in response to the measured property, and to initiate operation of the compressor at a second time, wherein the first time is before the second time.   
   
   
       2 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor and the measured property includes a pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow of compressed fluid includes a mixture of air and a first amount of water vapor. 
   
   
       4 . The fluid compression system of  claim 3 , wherein the second flow of compressed fluid includes air and a second amount of water vapor, the second amount of water vapor being less than the first amount of water vapor. 
   
   
       5 . The fluid compression system of  claim 4 , wherein the flow of liquid includes condensed water vapor removed from the first amount of water vapor. 
   
   
       6 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to stop the refrigerated dryer and the compressor at least partially in response to the measured property. 
   
   
       7 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to start the compressor at least partially in response to the passage of a predetermined length of time after the first time. 
   
   
       8 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to stop the refrigerated dryer and the compressor substantially simultaneously. 
   
   
       9 . The fluid compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the measured property is a rate of change of pressure. 
   
   
       10 . A method of operating a fluid compression system, the method comprising:
 measuring a first parameter of a compressed fluid;   starting a refrigerated dryer system at least partially in response to the first measured parameter;   measuring a second parameter after starting the refrigerated dryer system; and   starting a compressor at least partially in response to the second parameter.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first parameter is a pressure. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second parameter is a pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second parameter is a temperature. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first parameter is a rate of change of pressure. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second parameter is a passage of time from the start of the refrigerated dryer system. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second parameter is the same as the first parameter. 
   
   
       17 . A method of operating a fluid compression system that delivers compressed fluid to a point of use, the method comprising:
 measuring a property of the compressed fluid at the point of use with a first sensor;   initiating operation of a refrigerated dryer at least partially in response to the measured property;   initiating operation of a compressor after initiating operation of the refrigerated dryer, the compressor operable to produce a first flow of compressed fluid;   directing the flow of compressed fluid to the refrigerated dryer;   separating the first flow of compressed fluid into a second flow of compressed fluid and a flow of liquid using the refrigerated dryer; and   stopping operation of the compressor and the refrigerated dryer at least partially in response to the measured property.   
   
   
       18 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , wherein the property is a pressure. 
   
   
       19 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , wherein the property is a rate of change of pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , further comprising monitoring the passage of time from the initiation of the dryer and initiating operation of the compressor after the passage of a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       21 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , wherein the step of stopping the compressor and the refrigerated dryer includes stopping the compressor and the refrigerated dryer substantially simultaneously. 
   
   
       22 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , further comprising measuring a temperature of the refrigerated dryer and starting the compressor at least partially in response to the measured temperature. 
   
   
       23 . The method of operating the fluid compression system of  claim 17 , further comprising remeasuring the property and starting the compressor at least partially in response to the remeasured property.