Dust collector control system

Abstract

A control system integrated into an industrial dust collector. The system comprising at least one programmable processing unit which communicates with a plurality of sensors located in the dust collector to provide data of the collector's behavior with feedback allowing real-time modifications to the operating parameters defined during the design. Additionally, a service-life prediction element of used-filters based on a reference chart is included.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for predicting the service life of a new filter installed in a dust collector system, wherein a counter of effective filtration hours has been reset, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining the difference of pressure between the dirty chamber and the clean chamber;   graphically accumulating the data of difference of pressure determined with the time, thus defining a curve of data accumulated;   identifying the pressure drops and rises in the data of difference of pressure graphically accumulated; and   measuring the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises identified.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of determining the difference of pressure also includes the steps of:
 measuring the pressure in the dirty chamber with a pressure sensor; and   measuring the pressure in the clean chamber with a pressure sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the difference of pressure is determined by a differential manometer. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method also includes the step of:
 determining when the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises start to tend to zero.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the method also includes the step of:
 scheduling a replacement of filter once the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises tending to zero is determined.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method also includes the step of:
 scheduling a replacement of filter once the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises is substantially lower than the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises measured just after the counter has been reset.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of graphically accumulating the data also includes:
 estimating the curve of data accumulated, either by extrapolating said curve using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter, by measuring the magnitude of the drops and rises of difference of pressure over the time, and/or by correlating said curve with the chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of identifying the pressure drops and rises also includes:
 using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the method also includes the step of:
 estimating an asymptotic behavior of the curve of data accumulated, either by logarithmically extrapolating said curve using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter, by measuring the magnitude of the drops and rises of difference of pressure over the time, and/or by correlating said curve with the chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the method also includes the step of:
 scheduling the replacement of the filter once the asymptotic behavior has been estimated.   
     
     
         31 . A system for predicting the service life of a new filter installed in a dust collector system, wherein a counter of effective filtration hours has been reset, the system comprising:
 means for determining the difference of pressure between the dirty chamber and the clean chamber;   means for graphically accumulating the data of difference of pressure determined with the time, thus defining a curve of data accumulated;   means for identifying the pressure drops and rises in the data of difference of pressure graphically accumulated; and   means for measuring the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises identified.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the system also includes:
 a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the dirty chamber; and   a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the clean chamber.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the difference of pressure is determined by a differential manometer. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the system also includes:
 means for determining when the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises start to tend to zero.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the system also includes:
 means for scheduling a replacement of filter once the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises tending to zero is determined.   
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the system also includes:
 means for scheduling a replacement of filter once the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises is substantially lower than the magnitude of the pressure drops and rises measured just after the counter has been reset.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the means for graphically accumulating the data also includes:
 means for estimating the curve of data accumulated, either by extrapolating said curve using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter, by measuring the magnitude of the drops and rises of difference of pressure over the time, and/or by correlating said curve with the chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the means for identifying the pressure drops and rises also includes using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the system also includes:
 means for estimating an asymptotic behavior of the curve of data accumulated either by logarithmically extrapolating said curve using as a reference a chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter, by measuring the magnitude of the drops and rises of difference of pressure over the time, and/or by correlating said curve with the chart of the standard service-life behavior of a filter.   
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the system also includes:
 means for scheduling the replacement of the filter once the asymptotic behavior has been estimated.