Patents Assigned to Energy Control Technologies
  • Patent number: 10900492
    Abstract: A method of surge protection for a dynamic compressor that has a corresponding compressor map. A control system continually calculates an equivalent polytropic head parameter in order to define a surge limit line. The system then calculates a control parameter and determines the distance the control parameter to the surge limit line wherein the control parameter is dynamic to changes in gas compressibility and invariant to changes in suction conditions and gas compressibility. As a result of the distance of the control parameter to the surge limit line, the surge valve of a dynamic compressor is actuated to prevent surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke
  • Patent number: 10859087
    Abstract: A method of preventing surge in a dynamic compressor is disclosed. The method includes providing an anti-surge valve having an adjustable opening for increasing the flow through a dynamic compressor. The next step is sensing process conditions in the dynamic control to determine a compressor load variable. A control system estimates a process disturbance model using the compressor load variable. The control system then adjusts a safety margin using a rate limited response and initiates a closed loop response using process feedback based on the process disturbance model. The control system adjusts the opening of the anti-surge valve according to the safety margin and closed loop response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke, Nikhil Dukle
  • Patent number: 10436208
    Abstract: A method of correcting surge control parameters that includes providing a dynamic compressor having a compressor, driver, surge valve, and control system. The control system establishes surge control parameters such as surge detection lines, surge limit lines, and then detects the onset of a surge in the dynamic compressor. When the surge is detected the control system measures variables of the dynamic compressor such as fluid pressure, fluid speed, power, speed and valve position and based on these variables the control system automatically corrects the surge control parameters based on these variables at the time of the onset of the surge is detected. Advisory information is provided by control system to user for corrective actions to prevent surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ENERGY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke
  • Patent number: 9133850
    Abstract: A method of preventing surge in a dynamic compressor is disclosed. The method includes providing an anti-surge valve having an adjustable opening for increasing the flow through a dynamic compressor. The next step is sensing process conditions in the dynamic control to determine a compressor load variable. A control system estimates a process disturbance model using the compressor load variable. The control system then adjusts a safety margin using a rate limited response and initiates a closed loop response using process feedback based on the process disturbance model. The control system adjusts the opening of the anti-surge valve according to the safety margin and closed loop response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke, Nikhil Dukle
  • Patent number: 8805593
    Abstract: A control system for operating a device in a turbo machine system. The system includes a first programmable logic control device producing an analog output signal and a relay circuit electrically connected to the first programmable logic control device to receive the analog output signal. A field device is electrically connected to the relay circuit to receive the analog output signal to operate based on the analog output signal to provide a load. In addition, the relay circuit is electrically connected to a second programmable logic control device to communicate the analog output signal to the second programmable logic control device to monitor the analog output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120328410
    Abstract: A method of correcting surge control parameters that includes providing a dynamic compressor having a compressor, driver, surge valve, and control system. The control system establishes surge control parameters such as surge detection lines, surge limit lines, and then detects the onset of a surge in the dynamic compressor. When the surge is detected the control system measures variables of the dynamic compressor such as fluid pressure, fluid speed, power, speed and valve position and based on these variables the control system automatically corrects the surge control parameters based on these variables at the time of the onset of the surge is detected. Advisory information is provided by control system to user for corrective actions to prevent surge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: ENERGY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul Reinke
  • Patent number: 7912744
    Abstract: An automated service broker can include a Global Positioning System (GPS) data processor for processing GPS data associated with communicatively linked service providers wherein the GPS data corresponds to a geographic position. The automated service broker also can include an event handler for responding to maintenance and repair events received from communicatively linked systems. Finally, the automated service broker can include a service provider selector for selecting a particular service provider to respond to a particular received maintenance and repair event received from a particular communicatively linked system. More particularly, the service provider can be selected based on whether the selected service provider is suitable to perform required maintenance and repair on the particular communicatively linked system, and the geographic position of the particular service provider relative to the particular system as reported by GPS data associated with the particular service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies
    Inventors: Richard Combs, Walter Flugel
  • Publication number: 20070033087
    Abstract: An automated service broker can include a Global Positioning System (GPS) data processor for processing GPS data associated with communicatively linked service providers wherein the GPS data corresponds to a geographic position. The automated service broker also can include an event handler for responding to maintenance and repair events received from communicatively linked systems. Finally, the automated service broker can include a service provider selector for selecting a particular service provider to respond to a particular received maintenance and repair event received from a particular communicatively linked system. More particularly, the service provider can be selected based on whether the selected service provider is suitable to perform required maintenance and repair on the particular communicatively linked system, and the geographic position of the particular service provider relative to the particular system as reported by GPS data associated with the particular service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: ENERGY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Richard Combs, Walter Flugel
  • Patent number: 7058508
    Abstract: An automated building service broker can include a Global Positioning System (GPS) data processor for processing GPS data associated with communicatively linked service providers wherein the GPS data corresponds to a geographic position. The automated service broker also can include an event handler for responding to maintenance and repair events received from communicatively linked building systems. Finally, the automated building service broker can include a service provider selector for selecting a particular service provider to respond to a particular received maintenance and repair event received from a particular communicatively linked building system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Energy Control Technologies
    Inventors: Richard Combs, Walter Flugel