Patents by Inventor Juha Saukko

Juha Saukko has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10465677
    Abstract: A control method for a compressor system includes a compressor connected to a pressure vessel and a frequency converter controlling an electric motor of the compressor. In the method, the present operating state is estimated on the basis of a monitored/estimated electrical quantity of the compressor system. The operating state may represent the pressure in the pressure vessel. The pressure in the pressure vessel causes a counter-torque to the motor. The counter-torque is proportional to the pressure and may be used for estimating the pressure inside the pressure vessel. An estimate of a counter-torque may be calculated on the basis of the monitored electrical quantity or quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Juha Saukko, Markku Lyyjynen, Jukka Tolvanen
  • Patent number: 10451052
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a load/unload control method for a compressor system with a rotating compressor connected to a pressure vessel. In the method, the present operating state can be monitored on the basis of a monitored/estimated electrical quantity of the compressor system. The method comprises an identification phase and an operational phase. In the identification phase, the compressor is operated at a constant rotational speed to generate two known pressures to the pressure vessel. At least one electrical quantity is monitored, and values of the electrical quantity corresponding to the pressure limits are stored. In the operational phase, reaching of a pressure limit may then be detected by comparing the present value of the monitored electrical quantity to the stored values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Juha Saukko, Markku Lyyjynen, Jukka Tolvanen
  • Publication number: 20170218964
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a control method for a compressor system that comprises a compressor connected to a pressure vessel and a frequency converter controlling an electric motor of the compressor. In the method, the present operating state is estimated on the basis of a monitored/estimated electrical quantity of the compressor system. The operating state may represent the pressure in the pressure vessel. The pressure in the pressure vessel causes a counter-torque to the motor. The counter-torque is proportional to the pressure and may be used for estimating the pressure inside the pressure vessel. An estimate of a counter-torque may be calculated on the basis of the monitored electrical quantity or quantities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Juha Saukko, Markku Lyyjynen, Jukka Tolvanen
  • Publication number: 20170218965
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a load/unload control method for a compressor system with a rotating compressor connected to a pressure vessel. In the method, the present operating state can be monitored on the basis of a monitored/estimated electrical quantity of the compressor system, The method comprises an identification phase and an operational phase. In the identification phase, the compressor is operated at a constant rotational speed to generate two known pressures to the pressure vessel. At least one electrical quantity is monitored, and values of the electrical quantity corresponding to the pressure limits are stored. In the operational phase, reaching of a pressure limit may then be detected by comparing the present value of the monitored electrical quantity to the stored values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Juha Saukko, Markku Lyyjynen, Jukka Tolvanen
  • Patent number: 9184691
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric drive, having an inverter, an electric motor and control means configured in a first operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to run in a constant operating point, determine and store a value of an output voltage of the inverter or a value of a flux reference of the inverter, and a value of a switching frequency of the inverter with which a determined input power of the electric drive is lowest. The controller is configured in a second operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to use the stored values to run in the operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY OY
    Inventors: Mikko Vertanen, Markku Lyyjynen, Juha Suvanto, Juha Saukko
  • Publication number: 20150002060
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric drive, having an inverter, an electric motor and control means configured in a first operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to run in a constant operating point, determine and store a value of an output voltage of the inverter or a value of a flux reference of the inverter, and a value of a switching frequency of the inverter with which a determined input power of the electric drive is lowest. The controller is configured in a second operating state of the electric drive to control the electric drive to use the stored values to run in the operating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: ABB OY
    Inventors: Mikko VERTANEN, Markku LYYJYNEN, Juha SUVANTO, Juha SAUKKO
  • Patent number: 8740574
    Abstract: A method in connection with a pump drive connected to a container or the like, wherein a frequency converter is arranged to supply power to a pump in such a manner that a pump flow (Qp) is responsive to an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) to the container. The method includes draining the container, allowing the container to fill during a predefined filling time (tfill) while the pump is inactive, draining the container again at a known pump flow (Qp,nom), defining the drainage time (tdrain), defining an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) on the basis of the filling time (tfill), drainage time (tdrain) and known pump flow (Qp,nom), and setting the power supplied by the frequency converter to the pump to be such that the pump flow (Qp) corresponds to the produced estimated mean incoming flow (Qest).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Juha Saukko
  • Patent number: 8138932
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for verifying a leak situation in a liquid transfer system a system and a control unit for implementing the method. The liquid is transferred with a frequency-converter-controlled pump from a lower pressure to a higher pressure and where liquid is prevented from being transferred from a higher pressure to a lower pressure with one or more check valves positioned in a pipe system. The method includes generating, for the frequency converter, motion information on the motion of the pump between the motion operations, and indicating a leak situation of the check valve if the direction of operation of the pump is, in the motion information, opposite to the direction of operation during the use of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Juha Saukko
  • Publication number: 20110076163
    Abstract: A method in connection with a pump drive connected to a container or the like, wherein a frequency converter is arranged to supply power to a pump in such a manner that a pump flow (Qp) is responsive to an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) to the container. The method includes draining the container, allowing the container to fill during a predefined filling time (tfill) while the pump is inactive, draining the container again at a known pump flow (Qp,nom), defining the drainage time (tdrain) defining an estimated mean incoming flow (Qest) on the basis of the filling time (tfill), drainage time (tdrain) and known pump flow (Qp,nom), and setting the power supplied by the frequency converter to the pump to be such that the pump flow (Qp) corresponds to the produced estimated mean incoming flow (Qest).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB OY
    Inventor: Juha SAUKKO
  • Publication number: 20090295588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for verifying a leak situation in a liquid transfer system where liquid is transferred with a frequency-converter-controlled pump from a lower pressure to a higher pressure and where liquid is prevented from being transferred from a higher pressure to a lower pressure with one or more check valves positioned in a pipe system. The method is characterized by comprising the steps of comprising the steps of generating for the frequency converter motion information on the motion of the pump between the motion operations, and indicating a leak situation of the check valve if the direction of operation of the pump is, in the motion information, opposite to the direction of operation during the use of the pump. Further, the invention relates to a system and a control unit of a frequency converter for implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: ABB OY
    Inventor: Juha Saukko