Mobile nitrogen generation device

Abstract

A mobile inert gas generator can include various components supported by a wheeled vehicle. The generator can include a feed air compressor, a separation device for separating an inert gas from a feed air gas, and a booster compressor, each of which can have various sensors and actuators for controlling the operation thereof. An electronic control system can be connected to the sensors and actuators to allow for convenient operation of the generator. The electronic control system can include a control panel disposed in a cab.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A system configured to separate an inert gas from atmospheric air comprising:
 a feed air compressor configured to compress and thereby raise a pressure of atmospheric air;   a separation device configured to separate the inert gas from the pressurized atmospheric air from the feed air compressor;   a booster compressor configured to raise a pressure of the inert gas from the separation device;   at least a first sensor configured to detect an operational parameter of the feed air compressor;   a least a second sensor configured to detect an operational parameter related to the operation of the separation device;   at least a third sensor configured to contact an operational parameter of the booster compressor; and   an electronic control system being connected to the first, second, and third sensors, the electronic control system comprising a display device configured to display a graphical user interface having at least first, second, and third screens;   wherein the first screen includes a plurality of data related to the operation of the feed air compressor including data indicative of the output of the first sensor, the second screen including a plurality of data related to the operation of the separation device including data indicative of the output of the second sensor, and the third screen including a plurality of data related to the operation of the booster compressor including data indicative of the output of the third sensor.   
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 31  additionally comprising a fourth sensor configured contact a condition external to the system, electronic control system being connected to the fourth sensor and configured to display data indicative of the output of the fourth sensor. 
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 31  additionally comprising a wheeled vehicle supporting the feed air compressor, the separation device, the booster compressor, the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, and the electronic control system. 
   
   
       34 - 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device and displays the first, second, and third screens on the touch screen device. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first screen includes a display of an output of at least one of a compressor discharge pressure sensor, a nitrogen flow sensor, a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a nitrogen purity sensor, and a booster inlet temperature sensor. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the first screen includes a compressor discharge pressure field, a nitrogen flow field, a compressor outlet temperature field, a nitrogen purity field, and a booster inlet temperature field for displaying outputs of the respective one of the compressor discharge pressure sensor, the nitrogen flow sensor, the compressor outlet temperature sensor, the nitrogen purity sensor, and the booster inlet temperature sensor. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a feed air compressor actuator group being connected to the feed air compressor and being configured to control at least one operational parameter of the feed air compressor, the feed air compressor actuator group including at least one of a combustion air valve for controlling the flow of air into the engine, an engine speed control actuator, a starter switch, and an unloading valve. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the electronic control system is operative to provide an output to the feed air compressor actuator group for controlling an operational parameter of the feed air compressor. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device and displays the first screen on the touch screen device, the touch screen device being in electrical communication with the electronic control system and being operative to receive an input from a user for selectively controlling at least one operational parameter of the feed air compressor displayed in the first screen, the touch screen further being operative to communicate the input to the electronic control system, the electronic control system providing an output to the feed air compressor actuator group being representative of the input of the user. 
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the second screen includes a display of an output of at least one of a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a nitrogen purity sensor, a nitrogen flow sensor, a heater outlet temperature sensor, a heater inlet temperature sensor, and a membrane inlet temperature sensor. 
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the second screen includes a compressor outlet temperature field, a nitrogen purity field, a nitrogen flow field, a heater outlet temperature field, a heater inlet temperature field, and a membrane inlet temperature field for displaying outputs of the respective one of the compressor outlet temperature sensor, the nitrogen purity sensor, the nitrogen flow sensor, the heater outlet temperature sensor, the heater inlet temperature sensor, and the membrane inlet temperature sensor. 
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a membrane actuator group being connected to the membrane separation unit and being configured to control at least one operational parameter of the membrane separation unit, the membrane actuator group including at least one of a flow control valve and a dump valve. 
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the electronic control system is operative to provide an output to the membrane actuator group for controlling an operational parameter of the membrane separation unit. 
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device and displays the second screen on the touch screen device, the touch screen device being in electrical communication with the electronic control system and being operative to receive an input from a user for selectively controlling at least one operational parameter of the membrane separation unit displayed in the second screen, the touch screen further being operative to communicate the input to the electronic control system, the electronic control system providing an output to the membrane actuator group being representative of the input of the user. 
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the third screen includes a display of an output of at least one of a booster inlet pressure sensor, a booster discharge pressure sensor, a booster inlet temperature sensor, a booster discharge temperature sensor, a booster first stage pressure sensor, a booster oil pressure sensor, a booster first stage temperature sensor, a booster second stage temperature sensor, a booster third stage temperature sensor, and a booster second stage pressure sensor. 
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the second screen includes a booster inlet pressure field, a booster discharge pressure field, a booster inlet temperature field, a booster discharge temperature field, a booster first stage pressure field, a booster oil pressure field, a booster first stage temperature field, a booster second stage temperature field, a booster third stage temperature field, and a booster second stage pressure field for displaying outputs of the respective one of the booster inlet pressure sensor, the booster discharge pressure sensor, the booster inlet temperature sensor, the booster discharge temperature sensor, the booster first stage pressure sensor, the booster oil pressure sensor, the booster first stage temperature sensor, the booster second stage temperature sensor, the booster third stage temperature sensor, and the booster second stage pressure sensor. 
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a booster actuator group being connected to the booster compressor and being configured to control at least one operational parameter of the booster compressor, the booster actuator group including actuators for starting, loading and controlling a pressure output from the booster compressor. 
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the electronic control system is operative to provide an output to the booster actuator group for controlling an operational parameter of the booster compressor. 
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device and displays the third screen on the touch screen device, the touch screen device being in electrical communication with the electronic control system and being operative to receive an input from a user for selectively controlling at least one operational parameter of the booster compressor displayed in the third screen, the touch screen further being operative to communicate the input to the electronic control system, the electronic control system providing an output to the booster actuator group being representative of the input of the user. 
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the graphical user interface is operative to display a fourth screen including a compressor discharge pressure field, a nitrogen flow field, a compressor outlet temperature field, a nitrogen purity field, a booster inlet temperature field, a heater outlet temperature field, a heater inlet temperature field, a membrane inlet temperature field, a booster inlet pressure field, a booster discharge pressure field, a booster inlet temperature field, a booster discharge temperature field, a booster first stage pressure field, a booster oil pressure field, a booster first stage temperature field, a booster second stage temperature field, a booster third stage temperature field, and a booster second stage pressure field. 
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device being operative to display a device selection screen, the touch screen device being in electrical communication with the electronic control system and being operative to receive an input from a user for selectively controlling at least one operational parameter of the feed air compressor, the membrane separation unit, and the booster compressor displayed in the device selection screen, the touch screen further being operative to communicate the input to the electronic control system, the electronic control system providing an output to the respective ones of the feed air compressor actuator group, the membrane actuator group, and the booster actuator group being representative of the input of the user. 
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the graphical user interface includes a touch screen device being operative to display a device calibration screen, the touch screen device being in electrical communication with the electronic control system and being operative to receive an input from a user for selectively setting at least one calibration parameter of at least one of an oxygen sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a flow rate sensor displayed in the device calibration screen, the touch screen further being operative to communicate the input to the electronic control system, the electronic control system calculating a calibrated measurement for the respective ones of the oxygen sensor, the temperature sensor, the pressure sensor, and the flow rate sensor displayed in the device calibration screen.