Compressor inlet guide vane control

Abstract

A compressor airflow control assembly is operable to control airflow through a centrifugal compressor. The control assembly includes an air valve mounted in the airflow path to control airflow through the compressor. The control assembly also includes a controller operable to sense an airflow condition and control shifting of the air valve.

1 . A compressor airflow control assembly operable to control airflow through a centrifugal compressor, said control assembly comprising:
 an air valve assembly including a body that presents a valve passage,   said air valve assembly further including an air valve shiftably mounted in the valve passage to control airflow through the passage,   said air valve assembly operable to be mounted relative to the compressor so that the valve passage fluidly communicates with the compressor and shifting of the valve controls the compressor airflow; and   a controller operable to sense an airflow condition and responsively control shifting of the air valve,   said controller including a fluidly driven actuator and a shiftable fluid valve fluidly connected to the actuator to control pressurized fluid flow from a source to the actuator,   said actuator operably coupled to the air valve so that driven movement of the actuator effects shifting of the air valve within the valve passage,   said fluid valve being shiftable in response to the sensed airflow condition so as to vary fluid flow to the actuator causing movement thereof and thereby shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said controller including a shiftable airflow sensor configured to sense the airflow condition, with shifting of the sensor corresponding with shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         3 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said airflow sensor comprising a velocity sensor assembly mounted within the passage.   
     
     
         4 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a movable sensor arm exposed to the airflow and movable in response to airflow velocity, with the sensor arm being fixed relative to the fluid valve to move therewith.   
     
     
         5 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a spring yieldably urging the arm and fluid valve into a predetermined valve position associated with a corresponding airflow velocity.   
     
     
         6 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 5 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a spring adjuster shiftably mounted relative to the fluid valve,   said spring adjuster attached to the spring to adjust a spring length of the spring and thereby vary the predetermined valve position.   
     
     
         7 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said controller further including a shiftable pressure-biasing element operable to sense pressure of airflow discharged from the compressor,   said shiftable pressure-biasing element being operably coupled to the shiftable airflow sensor so that shifting of the airflow sensor is responsive to the sensed airflow condition and compressor discharge pressure.   
     
     
         8 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said controller including a housing,   said driven actuator including a reciprocal piston slidably mounted in the housing and drivingly attached to the air valve, with sliding movement of the piston causing shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         9 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 said air valve comprising an inlet guide vane assembly including a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and a vane transmission drivingly interconnecting the vanes,   said piston being drivingly attached to the transmission so that piston movement adjusts the position of the inlet guide vanes.   
     
     
         10 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 9 ; and
 a stop located between the housing and the piston, with the stop being operable to limit sliding piston travel and thereby limit adjustment of the inlet guide vanes in at least one adjustment direction.   
     
     
         11 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 said piston comprising a double-acting piston, with the housing and piston cooperatively defining opposite chambers that receive pressurized fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 said fluid valve being shiftably mounted in the housing,   said housing and piston cooperatively defining a chamber that receives pressurized fluid,   said housing presenting fluid supply and return ports operable to fluidly communicate with the source,   said fluid valve being shiftable between a closed position where the fluid valve restricts fluid flow between the chamber and ports and a first open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the supply port to the chamber,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position and a second open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the chamber to the return port.   
     
     
         13 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 said piston comprising a double-acting piston, with the housing and piston cooperatively defining a second chamber that receives pressurized fluid,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position where the fluid valve restricts fluid flow between the second chamber and ports and the second open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the supply port to the second chamber,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position and the first open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the second chamber to the return port.   
     
     
         14 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said controller including a bypass valve fluidly connectable to a discharge of the compressor and operable to vent airflow from the compressor to ambient when the bypass valve is open,   said controller including a pressure relief valve that fluidly communicates with one of the chambers and the bypass valve,   said pressure relief valve allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the one chamber to the bypass valve and thereby open the bypass valve when the fluid in the one chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor airflow control assembly as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said air valve assembly comprising an inlet guide vane assembly including a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and a vane transmission drivingly interconnecting the vanes.   
     
     
         16 . A compressor assembly operable to provide substantially uniform compressor airflow velocity along a path, said compressor assembly comprising:
 a centrifugal compressor fluidly connectable to the path;   an air valve assembly operable to control airflow through the centrifugal compressor,   said air valve assembly including an air valve shiftably positionable within the path to control airflow through the compressor;   a controller operably coupled to the air valve to responsively control shifting of the air valve,   said controller including a shiftable airflow sensor component that moves in response to a compressor airflow condition; and   an amplification mechanism including a power source to selectively provide power to the air valve and thereby effect shifting thereof,   said mechanism being mechanically linked to the sensor component so that movement of the sensor component directly causes power to be provided to the air valve.   
     
     
         17 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said amplification mechanism including a hydraulic system drivingly connected to the sensor component and air valve.   
     
     
         18 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 17 ,
 said controller including a fluidly driven actuator and a shiftable fluid valve fluidly connected to the actuator to control pressurized fluid flow from the hydraulic system to the actuator,   said actuator operably coupled to the air valve so that driven movement of the actuator effects shifting of the air valve within the valve passage,   said fluid valve being shiftable in response to the sensed airflow condition so as to vary fluid flow to the actuator causing movement thereof and thereby shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         19 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 17 ,
 said power source comprising a powered hydraulic pump.   
     
     
         20 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 17 ,
 said compressor presenting an air inlet, with the air valve assembly being located adjacent the air inlet.   
     
     
         21 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 said air valve assembly comprising an inlet guide vane assembly including a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and a vane transmission drivingly interconnecting the vanes.   
     
     
         22 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said controller further including a shiftable pressure-biasing element that senses pressure of airflow discharged from the compressor,   said shiftable pressure-biasing element being operably coupled to the shiftable airflow sensor so that shifting of the airflow sensor is responsive to the sensed airflow condition and compressor discharge pressure.   
     
     
         23 . A compressor assembly operable to provide substantially uniform compressor airflow velocity along a path, said compressor assembly comprising:
 a centrifugal compressor fluidly connectable to the path;   an air valve assembly in fluid communication with and operable to control airflow through the centrifugal compressor,   said air valve assembly including a body that presents a valve passage,   said air valve assembly further including an air valve shiftably mounted in the valve passage to control airflow through the passage,   said air valve assembly mounted relative to the compressor so that the valve passage fluidly communicates with the compressor and shifting of the valve controls the compressor airflow; and   a controller operable to sense an airflow condition and responsively control shifting of the air valve,   said controller including a fluidly driven actuator and a shiftable fluid valve fluidly connected to the actuator to control pressurized fluid flow from a source to the actuator,   said actuator operably coupled to the air valve so that driven movement of the actuator effects shifting of the air valve within the valve passage and thereby controls compressor airflow velocity,   said fluid valve being shiftable in response to the sensed airflow condition so as to vary fluid flow to the actuator causing movement thereof and thereby shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         24 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 said controller including a shiftable airflow sensor configured to sense the airflow condition, with shifting of the sensor corresponding with shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         25 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 said airflow sensor comprising a velocity sensor assembly mounted within the passage.   
     
     
         26 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a movable sensor arm exposed to the airflow and movable in response to airflow velocity, with the sensor arm being fixed relative to the fluid valve to move therewith.   
     
     
         27 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 26 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a spring yieldably urging the arm and fluid valve into a predetermined valve position associated with a corresponding airflow velocity.   
     
     
         28 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 27 ,
 said velocity sensor assembly including a spring adjuster shiftably mounted relative to the fluid valve,   said spring adjuster attached to the spring to adjust a spring length of the spring.   
     
     
         29 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 said controller further including a shiftable pressure-biasing element that senses pressure of airflow discharged from the compressor,   said shiftable pressure-biasing element being operably coupled to the shiftable airflow sensor so that shifting of the airflow sensor is responsive to the sensed airflow condition and compressor discharge pressure.   
     
     
         30 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 said controller including a housing,   said driven actuator including a reciprocal piston slidably mounted in the housing and drivingly attached to the air valve, with sliding movement of the piston causing shifting of the air valve.   
     
     
         31 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 30 ,
 said centrifugal compressor including an impeller,   said air valve comprising an inlet guide vane assembly including a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and a vane transmission drivingly interconnecting the vanes,   said plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes being located upstream of the impeller,   said piston being drivingly attached to the transmission so that piston movement adjusts the position of the inlet guide vanes and thereby controls airflow into the impeller.   
     
     
         32 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 31 ; and
 a stop located between the housing and the piston, with the stop being operable to limit sliding piston travel and thereby limit adjustment of the inlet guide vanes in at least one adjustment direction.   
     
     
         33 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 31 ,
 said piston comprising a double-acting piston, with the housing and piston cooperatively defining opposite chambers that receive pressurized fluid.   
     
     
         34 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 31 ,
 said fluid valve being shiftably mounted in the housing,   said housing and piston cooperatively defining a chamber that receives pressurized fluid,   said housing presenting fluid supply and return ports operable to fluidly communicate with the source,   said fluid valve being shiftable between a closed position where the fluid valve restricts fluid flow between the chamber and ports and a first open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the supply port to the chamber,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position and a second open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the chamber to the return port.   
     
     
         35 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 34 ,
 said piston comprising a double-acting piston, with the housing and piston cooperatively defining a second chamber that receives pressurized fluid,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position where the fluid valve restricts fluid flow between the second chamber and ports and the second open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the supply port to the second chamber,   said fluid valve being shiftable between the closed position and the first open position where the fluid valve permits pressurized fluid to flow from the second chamber to the return port.   
     
     
         36 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 35 ,
 said controller including a bypass valve fluidly connected to a discharge of the compressor and operable to vent airflow from the compressor to ambient when the bypass valve is open,   said controller including a pressure relief valve that fluidly communicates with one of the chambers and the bypass valve,   said pressure relief valve allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the one chamber to the bypass valve and thereby open the bypass valve when the fluid in the one chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         37 . The compressor assembly as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 said centrifugal compressor including an impeller,   said air valve comprising an inlet guide vane assembly including a plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes and a vane transmission drivingly interconnecting the vanes,   said plurality of adjustable inlet guide vanes being located upstream of the impeller to control airflow into the impeller.