Method for controlling a gas supply to a vacuum pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10808702-B2
Application number	US-201615542726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A method for regulating the temperature at an outlet channel of a compressor or a vacuum element, including providing a pressure regulating valve on a influence channel, the influence channel being in direct fluid communication with the compressor or vacuum element, the valve regulating the pressure within the compressor or vacuum element by adjusting the volume of fluid flowing between a process channel and the compressor or vacuum element relative to the difference between the pressure value within the compressor or vacuum element and a set pressure value, and includes starting the compressor or vacuum element and starting a pre-purge cycle by connecting the inlet channel to a supply of a purge gas for a preselected time interval; connecting the influence channel to a process channel; and disconnecting the inlet channel from the process channel, for maintaining a set temperature within the vacuum element for a selected time interval.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for regulating a temperature at an outlet channel of a vacuum element, the method comprising the step of:
providing a pressure regulating valve on an inlet channel, said inlet channel being in direct fluid communication with the vacuum element, said pressure regulating valve regulating a pressure within the vacuum element by adjusting a volume of fluid flowing between a process channel and the vacuum element relative to a difference between the pressure value within said vacuum element and a set pressure value;
wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
starting the vacuum element and starting a pre-purge cycle by connecting the inlet channel of the vacuum element to a supply of a purge gas for a preselected time interval;
subsequently connecting the inlet channel to the process channel; and
disconnecting the inlet channel from the process channel and starting a post-purge cycle in which a flow of the purge gas is regulated at the inlet channel, for maintaining a set temperature within the vacuum element for a selected time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of adjusting a speed of the vacuum element such that the temperature measured at the outlet channel is maintained between a pre-determined maximum and minimum value.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a speed of the vacuum element is decreased if the temperature at the outlet channel of the vacuum element is higher than a maximum selected temperature, Tmax, and/or the speed of the vacuum element is increased if the temperature at the outlet channel of the vacuum element is lower than a minimum selected temperature, Tmin.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein Tmin is less than 100° C.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein Tmax is more than 100° C.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a solenoid valve for a gas ballast, the solenoid valve being mounted on a channel in direct fluid communication with the vacuum element.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the solenoid valve is opened for the duration of a purge cycle.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of manually starting a purge cycle.

9. A controller for controlling a supply of a purge gas at an inlet channel of a vacuum element, the controller comprising:
a speed regulator for measuring and adjusting a rotational speed of at least one rotor of the vacuum element;
a pressure regulating valve configured to be mounted on the inlet channel in direct fluid communication with the vacuum element, said pressure regulating valve regulating a pressure within the vacuum element by adjusting a volume of fluid flowing between a process channel and the vacuum element relative to a pressure difference between the pressure value within said vacuum element and a set pressure value;
wherein the controller further comprises:
a means for connecting the inlet channel to the supply of the purge gas for a preselected time interval after the vacuum element is started and for connecting the inlet channel to the supply of the purge gas after the inlet channel is disconnected from the process channel; a means for connecting the process channel to the inlet channel of the vacuum element;
wherein the controller is configured to adjust the speed of the vacuum element for a predetermined time-interval and the controller is configured in in a way such that during a pre-purge cycle, the means for connecting the inlet channel to the supply of the purge gas is able to be used to connect the inlet channel of the vacuum element to the supply of the purge gas for the preselected time interval after the vacuum element is started;
subsequently the means for connecting the process channel to the inlet channel of the vacuum element is able to be used to connect the inlet channel to the process channel; and
the means for connecting the process channel to the inlet channel is able to be disconnected and the means for connecting the inlet channel to the supply of the purge gas after the inlet channel is disconnected is able to be used during a post-purge cycle in which a flow of the purge gas is regulated at the inlet channel, for maintaining a set temperature within the vacuum element for the predetermined time interval.

10. The controller according to claim 9 , wherein said means for connecting the inlet channel to the supply of the purge gas comprises a second valve.

11. The controller according to claim 9 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to be mounted on an outlet channel of the vacuum element.

12. A vacuum pump comprising the controller according to claim 9 , said vacuum pump further comprising:
the vacuum element having the inlet channel and an outlet channel for a fluid flow;
a temperature sensor configured to be mounted on the outlet channel of the vacuum element;
the pressure regulating valve provided on the inlet channel, said inlet channel being in direct fluid communication with the vacuum element;
wherein the controller is configured to receive data from said temperature sensor through a data channel and to adjust the rotational speed of the vacuum element after the inlet channel is disconnected from the process channel, such that the temperature measured at the outlet channel is maintained between a predetermined maximum and a minimum value.

13. The vacuum pump according to claim 12 further comprising a solenoid valve for a gas ballast, the solenoid valve being mounted on a channel in direct fluid communication with the vacuum element.

14. The vacuum pump according to claim 12 , wherein the controller increases the speed of the vacuum element if the temperature at the outlet channel of the vacuum element rises above a maximum selected temperature, Tmax and/or decreases the speed of the vacuum element if the temperature at the outlet channel of the vacuum element is less than a minimum selected temperature, Tmin.

15. The vacuum pump according to claim 14 , wherein Tmin is less than 100° C.

16. The vacuum pump according to claim 14 , wherein Tmax is more than 100° C.

17. The vacuum pump according to claim 12 , wherein the controller can generate a signal for starting a purge cycle for cleaning the vacuum pump.

18. The vacuum pump according to claim 12 , wherein the controller element further comprises a starter for starting a purge cycle manually.

19. The vacuum pump according to claim 18 , wherein said starter for starting the purge cycle manually can be in the shape of a button or switch at the level of the controller.

20. A method of using the controller according to claim 9 in a vacuum pump for maintaining the temperature at an outlet channel of the vacuum element between selected values, comprising adjusting the speed of the vacuum element during the post-purge and/or a manual purge cycle.

21. A vacuum pump comprising the pressure regulating valve and the controller according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• COECKELBERGS Joeri

Classifications

• F04C2270/19

  Temperature · CPC title

• F04C28/24

  characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves {or unloading valves}(F04C28/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04C25/02 Primary

  for producing high vacuum (sealing arrangements F04C27/00; silencing F04C29/06) · CPC title

• F04C2270/195

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• F04C29/0092 Primary

  Removing solid or liquid contaminants from the gas under pumping, e.g. by filtering or deposition; Purging; Scrubbing; Cleaning · CPC title