Method and system for fluid flow control in a fluid network system

摘要

A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by means of a plurality of fluid machines. The disclosure provides a simple empirical method of identifying network characteristics of the fluid network system used for providing the required fluid flow rate in the fluid network system utilizing minimal fluid machine power. The method includes the steps of determining a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically; determining a minimum total fluid machine power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint involving the relation between the fluid flow rate and the corresponding fluid machine speed, and controlling a speed of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine power in the fluid network system is attained.

主权项

1. A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by means of a plurality of fluid machines, wherein the method comprises:
a) calculating, via a processor, a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically, b) determining, via the processor, a minimum total fluid machine electric power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint comprising the relation between the change in fluid machine speed and the corresponding change in fluid flow rate and based on an equation defining each individual fluid machine electric power and expressed as:E=Δ⁢⁢p·Qη,wherein Δp is differential pressure for the respective fluid machine, Q is fluid flow rate for the respective fluid machine, and η is efficiency of the respective fluid machine, and
c) controlling, via the processor in communication with the plurality of fluid machines, a speed of each of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine electric power in the fluid network system is attained, wherein the steps a)-c) are performed without dynamically modeling real-time locations of machinery and personnel in the fluid network system.