Patent ID: 6033577
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A method for simultaneously controlling and coordinating a plurality of liquid-solid separators in a common bank, a fluid feed tank and an in-line pump in response to a fluid moving outside a predetermined setpoint level limit in said fluid tank, whereby the fluid is discharged from said fluid feed tank through said in-line pump and into said common bank of liquid-solid separators, the method comprising:obtaining and reporting data from sensors in said fluid feed tank, reporting the actual level of fluid or change in fluid level in said fluid feed tank;computing a first value derived from said sensor data and a first predetermined setpoint variable, wherein said first setpoint variable is a fluid level limit variable;generating a first command signal from a coordination controller based on said first computed value, wherein said first command signal adjusts the number of separators in operation as a function of the level of the fluid in said fluid tank;obtaining and reporting data from fluid pressure sensors at an inlet of said common bank of liquid-solid separators reporting the actual fluid pressure or change in fluid pressure at said inlet;computing a second value derived from said pressure sensor data and a second predetermined setpoint variable, wherein said second setpoint variable is a fluid pressure limit variable; andsimultaneously or immediately after generating said first command signal, generating a second command signal from said coordination controller based on said second computed value, wherein said second command signal adjusts the speed of said in-line pump as a function of the pressure of the fluid at said inlet of said common bank of liquid-solid separators;such that a system having a fluid feed tank coordinated with plurality of liquid-solid separators in a common bank can operate continuously and at steady state.