EP2739906A1 - Procédé et système pour commander une unité de soupape de modulation comprenant un électroaimant - Google Patents

Procédé et système pour commander une unité de soupape de modulation comprenant un électroaimant

Info

Publication number
EP2739906A1
EP2739906A1 EP12731422.7A EP12731422A EP2739906A1 EP 2739906 A1 EP2739906 A1 EP 2739906A1 EP 12731422 A EP12731422 A EP 12731422A EP 2739906 A1 EP2739906 A1 EP 2739906A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pwm signal
duty cycle
signal
frequency
electromagnet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP12731422.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2739906B1 (fr
Inventor
Marco CROIN
Massimo Giacomelli
Maurizio Achille Abate
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sit SpA
Original Assignee
Sit La Precisa SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sit La Precisa SpA filed Critical Sit La Precisa SpA
Publication of EP2739906A1 publication Critical patent/EP2739906A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2739906B1 publication Critical patent/EP2739906B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N1/00—Regulating fuel supply
    • F23N1/002—Regulating fuel supply using electronic means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/18—Circuit arrangements for obtaining desired operating characteristics, e.g. for slow operation, for sequential energisation of windings, for high-speed energisation of windings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2223/00—Signal processing; Details thereof
    • F23N2223/04—Memory
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2223/00—Signal processing; Details thereof
    • F23N2223/08—Microprocessor; Microcomputer
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2223/00—Signal processing; Details thereof
    • F23N2223/22—Timing network
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2235/00—Valves, nozzles or pumps
    • F23N2235/12—Fuel valves
    • F23N2235/14—Fuel valves electromagnetically operated
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2235/00—Valves, nozzles or pumps
    • F23N2235/12—Fuel valves
    • F23N2235/16—Fuel valves variable flow or proportional valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2235/00—Valves, nozzles or pumps
    • F23N2235/12—Fuel valves
    • F23N2235/20—Membrane valves
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/18—Circuit arrangements for obtaining desired operating characteristics, e.g. for slow operation, for sequential energisation of windings, for high-speed energisation of windings
    • H01F2007/1888—Circuit arrangements for obtaining desired operating characteristics, e.g. for slow operation, for sequential energisation of windings, for high-speed energisation of windings using pulse width modulation

Definitions

  • the invention is applied in particular in the field of systems for controlling the gas feed to burners of heating appliances in general, whose flame is intended directly to heat the environment or to heat an intermediate fluid circulating in a boiler installation.
  • valve units designed to control the supply of the flow of gas to the burner, so that the feed pressure and/or the flow of gas fed thereto can be regulated in a controlled manner.
  • valve units are typically intended to provide a multifunctional control of the flow of gas fed to the burner, having simultaneously to ensure the function of safe interception of the gas path as well as the feed pressure regulation/modulation function.
  • One of the main components of these valve units is formed by a pressure regulator device disposed in the main gas feed duct and typically including a valve having a plug with diaphragm control, the diaphragm being subjected on one side to the pressure regulated by the device and on the other side to a pressure generated by a resilient load, possibly subject to calibration.
  • a pressure regulator device By means of such a regulator device, the feed pressure is kept substantially constant and equal, less a factor of proportionality, to the ratio between the resilient force and the surface of the diaphragm subject to the resilient load .
  • These pressure regulators may also be provided in order to carry out amplitude-modulated pressure regulation.
  • an operating means for instance of linear type
  • actuation means having a control member, whose movement is controlled, acting on the spring to vary the resilient force generated thereby, acts on the spring (which generates the resilient load).
  • These operators are formed, for instance, by electromagnets or by controlled-axis motors or other like motor-driven means.
  • the operating means comprises an electromagnet and therefore a coil supplied with a predetermined current, by means of which the force with which the plug means acts on the above-mentioned diaphragm is changed.
  • a current supplying the coil of the electromagnet increases, the outlet pressure increases since the force with which the operating means acts on the spring increases.
  • the known modulating valve units also comprise means for controlling the current with which the electromagnet is supplied in order to determine the outlet pressure from the valve unit according to need, i.e. it is desirable for selection means to be provided such that - once a pressure needed for the correct operation of the burner according to need has been established - the value of the corresponding current to be supplied to the electromagnet is known.
  • control means may, for instance, comprise a microprocessor in which the relationship "current supplied to the coil / pressure supplied" is stored for instance in the form of a curve or a table (or a plurality of curves or tables, or both); therefore, once the desired pressure has been established, the current needed to ensure that the electromagnet acts on the plug with the appropriate force is set using appropriate signal selection means and this table/curve.
  • valves are commonly subject to the phenomenon of hysteresis, i.e. separate current values are very often needed in these valves for the force exerted by the operating means to be the same, depending on other operating conditions, in other words two outlet pressure values of the gas correspond to an identical current supplied to the coil depending on whether a falling or a rising pressure regime is involved.
  • the "current magnitude versus outlet pressure" curve has the characteristic shape of a closed curve similar to a parallelogram typical of hysteresis.
  • the so-called "dithering" signal has been introduced, i.e. the operating means of the electromagnet which acts on the plug is not kept stable in a predetermined position, but is caused to oscillate about a median position, which median position is the position corresponding to the desired outlet pressure.
  • This oscillation prevents the formation of hysteresis and enables a substantially unequivocal relationship between the magnitude of the current supplied to the coil and the outlet pressure of the gas, obviously with a minimal degree of uncertainty due to the dithering signal which causes the oscillation.
  • the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations due to dithering must be appropriately determined such that the mean value of the magnitude of the current is the value desired to obtain the necessary outlet pressure without any mechanical noise, excessive wear, pressure pulses or other drawbacks being created, moreover, within the valve unit.
  • a first option for obtaining the dithering is, for instance, to superimpose an alternating current oscillating at high frequency, i.e. the dither signal as this current oscillation generates the mechanical dither, on a direct current signal, i.e. a current signal which has the desired constant magnitude.
  • This type of option is disclosed for instance in DE 3320110.
  • valves of the type described above are supplied with a pulse-width modulation (PWM) voltage signal having an appropriate frequency such that it is the ripple of the current deriving from this PWM signal that ensures the necessary vibration, as will be described in detail below.
  • PWM pulse-width modulation
  • Signals of PWM type are often used to control solenoids as they minimize the loss of energy in the form of heat, which loss is very high when they are supplied with a constant voltage/current.
  • the PWM voltage signal may then be supplied at a frequency high enough for the resulting current to be substantially constant and the dither signal described above in the first option is superimposed on that signal at a much higher frequency than the frequency of the PWM signal.
  • This type of option is disclosed for instance in US Patent Application 2009/0005913.
  • the amplitude and the frequency of the dither signal depend on the frequency and the duty cycle of the PWM signal, quantities which are not constant given that the duty cycle of the PWM voltage signal is varied whenever it is wished to vary the gas outlet pressure, this dither is not constant.
  • the fact that the dither is not constant is undesirable as oscillations outside of a predetermined range considered to be optimum in accordance with the characteristics of the valve unit in question may entail mechanical noise or resonance, wear or pressure pulses.
  • the purpose and main object of the invention is to provide a valve unit which is structurally and functionally designed to remedy the drawbacks discussed with respect to the cited prior art.
  • the present invention therefore relates to a valve unit and to a method of controlling this valve unit including a control circuit comprising a PWM signal generator with a duty cycle and frequency which may be varied in the manner described below.
  • This valve unit is designed to supply combustible gas in a modulating manner, i.e. the unit may assume a plurality of positions so as to supply as output a plurality of different pressures/rates of flow of the combustible gas.
  • P therefore indicates both the pressure and the rate of flow unless only one of the two is explicitly specified .
  • the valve unit in particular comprises a plug whose position depends - inter alia - on the force exerted by an electromagnet included in the valve unit and supplied by the PWM signal generator.
  • the PWM signal generator in particular supplies this signal to the electromagnet which generates a force proportional to the current circulating in the coil.
  • This force depending on its magnitude, keeps the plug of the valve unit open to a greater or lesser degree, thereby generating a gas outlet pressure/rate of flow Pu : the gas outlet pressure is therefore proportional to the magnitude of the current supplied to the electromagnet.
  • the proportionality between the current and the gas outlet pressure (or rate of flow) is considered to be known and is for instance controlled by a sensor disposed in feedback or is stored, in the form of a curve or tables, in a memory in the control circuit of the valve unit.
  • the valve unit modulates the rate of flow of the gas output, not the pressure, simply by varying the dimension of the gas outlet hole by means of a plug which engages to a greater or lesser degree in the valve seat.
  • the duty cycle is:
  • a PWM signal of the type illustrated in Fig. 4a having a frequency within a predetermined range generates a current signal in the electromagnet illustrated in Fig . 4b.
  • the current does not follow the same stepped course as the PWM signal, but has a time period during which it increases until reaching a maximum and similarly when the supply voltage is brought to zero, the current does not immediately drop to zero.
  • the resulting magnitude of the current is not therefore continuous but shows an oscillation ("ripple") which may be compared with a dither signal as this current variation generates an oscillation of the coil of the electromagnet which is therefore associated with an oscillation of an actuator means acting on the plug of the valve unit.
  • a PWM voltage signal is supplied to the electromagnet such that the mean value of the magnitude of the current generated is the desired value, i.e. the value that generates the desired outlet gas pressure according to the known curve.
  • the PWM voltage signal is supplied at constant frequency and with a duty cycle d such that the magnitude of the current supplied to the electromagnet is that desired to obtain a predetermined Pu. If a new Pu is desired, the frequency of the PWM signal is kept constant and only the duty cycle of the signal is varied . As the signal increases, so does the mean magnitude of the current acting on the electromagnet. The amplitude of the dithering signal due to the ripple in the current signal changes as the duty cycle changes.
  • the range of frequencies of the PWM voltage signal supplied to the electromagnet such that mechanical dithering is obtained is well defined and depends on various characteristics of the system, for instance the mechanical frequency that is defined by masses and springs, the time constants of the diaphragm, static and dynamic friction, the inductance of the magnetic circuit, etc.
  • An optimum range of frequencies for domestic appliances preferably varies between 200 Hz and 1000 Hz depending on the mean value of the magnitude of the current.
  • the range of frequencies is described below as the "range of dither frequencies of the PWM signal”. Below the minimum frequency of this range, the current signal generated by a PWM signal at such a low frequency is similar to that shown in Fig. 3a (PWM signal) and Fig.
  • the PWM signal is at such a high frequency that the magnitude of the current does not drop further between one step and the next of the voltage signal and the current always maintains the mean value desired to obtain a particular Pu. This situation is illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b.
  • the PWM signal has superimposed on it a dither signal which is constant in frequency and amplitude and does not therefore depend on the mean value of the signal of the magnitude of the current as it is completely unconnected therefrom.
  • a signal such as that of Fig. 4b and that of Fig . 5b in which a dither signal is superimposed have some drawbacks.
  • the Applicants have observed that in the first case the "ripple" generated by the mechanical dither has an amplitude which may vary depending on the duty cycle of the PWM signal, and in the second case two signal generators are needed, one for the PWM signal and one for the dither signal .
  • the control circuit of the valve unit includes a PWM signal generator which has a variable duty cycle, i.e. the duty cycle of the signal is varied so as to obtain a value of the magnitude of the current needed to obtain the desired outlet pressure, but also has a variable frequency.
  • the frequency of the signal is selected such that it is within the dither frequency range of the PWM signal, i.e. not a frequency which is too high or too low within the meaning given above to those terms.
  • the frequency is set such that the ripple signal which is transformed into the dither of the current also generates a mechanical dither, in other words a mechanical oscillation, which has a predetermined amplitude and which is independent from the duty cycle variations of that signal such that the amplitude of the mechanical dither is always the same irrespective of the Pu.
  • this amplitude of the mechanical dither has to be such as not to create mechanical noise, and must not be excessively wide so as not to cause damage by wear or oscillations of the outlet pressure which in turn entail combustion which is not optimum.
  • the duty cycle of the PWM signal is varied so as to obtain the desired magnitude of the current; according to the invention, the frequency of the signal is varied at the same time so as to keep the amplitude of the mechanical dither equal to the value which is desired and in particular kept constant irrespective of the predetermined duty cycle of the PWM signal .
  • the proportionality between the frequency of the PWM signal and the mean magnitude of the current may be any and depends on the type of appliance in question.
  • the present invention applies to any existing proportionality which is established at the time of calibration of the appliance.
  • the Applicants have therefore developed a method and a device for regulating the PWM signal in which the phenomenon of dithering is present solely when the mean magnitude of the current is changed .
  • the electromagnet is supplied with a PWM voltage signal at high frequency, i.e. such that the resulting magnitude of the current is substantially constant and such as to obtain the desired Pu of the gas. In this case there is no mechanical dithering.
  • the duty cycle of the PWM signal is modified to obtain a different mean magnitude of the current and therefore a different Pu.
  • the frequency of the PWM signal is modified such that it is no longer in the high frequency regime, but enters the dither frequency range of the PWM signal, i.e. for a certain time interval the frequency of the PWM signal is such as to generate a ripple in the corresponding current signal and therefore a mechanical dither.
  • the above-mentioned teaching of the present invention obviously applies to the duty cycle/frequency parameters of this PWM signal, i.e. irrespective of the duty cycle required to generate a predetermined mean current, the amplitude of the dither is always the same and this is obtained by appropriately calibrating the frequency of the PWM signal .
  • the PWM signal has a high frequency and a duty cycle such as to obtain a first outlet pressure by generating a substantially constant current signal, then for a transient time interval prior the change of duty cycle, the frequency of the signal is lowered so as to create a certain ripple in the current signal while keeping the duty cycle constant, the duty cycle of the signal is then changed to obtain the new desired pressure and the frequency is kept “low” in order to continue to generate the ripple signal which creates the dithering for a second transient time interval . Following this second transient time interval, the frequency of the signal is returned to "high” while keeping the duty cycle constant.
  • the frequency of the signal before and after the change of duty cycle is adapted such that the amplitude of the mechanical dither remains substantially constant.
  • the ripple of the signal has an amplitude of approximately 20 milliamperes in comparison with 130-150 milliamperes in the case of the overall signal.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of a first preferred embodiment of a valve unit of the invention
  • FIG. 2a and 2b are diagrammatic views in longitudinal section of a second and a third preferred embodiment of a valve unit of the invention.
  • Figs. 3a and 3b are graphs representing a first PWM voltage signal and the corresponding current signal supplying a coil of an electromagnet of the valve unit of Figs. 1 or 2;
  • Figs. 4a and 4b are graphs representing a second PWM voltage signal and the corresponding current signal supplying a coil of an electromagnet of the valve unit of Figs. 1 or 2;
  • - Figs. 5a and 5b are graphs representing a third PWM voltage signal and the corresponding current signal supplying a coil of an electromagnet of the valve unit of Figs. 1 or 2;
  • - Fig. 6 is a curve representative of the gas outlet pressure signal as a function of the magnitude of the current circulating in the electromagnet;
  • Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the control circuit of the valve unit of
  • Figs. 8a to 8c are curves representative, respectively, of the current, frequency of the PWM signal and duty cycle of the PWM signal supplied to the electromagnet of the valve unit of Figs. 1 or 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the method of operation of the valve unit of the invention.
  • - Fig. 10 is an experimental graph of the correlation between the frequency of the signal and the corresponding mean magnitude of the current in the electromagnet.
  • a multifunctional valve unit device for controlling the supply of combustible gas (referred to hereafter simply as gas) embodied in accordance with the present invention, is shown overall by 1.
  • the valve unit 1 comprises a feed duct 2 for transferring the gas from a feed member (not shown) to a burner appliance (not shown) which extends between a gas inlet opening 3 and a gas outlet opening 4 to the burner.
  • the duct has a smaller section at the outlet 4 and is for instance shaped as a nozzle 4a.
  • the duct 2 is preferably provided with an electrovalve 5 designed safely to enable or intercept the passage of the gas through the duct 1 with an on/off control of its plug in the corresponding valve seat. It is for instance of the type which is normally closed and comprises an electromagnetic actuator, known per se, with a resilient return means disposed so as to move the plug so that it closes the valve seat when the electromagnet is not supplied . More preferably, in an embodiment which is not shown, the duct 2 comprises two safety electrovalves in series.
  • valve unit 1 Downstream of the electrovalve 5, the valve unit 1 comprises a pressure regulator device, shown overall by 6, including a valve seat 7, obtained in the duct 2, cooperating with a plug 8 whose control stem 9 is rigidly connected to a control diaphragm 10 for its control .
  • a pressure regulator device shown overall by 6, including a valve seat 7, obtained in the duct 2, cooperating with a plug 8 whose control stem 9 is rigidly connected to a control diaphragm 10 for its control .
  • the diaphragm 10 is subject on one side to the feed pressure regulated by the regulator device 6, shown by Pu, and on the other side to a resilient load generated by a spring 11 whose axial ends 11a, l ib are connected respectively to the diaphragm 10 and to a wall 12 of a stationary structure 12 of the valve unit.
  • the face of the diaphragm 10 urged by the spring 11 is also subject to atmospheric pressure through the provision of an orifice 13 through which the chamber housing the spring 11, bounded in part by the diaphragm 10 and the wall 12, communicates with atmosphere.
  • valve unit as regards the various elements described above has no impact, however, on the teaching of the present invention : it is enough for there to be a pressure regulator including a valve seat and a plug which may be displaced and by means of which an outlet pressure Pu is determined .
  • the pressure regulator device 6 further comprises an operating means, shown overall by 14, associated directly with the plug 8 in order to control the latter to move in a controlled manner relatively to the valve seat 7, as will be explained in further detail below.
  • the operating means 14 comprises a rod-like member 15 which may be displaced in translation, coaxially to the stem 9 of the plug 8, in a direction shown by X in the drawings.
  • the member 15 comprises, at a free end thereof, a plate 16 extending transversely to the axis X and disposed in a position facing the plug 8 on the side opposite the stem 9.
  • a spring active between the plate 16 and the plug 8 is shown by 17.
  • the operating means 14 is of proportional or stepped type, such that the control member 15 may assume, in the direction X, a plurality of positions during a controlled movement in translation.
  • This member 15 is formed as a mobile fitting of a proportional electromagnet, in which the spatial positions thereof along the axis X are proportionally correlated with the magnitude of the electrical signal (for instance the magnitude of the current) supplied to the control electromagnet.
  • the rod-like member 15 is preferably recalled into a predetermined safety position when there is no control signal to the operating means.
  • This safety device may be formed by decoupling means of electromagnetic type or by resilient return means depending on the embodiment chosen. In any case, the safety device is such as to recall the member 15 into a predetermined position irrespective of the operating condition reached by the operating means, when the control signal to the latter is discontinued or is, for instance, below a predetermined set threshold value.
  • valve seat 7 is intercepted by the resilient action of the spring 17 which, opposing the resilient load of the spring 11, urges the plug 8 to close the seat 7.
  • the springs 11, 17 are therefore dimensioned such that, in this condition, the resilient action of the spring 17 predominates over the resilient action of the spring 11 so as to ensure the closure of the plug 8.
  • Fig. 2a in which similar components bear the same reference numerals as in Fig . 1, shows a variant of the valve unit 1 including the pressure regulator device 6 in which the resilient force acts on a second diaphragm in fluid communication with the first diaphragm.
  • Fig . 2b shows a further valve unit 1" for regulating the flow of gas, in which the flow regulator device 6' includes a plug 8 designed to close the valve seat 7 in a controlled manner.
  • the movement of the plug is similar to that described with respect to the plug 8 of the unit 1 or 1' by means of the electromagnet 15.
  • the operating means 14 is of proportional type and includes an electromagnet (not shown) to which a signal generated by a control circuit 100 (see Fig. 7) is supplied to determine the position of the rod-like member 15 and therefore the gas outlet pressure.
  • the control circuit 100 for instance includes a microprocessor 101 which transmits a PWM voltage signal on the basis of data stored in a memory 102 internal or external to the microprocessor.
  • the stored data in question comprise the proportionality relationship existing between the current I in the electromagnet and the outlet pressure Pu (or the outlet gas flow) and the relationship between the current in the electromagnet and the duty cycle of the PWM signal . Examples of these relationships are shown in the graphs of Figs. 6 to 9.
  • the microprocessor 101 Given the request for a predetermined pressure/rate of flow Pu by a burner supplied by the flow of gas output from the duct 2, the microprocessor 101 uses the graph of Fig . 6 (or a similar graph or tables which establish a relationship between Pu and I) to calculate the "mean" current which needs to be supplied to the electromagnet of the pressure regulator 6 so that the rod-like member 15 is in the necessary position to supply this pressure (as a result of the force developed by the magnetic field of the coil to which this current is supplied).
  • this current value is given, again by means of appropriate data stored in a memory 103 (which may also be the memory 102), the microprocessor calculates the duty cycle of a PWM voltage signal by means of which this current is obtained.
  • Fig. 9 shows an example of this correlation.
  • Fig. 6 and Fig . 9 are no more than possible examples of the correlation between the current and the outlet pressure and between the duty cycle of a PWM signal and the current that it generates in a solenoid. There may be other curves or correlations depending on the type of pressure regulator 6 used and on its particular construction parameters.
  • the microprocessor for transmitting this signal includes a PWM signal generator 105 which is controlled to transmit a PWM voltage signal having the duty cycle determined by means of the data stored in the memory 102 and in the memory 103 as described above.
  • This signal is supplied to the base of a transistor 107 connected to the solenoid of the electromagnet.
  • the transistor is activated and de-activated by the voltage signal transmitted by the PWM signal generator 105 and therefore applies a current to the solenoid.
  • the duty cycle of the signal transmitted by the PWM generator is such that the current generated has a magnitude such as to obtain that pressure.
  • the frequency of the PWM signal transmitted by the PWM signal generator 105 is within the "dither frequency range of the PWM signal" (signal of the type shown in Fig . 4a), i.e. it is such that the current signal to the solenoid from the transistor is not constant but has a ripple, as is illustrated in Fig. 4b.
  • the rod-like member 15 is therefore subject to a mechanical dither.
  • the ripple is selected (by appropriately selecting the frequency of the PWM signal) such that it generates an optimum mechanical dither.
  • the microprocessor 101 calculates the new value of this current and, from the data shown in Fig . 9, the corresponding new duty cycle of the PWM signal which has to be transmitted by the generator 105, such that the amplitude of the mechanical dither is kept constant, and at the same time the frequency of the PWM signal is also modified for that purpose.
  • the second PWM signal transmitted by the generator 105 to the base of the transistor 107 therefore has a new duty cycle corresponding to the required duty cycle - and obtained from the stored data - in order to obtain a specified mean magnitude of the current and also has a frequency such that the amplitude of the dither signal caused by this new signal with the new duty cycle is equal to the amplitude of the dither signal which was obtained previously by the first PWM signal before the change of duty cycle, i.e. in order to keep the mechanical dither constant.
  • This modification of the duty cycle and frequency obtained by appropriate means for regulating the duty cycle 108 and means for regulating the frequency 109 of the PWM signal included in the control circuit 100 (for instance directly within the PWM signal generator 105), is carried out each time that a variation (upwards or downwards) of the outlet gas pressure is requested.
  • the amplitude of the dither signal thus remains unchanged irrespective of the duty cycle of the PWM signal.
  • the control circuit 100 further includes a timer 110 which serves the following purpose.
  • the microprocessor 101 of the regulation circuit 100 uses the data stored in the memories 102, 103, selects the corresponding current in the electromagnet to obtain this Pu.
  • the duty cycle of the PWM signal now called the first PWM signal, which determines this current, but - in contrast to the preceding preferred embodiment - the frequency of this signal is "high", i.e. such that no ripple is formed in the current signal and therefore no mechanical dithering phenomenon is obtained .
  • An example of this signal is illustrated in Figs. 5a and 5b, i.e. a substantially constant current signal.
  • the timer 110 starts to measure the passage of time from the request for the change of Pu and the microprocessor 101 also transmits a control signal to the PWM signal generator such that it generates a separate PWM signal with the same duty cycle as before, i.e. keeping substantially the same current in the electromagnet, but with a lower frequency, such that there is a return to the "dither frequency range of the PWM signal" as a result of which a ripple is formed in the current signal as shown in Fig. 4b.
  • This new "transient" signal is supplied to the electromagnet for a predetermined time Tl as measured by the timer 110, at the end of which the generator 105 generates a new second transient PWM signal having the duty cycle required to obtain the second outlet pressure.
  • the frequency of this second transient PWM signal is still within the "dither frequency range of the PWM signal" and, moreover, this frequency is such that the amplitude of the mechanical dither is substantially identical to the amplitude of the dither obtained by the first transient signal prior to modification of the duty cycle.
  • Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c show an example of these transients.
  • Fig . 8a shows the current signal as generated by a PWM voltage signal whose duty cycle and whose frequency are shown by the graphs of Figs. 8c and 8b.
  • the current signal includes a stepped course. At each step, the value of the current is substantially constant; however, at the time ends of each step, i.e. at the beginning and end of each substantially constant current magnitude interval, for a brief section, of time Tl and T2 at the end and the beginning respectively, a ripple signal which generates the mechanical dither is present.
  • the advantages of the presence of the mechanical dither are exploited in order to minimize problems of hysteresis, but its presence is limited to the outlet pressure changes required in order also to minimize mechanical wear.
  • the amplitude of the dither is fixed and constant irrespective of the duty cycle of the PWM signal and optimized for the particular type of device involved.
  • the control signal supplied to the electromagnet of the device 6 is generated as follows: it is initially ascertained whether the actual current differs from the desired value and whether the difference in absolute values is greater than a predetermined threshold . If so, the frequency by means of which the desired mean current is obtained in the electromagnet is calculated (block B2). The values of the curves are stored, as mentioned above, in the memories 102, 103. This frequency is calculated by means, for instance, of the experimental curve shown in Fig . 10. Any other curve may be used, however, and the curve varies in practice depending on the valve unit in question.
  • the corresponding duty cycle is calculated, for instance by means of a PID controller.
  • This PWM signal S2 is then generated and supplied to the electromagnet by appropriate means.
  • the current circulating in the electromagnet is also measured - as a function of feedback - in block B4, and the value is supplied to the block B2 in order possibly to modify the frequency; the valve is therefore appropriately modulated at B5.
  • a possible sensor measures, for instance, the actual gas outlet pressure in order to detect any anomalies (block B6).
  • a predetermined time interval, Tl or T2 or both (block B7) starts to be calculated, in which the second PWM signal is included at a maximum frequency (block B8), again by means of a PID controller (block B9), for instance, and the two signals are therefore superimposed in order to actuate the valve.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention porte sur une unité de soupape (1) destinée à commander l'arrivée d'un gaz combustible à un appareil à brûleur, qui comprend : ◦ un dispositif (6) destiné à régler la pression du gaz à la sortie de l'unité (1), comprenant un siège de soupape (7) associé à un obturateur (8) et un moyen de fonctionnement (14) servant à amener l'obturateur (8) à se déplacer par rapport au siège de soupape (7) correspondant pour réguler la pression d'alimentation de sortie (Pu) par modulation, le moyen de fonctionnement (14) étant du type qui comprend au moins un électroaimant du type proportionnel ; ◦ un circuit de commande (100) du dispositif (6) de régulation de la pression, comprenant un générateur de signaux PWM (105) qui génère un signal de torsion PWM apte à générer un signal de courant dans l'électroaimant pour déplacer l'obturateur (8) en fonction du niveau du signal de courant et, par ce moyen, à déterminer la pression de sortie (Pu), le niveau du courant étant fonction du coefficient d'utilisation du signal PWM ; le signal PWM ayant une fréquence telle que les moyens de fonctionnement (14) sont soumis à une gigue mécanique ayant une amplitude spécifiée au moins pendant un intervalle de temps spécifié (T1, T2) ; ◦ le générateur de signaux PWM (105) comprenant des moyens pour commander le facteur d'utilisation et des moyens pour commander la fréquence du signal PWM, les moyens de commande du coefficient d'utilisation faisant varier le coefficient d'utilisation du signal PWM avec la variation de la pression de sortie souhaitée (Pu), et les moyens de commande de la fréquence étant aptes à faire varier la fréquence du signal PWM en fonction de la variation du coefficient d'utilisation de manière à maintenir l'amplitude de la gigue sensiblement constante, indépendamment des variations du coefficient d'utilisation du signal PWM.
EP12731422.7A 2011-08-03 2012-06-28 Procédé et système pour commander une unité de soupape de modulation comprenant un électroaimant Active EP2739906B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000261A ITPD20110261A1 (it) 2011-08-03 2011-08-03 Metodo e sistema di controllo di una unità valvolare modulante includente un elettromagnete
PCT/EP2012/062603 WO2013017346A1 (fr) 2011-08-03 2012-06-28 Procédé et système pour commander une unité de soupape de modulation comprenant un électroaimant

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EP2739906A1 true EP2739906A1 (fr) 2014-06-11
EP2739906B1 EP2739906B1 (fr) 2018-01-10

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Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019122976A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Idea S.P.A. Dispositif et procédé de régulation et de détection de flamme de brûleur à gaz

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ITUA20163560A1 (it) * 2016-05-18 2017-11-18 Sit Spa Metodo di pilotaggio di una valvola di regolazione della portata di gas combustibile ad un bruciatore, in particolare per caldaie a condensazione ad elevata modulazione di potenza
CN107517047B (zh) * 2016-06-15 2023-08-22 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 电磁铁的驱动装置和驱动方法以及具有该装置的烹饪器具
EP4303493A1 (fr) * 2021-03-02 2024-01-10 Industrial Atilla Ltda Dispositif de contrôle rapide de flammes à réponse variable en continu
CN114183769B (zh) * 2021-12-16 2022-11-08 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 燃气比例阀的控制方法及控制装置

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DE3320110C2 (de) * 1983-06-03 1985-03-28 Mannesmann Rexroth GmbH, 8770 Lohr Schaltung zum Betrieb eines Magnetregelventils
US5020771A (en) * 1989-01-26 1991-06-04 Ranco Japan Ltd. Proportional control valve
JPH02283982A (ja) * 1989-04-21 1990-11-21 Nippondenso Co Ltd 電磁式比例流量制御弁の駆動装置
JP4039721B2 (ja) * 1997-11-28 2008-01-30 株式会社トキメック 電磁比例制御弁の制御装置および制御回路
JPH11202947A (ja) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-30 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 電磁比例圧力制御弁の駆動制御方法
IT1308113B1 (it) * 1999-06-02 2001-11-29 Sit La Precisa Spa Gruppo valvolare per la modulazione della pressione di erogazione diun gas.
DE102004048706A1 (de) * 2004-10-06 2006-04-20 Siemens Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ermittlung eines mit einer Ditherfrequenz überlagerten PWM-Signals zur Steuerung eines Magnetventils

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019122976A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Idea S.P.A. Dispositif et procédé de régulation et de détection de flamme de brûleur à gaz

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ITPD20110261A1 (it) 2013-02-04
WO2013017346A1 (fr) 2013-02-07

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