2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Flow Transmitter Response Time Issue

Response time of the FMD Transmitter

The speed of approaching surge is high

1 SEC.

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

The transmitter type and brand should be selected

based on two major factors:
Reliability
Speed of response
Desired rise time for p (flow) transmitters is 200 ms
or less
Pressure step is 100%
The first order response (63%) is less than 200
ms
Desired rise time for pressure transmitters is 500 ms
or less

100%

D
0

Pd

100%

A
D

Actual
pressure Transmitter
output

Po

0
100%

63% response

1- (1/e)

Pc

Time

1 is less than 200 ms

In only 400 ms, PO dropped by 14%,

with a 2% change in Pc

The Effect of Damping the Dpo (flow)

Transmitter

Knowing the flow is essential to determine the distance between the

operating point and the SCL
Damping the po (flow) transmitter destroys essential information
Start of Surge

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Flow 50

0
Actual Flow
-50
0

1.25

2.50
Time (seconds)

3.75

Damping the po (flow) transmitter can paralyze the complete antisurge

control system!!!

The Effect of Damping the Dpo (flow)

Transmitter
Start of Surge
Flow 50

=6s

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

0
Actual Flow
-50
0

1.25

2.50
Time (seconds)

3.75

This shows that a very long transmitter response would miss the event
completely

The Effect of Damping the Dpo (flow)

Transmitter
Start of Surge
Flow 50

= 16.0 s
= 1.70 s

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Actual Flow
-50
0

1.25

2.50
Time (seconds)

3.75

A rise time of 200 milliseconds can track the surge cycles, which is what we
need

The Effect of Damping the Dpo (flow)

Transmitter
Start of Surge
Flow 50

= 16.0 s
= 1.70 s
= 0.20 s

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Actual Flow
-50
0

1.25

2.50
Time (seconds)

3.75

A rise time of 200 milliseconds can track the surge cycles, which is what we
need

The Effect of Damping the Dpo (flow)

Transmitter
Start of Surge
Flow 50

= 16.0 s
= 1.70 s
= 0.03 s
= 0.20 s

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Actual Flow
-50
0

1.25

2.50
Time (seconds)

3.75

To track the actual flow we would need a rise time of 30 milliseconds, which is
not commercially available. Thus the acceptable compromise is 200
milliseconds

Barriers

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

We have barriers in our lines that introduce a

150 millisecond delay. How does that affect the
flow transmitter rise time issue?

 2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Barriers
Barriers delay the transmission of data from the field
transmitter to the controller, but they do not dampen the
signal
The transmitter 200 millisecond rise time resolution is
still given to the controller, just 150 milliseconds later
The residence time within the loop (cooler, knockout
drum, piping, etc.) will allow a 150 millisecond delay
without major penalty
The key issue is that the flow signal is not degraded due
to the delay, it is just delayed

Barriers
50

50

-50

-50
0

Time

2009 Compressor Controls Corporation

Resolution from Transmitter

Time

Resolution into Controller

150 millisecond delay