
12
CMC TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL
1X36003 Version 2.52
1996-1999 Ingersoll-Rand Company
Date of Issue: 18-Oct-1999
concern are insufficient power air, incorrect valve transducer calibration, and repeatability of
both inlet and bypass valves. If the valves are being sent signals for specific movements
and they do not respond by moving to the new positions, then the CMC has very little
chance of correctly controlling surge, or even the discharge pressure.
As discussed earlier, the CMC uses motor current as the standard method for determining
when to open the bypass valve. The time to begin opening the bypass valve is near
MinLoad
amps. The equation,
GHP
I V
PF
motor
=
× ×
×
×
η
3
746
indicates that horsepower is directly related to current; it is, but it is also related to voltage.
This is not normally a concern because voltage is primarily constant. However, there are
some locations where extreme voltage variations do exist. In these circumstances, the CMC
cannot correctly determine when it reaches
MinLoad
and a surge can occur. For these
applications, an optional watt transducer can be used to avoid this situation.
How is Surge Detected?
Note that it has been shown that even though the CMC has surge prevention logic, a surge
can still occur. The CMC has a surge detection system comprised of a surge pressure
transducer and motor current transformer (see Figure 10). The CMC senses surge when
the rate of change in last stage discharge pressure and the rate of change in motor current
are greater than the surge sensitivity setpoint value. When this occurs, the CMC will alarm
and unload the compressor.
Figure 10: Changes in Discharge Pressure
Surge AbsorberTM
When the controller recognizes that a surge occurred, the compressor will unload. With the
Surge Absorber
TM
feature enabled, the controller will increment the bypass valve position by
a fixed percentage, send the inlet valve to the MinLoad point (if it is not already there) and
then let normal system demand reload to the operating pressure. This process will repeat
up to three times within a ten-minute period. If the compressor surges four times in ten
minutes, the compressor will remain unloaded until an operator presses the reset button.
Each detected surge drives a Surge Event to the Event Log. If the compressor unloads do
to repeated surges, a Surge Unload Alarm Event is driven to the Event Log.
Compressor
Motor
Starter
CT
Bypass
Valve
Inlet
Valve
Check
Valve
Base
Control
Module
PT
4-20 mA
4-20 mA
CMC
PT
Pneumatic Tubing