What is it for? I was given a data set which is a result of antisurge valves testing every 2 seconds or so. (more than 1000 rows, measurements by time) I have no idea how to start analysis of the data like that. Can anyone help?
I would think your spreadsheet is charting every move that the anti-surge valve makes - for example if it opens slightly, it takes a reading, if it closes, then another reading etc. Like the other guy says, it's there to basically protect the machine from surging, and no-flow. You should be able to decipher specific actions from those readings - Recycle Trip or Safety On for example. Recycle Trip is when the software sees the machine approaching the surge line and opens 10% (for example 10%), so you should be able to analyse whether you've had any of these events. As far as I know that's the only reason you would study that data - to compare the action of the anti-surge valve, with the process conditions at the time.
An anti-surge valve is a valve that automatically opens to produce a flow through a centrifugal compressor to prevent surging of the compressor at a low flow rate. At surge conditions, there is no forward flow in the compressor and the compressor shaft will move foreword and backwards against the thrust bearing. This is damaging to the compressor and causes a terrible noise, that once you hear a surging compressor, you will never forget it. On an air compressor, the surge control valve will discharge to the air through a muffler. For process gas, it will discharge to another part of the process. The answer to your question depends on whether the data relates to the flow through the anti-surge valve of the compressor. It could even be a record of how fast the surge control valve operates. Based on this, no one can give you an answer for certain. TexMav
