There are provided an operation number control device and a method for controlling the same that can level the operation times of the fluid machines, which are connected to the operation number control device. A fluid machine system comprises a plurality of fluid machines, and an operation number control device capable of individually controlling start and stop of the fluid machines. The operation number control device sets a continuous operation time for each of the fluid machines based on total operation times of the fluid machine and other fluid machines. When among fluid machines in operation, there is a fluid machine for which the continuous operation time set for the fluid machine has elapsed and there is a fluid machine at stop, the operation number control device causes the fluid machine at stop to start and causes the fluid machine to stop.

A method for controlling airflow of an electric air compression system of an electric or hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes air consumers connected to an air storage system. The method includes continuously monitoring air consumption data. The air consumption data are defined by an activation status of the air consumers and/or air pressure gradient in the air storage system. The method includes determining an air consumption based on the monitored air consumption data and comparing the determined air consumption with a predetermined air consumption threshold. If the determined air consumption is below the predetermined air consumption threshold, the electric air compression system is controlled to operate at a first airflow value. If the determined air consumption is equal to or above the predetermined air consumption threshold, the electric air compression system is controlled to operate at a second airflow value which is greater than the first airflow value.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating compressor which is a compact, light-weight, portable air compressor such that deterioration of performance due to problems such as wear on the surface finish of the cylinder when the compressor is used for a long period of time outside the operating temperature range thereof is prevented. To achieve this, the cylinder temperature is detected, and control is carried out so that the compressor is restarted at a lower restart pressure when the temperature is lower than a prescribed value and stopped (and also restarted, preferably) at a low pressure when the temperature is higher than a prescribed value.

The invention relates to a method of fluid exchange using a separation apparatus, in controlled fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet. Opening of the inlet enables fluid communication with the separation apparatus, exchange of fluid (a first fluid exchange) of a first volume of fluid, sealing/closing preventing further fluid communication. Opening of the outlet to be in fluid communication with the separation apparatus enables exchange of fluid (a second fluid exchange) through the open outlet of a second volume of fluid. In the method, the outgoing volume of fluid and the incoming volume of fluid in each exchange are substantially similar and there is substantially no loss of pressure by virtue of the exchange. The invention also relates to a separation apparatus, including a separation chamber and a control system.

An air source device includes: a tank; a compressor; an intake valve; and an ECU configured to acquire an intake amount, which is an amount of air sucked from an outside and supplied to the tank by the compressor, based on an increasing amount of a tank pressure, which is a pressure of the air accommodated in the tank, the increasing amount being an increasing amount from a time point when the intake valve is estimated to be changed from a closed state to an opened state.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air compressing apparatus capable of establishing a sufficient air-filling rate while reducing noise at the initiation of operations. To solve this problem, in the present invention, the air compressing apparatus comprises a compressor body that compresses air, a motor that drives the compressor body, an inverter that controls the rotation speed of the motor, a control circuit connected to the inverter, and a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of air compressed in the compressor body, wherein the control circuit controls operation of the compressor body by operating at a low speed activation mode that operates the compressor body at a low speed rotational frequency lower than a maximum rotational speed when the air compressing apparatus is activated, and on the basis of a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor and elapsed time from activation, switching from the low speed activation mode to a normal operating mode that operates at variable frequencies including a maximum rotational frequency.

A system for generating air pressure in a hybrid vehicle, comprising an engine-driven air compressor (C1) configured to be selectively operated by an ICE engine, an electrically-driven air compressor (C2) configured to be operated by an electric motor, wherein said electric motor is supplied from the electric network, at least one air reservoir configured to store pressurized air and being configured to be connected directly or indirectly to both an outlet of the engine-driven air compressor (C1) and an outlet of the electrically-driven air compressor (C2), at least one electronic control unit (3, 3) configured to control at least the electrically-driven air compressor (C2) according at least to a selected drive mode of the vehicle, wherein the electrically-driven air compressor (C2) is downsized compared to the engine-driven compressor (C1), and corresponding control methods.

In a method of an embodiment, a pressure sensor is selected from first and second pressure sensors according to a set flow rate. A measurable maximum pressure of the second pressure sensor is higher than a measurable maximum pressure of first pressure sensor. The target pressure of a chamber is determined according to the set flow rate. Until the pressure of the chamber reaches the target pressure after gas is started to be output from the flow rate controller to the chamber at an output flow rate according to the set flow rate and a pressure controller provided between the chamber and an exhaust apparatus is closed, the pressure of the chamber is measured by the selected pressure sensor. The output flow rate of the flow rate controller is determined from a rate of rise of the pressure of the chamber.

A hydraulic system comprises a fluid tank and a pump, including a pump reservoir, fluidly coupled to the tank via a supply line. A valve is in fluidic communication with the pump reservoir via a pressure line. A backflow line fluidly couples the pump reservoir to the fluid tank via a timer reservoir and an orifice included in the timer reservoir. The hydraulic system transitions between a normal state and a purge state. In the normal state in which the pump is on, a first portion of the fluid is communicated from the pump reservoir to the valve and a second portion of the fluid is communicated from the pump reservoir to the tank. In the purge state, the pressure line and valve are purged followed by the backflow line and the pump reservoir such that no fluid remains in the pump reservoir.

A fluid control system comprising: a first channel for carrying a gas in and out of the fluid control system; a reservoir for said gas, wherein the reservoir includes a first pressure sensor arranged to measure a pressure of the gas in the reservoir; a pump for pumping said gas between the first channel and the reservoir, wherein the system is arranged such that a quantity of the gas displaced in the first channel depends on a change in pressure of the gas in the reservoir.