Modular industrial equipment facility

Abstract

A modular industrial equipment facility is provided. This facility includes a plurality of pre-assembled, portable modules that may further include a plurality of internal modules, and a plurality of terminal modules for connecting to the plurality of internal modules, wherein each module may be configured to operate either in combination with or independent of the other modules. These modules are typically intended for use with heavy, industrial grade equipment. The internal modules and terminal modules may be arranged to form a single, integrated structure that has the appearance of a permanent, non-modular building. This invention may also include a computerized monitoring and control system that may further include a local component that monitors and controls the operation of equipment that may be housed in the various modules; and a remote monitoring and control component that is capable of monitoring and controlling the operation of the equipment in the various modules. Pre-installed ductwork and computerized air handling allow the facility to be expanded or contracted without significant structural modifications.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates in general to a facility for use with industrial equipment, and in particular to a modular equipment facility for use with heavy industrial equipment such as, for example, air compressor / dryer units. [0002] In certain circumstances, the use of prefabricated, modular buildings for purposes such as constructing electrical facilities and residential housing may be an acceptable alternative to more traditional on-site construction methods. The use of individual building modules or units may save time and may reduce the overall complexity associated with some construction projects. However, many modular buildings or structures, although often highly functional, are unacceptable for certain applications because they include multiple modules or units that are connected to one another in a manner that creates a structure or structures that appear to be incomplete, i.e., unfinished, or non-permanent. For example, many modular faciliti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a modular industrial equipment facility is provided. An exemplary embodiment of this facility includes a plurality of pre-assembled, portable modules suitable for use with heavy industrial equipment such as air compressor / dryers or other equipment. The modules may be situated, i.e., placed, on the end portions of the facility or they may be situated on the inside portion of the facility. Each of the inside or “internal” modules further comprises at least one non-weight bearing external wall and each of the end or “terminal” modules further comprises at least two non-weight bearing external walls. The internal modules and terminal modules may be arranged in a variety of geometric configurations to form a single, integrated structure that has the appearance of a unified, non-modular building. Each of the modules (referred to herein as “equipment modules”) modules is typically configured to operate independent of the other equipment modules in the event of a partial system failure. In this embodiment, the terminal modules are typically used to house switchgear, computers, or other electrical equipment while the internal modules are typically used to house air compressor / dryer units. The construction and configuration of both the individual equipment modules and the facility itself creates an industrial facility in which each air compressor / dryer unit operates independent of the other air compressor / dryers in terms of environmental control, i.e., compressor cooling, but that is still fully integrated into the larger facility in terms of compressor air output. The internal environment of the facility itself does not significantly affect or limit the number of air compressor / dryer units that may be added to or removed from the system. Therefore, the output of the industrial equipment facility of this invention may be increased or reduced without the need to significantly reconstruct the entire facility to change internal airflow characteristics. This invention also includes a computerized control system that further includes a local component and a remote component. The local component is typically placed within the equipment facility and provides means by which to both monitor and control the operation of the equipment located within the facility. The remote component is typically placed at a location separate from the main equipment facility and also provides means by which to both monitor and control the operation of the equipment located within the facility.

Problems solved by technology

However, many modular buildings or structures, although often highly functional, are unacceptable for certain applications because they include multiple modules or units that are connected to one another in a manner that creates a structure or structures that appear to be incomplete, i.e., unfinished, or non-permanent.

Facilities of this nature are often undesirable because they are deemed unacceptable by labor unions or because they negatively impact the appearance of the physical environment in which they are located.

However, many industrial equipment facilities, including those that are modular in nature, do not include adequate backup systems or system redundancies that provide for substantially continuous operation in the event that one or more individual components within the system fails.

In the absence of adequate safeguards or redundancies, manufacturing operations may be interrupted or may cease if a partial system failure occurs.

Furthermore, if manufacturing or production output must be increased or decreased, a rapid expansion or contraction of the equipment facility servicing the factory or plant may become necessary.

Existing modular facilities are not typically expandable or reconfigurable without reconstruction of the entire facility.

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