in block 910 a timer is reset to zero when the antisurge valve 120 is assured fully open and the timer has been initialized startup can be initiated as shown in block 805 at startup the rotational speed of the compressor 100 is ramped up according to the guidelines and restrictions of the compressor 100 and driver 110 710 manufacturers and the needs of the equipment owner speed rampup is carried out by increasing the vfd controller 39 s 650 or rotational speed controller 39 s 720 set point and is depicted in block 810 in this embodiment of the invention the antisurge valve is ramped toward a closed position after a predetermined time elapses in comparator block 920 the time as reported by the timer is compared to the time threshold t pd if the time does not exceed the threshold time the speed continues to increase but no change to the position of the antisurge valve 120 is made when the threshold time t pd has elapsed two operations are carried out essentially simultaneously and repeatedly each of these operations emanates from and returns to the branch block 830 in one of these operations the antisurge controller 610 compares the compressor 39 s operating point to the surge control line 510 to determine how the antisurge valve 120 must be manipulated for antisurge protection if the compressor 39 s operating point is to the.