PUMPING SYSTEM WITH POWER OPTIMIZATION

• US 20070154319A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S), Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Low Power Drives, Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Stiles, Robert, Robol, Ronald, Kjartan Runarsson, Einar, Yahnker, Christopher, Hofmann Berthelsen, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/42
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/00 Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps adapted for pumping specific fluids F04D7/00; priming or boosting F04D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed

Abstract

The present invention provides a pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, including a water pump and a variable speed motor. In one example, a target volume amount of water and an operational time period is provided, and the operational time period is altered based upon a volume of water moved. In another example, operation of the motor is altered based upon the volume of water moved. In addition or alternatively, a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump is determined based upon the target volume amount and a time period. In addition or alternatively, a plurality of operations are performed on the water, and a total volume of water moved by the pump is determined. In addition or alternatively, an optimized flow rate value is determined based upon power consumption.

Claims

1. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for providing a target volume amount of water to be moved by the water pump;

means for providing an operational time period for the pump;

means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during the operational time period;

means for altering the operational time period based upon the volume of water moved during the operational time period.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising means for altering operation of the motor based upon the operational time period.

3. The pumping system of claim 2, further comprising means for determining an end time based upon the operational time period, the means for altering operation of the motor being configured to stop operation of the motor when the operational time period exceeds the end time.

4. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the operational time period includes a plurality of discrete operational time periods.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the target volume amount is based upon a volume of water contained in a swimming pool and a number of desired turnovers of the swimming pool water volume.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the motor to adjust a flow rate of water moved by the pump between a first flow rate and a second flow rate, the means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump being further configured to determine a total volume of water moved by the pump based upon the first and second flow rates.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising means for determining a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and the time period.

8. The pumping system of claim 7, wherein the target flow rate is generally equal to the minimum flow rate for moving the target volume amount within the time period.

9. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for providing a target volume amount of water to be moved by the water pump;

means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump; and

means for altering operation of the motor when the volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

10. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the means for altering operation of the motor is configured to stop operation of the motor when the volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

11. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the target volume amount is based upon a volume of water contained in a swimming pool and a number of desired turnovers of the swimming pool water volume.

12. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the means for controlling the motor is further configured to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump between a first flow rate and a second flow rate, the means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump being further configured to determine a total volume of water moved by the pump based on the first and second flow rates.

13. The pumping system of claim 9, further comprising means for providing an operational time period for the pump, means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during the operational time period, and means for altering the operational time period based upon the volume of water moved during the operational time period.

14. The pumping system of claim 13, further comprising means for determining an end time based upon the operational time period, the means for altering operation of the motor being configured to stop operation of the motor when the operational time period exceeds the end time.

15. The pumping system of claim 9, further comprising means for providing a time period value and means for determining a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and time period value, the means for altering operation of the motor being configured to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump to the target flow rate.

16. The pumping system of claim 15, wherein the target flow rate is generally equal to the minimum flow rate for moving the target volume amount within a time period equal to the time period value.

17. The pumping system of claim 9, further comprising means for determining a range of flow rate values of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and a plurality of time period values, means for determining a range of power consumption values of the motor based upon the flow rate values, and means for determining an optimized flow rate value that is associated with the lowest power consumption value, the means for controlling the motor being configured to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump to the optimized flow rate.

18. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for providing a target volume amount of water to be moved by the water pump;

means for providing a time period value;

means for determining a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and time period value; and

means for controlling the motor to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump to the target flow rate.

19. The pumping system of claim 18, wherein the target volume amount is based upon a volume of water contained in a swimming pool and a number of desired turnovers of the swimming pool water volume.

20. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein the target flow rate is generally equal to the minimum flow rate for moving the target volume amount within a time period equal to the time period value.

21. The pumping system of claim 18, further comprising means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump and means for altering operation of the motor when the volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

22. The pumping system of claim 18, further comprising means for providing an operational time period for the pump, means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during the operational time period, and means for altering the operational time period based upon the volume of water moved during the operational time period.

23. The pumping system of claim 22, further comprising means for determining an end time based upon the operational time period, the means for altering operation of the motor being configured to stop operation of the motor when the operational time period exceeds the end time.

24. The pumping system of claim 18, further comprising means for providing a range of time period values, means for determining a range of flow rate values of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and time period values, means for determining a range of power consumption values of the motor based upon the flow rate values, and means for determining an optimized flow rate value that is associated with the lowest power consumption value, the means for controlling the motor being configured to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump to the optimized flow rate.

25. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for providing a target volume amount of water to be moved by the water pump;

means for performing a first operation upon the moving water, the first operation moving the water at a first flow rate during a first time period;

means for performing a second operation upon the moving water, the second operation moving the water at a second flow rate during a second time period;

means for determining a first volume of water moved by the pump during the first time period;

means for determining a second volume of water moved by the pump during the second time period;

means for determining a total volume of water moved by the pump based upon the first and second volumes; and

means for altering operation of the motor when the total volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

26. The pumping system of claim 25, wherein the means for altering operation of the motor is configured to stop operation of the motor when the total volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

27. The pumping system of claim 25, further comprising means for providing an operational time period for the pump, means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during the operational time period, and means for altering the operational time period based upon the volume of water moved during the operational time period.

28. The pumping system of claim 27, further comprising means for determining an end time based upon the operational time period, the means for altering operation of the motor being configured to stop operation of the motor when the operational time period exceeds the end time

29. The pumping system of claim 25, wherein the target volume amount is based upon a volume of water contained in a swimming pool and a number of desired turnovers of the swimming pool water volume.

30. The pumping system of claim 25, further comprising means for determining a range of first flow rate values of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and a range of first time period values, means for determining a range of power consumption values of the motor based upon the first flow rate values, and means for determining an optimized first flow rate value that is associated with the lowest power consumption value, the means for performing a first operation upon the moving water being configured to adjust the first flow rate of water moved by the pump to the first optimized flow rate.

31. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for providing a target volume amount of water to be moved by the water pump;

means for providing a range of time period values;

means for determining a range of flow rate values of water to be moved by the water pump based upon the target volume amount and time period values, each flow rate value being associated with a time period value;

means for determining a range of motor speed values based upon the flow rate values, each motor speed value being associated with a flow rate value;

means for determining a range of power consumption values of the motor based upon the motor speed values, each power consumption value being associated with a motor speed value;

means for determining an optimized flow rate value that is associated with the lowest power consumption value; and

means for controlling the motor to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump to the optimized flow rate value.

32. The pumping system of claim 31, further comprising means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump, and means for altering operation of the motor when the volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.

33. The pumping system of claim 31, further comprising means for providing an operational time period for the pump, means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during the operational time period, and means for altering the operational time period based upon the volume of water moved during the operational time period.

34. The pumping system of claim 31, wherein the target volume amount is based upon a volume of water contained in a swimming pool and a number of desired turnovers of the swimming pool water volume.

35. The pumping system of claim 31, wherein the means for controlling the motor is further configured to adjust the flow rate of water moved by the pump between the optimized flow rate and a second flow rate.

36. The pumping system of claim 35, further comprising means for determining a total volume of water moved by the pump based on the optimized flow rate and the second flow rate, and means for altering operation of the motor when the total volume of water moved by the pump exceeds the target volume amount.