FLOW CONTROL

• US 20070154320A1
• 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, Lungeanu, Florin, Kjaer, Gert, Westermann-Rasmussen, Peter, Berthelsen, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/43
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0208 Power
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/05 Pressure after the pump outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/09 Flow through the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/106 Responsive to pumped volume
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/22 by means of valves F04B49/03 takes precedence
• 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 15/0227 Lack of liquid level being detected using a flow transducer
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0236 Lack of liquid level being detected by analysing the parameters of the electric drive, e.g. current or power consumption

Abstract

A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump and a variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes means for determining a first motor speed of the motor, means for determining first and second performance values of the pumping system, and means for comparing the first and second performance values. The pumping system further includes means for determining an adjustment value based upon the comparison, means for determining a second motor speed based upon the adjustment value, and means for controlling the motor in response to the second motor speed. In one example, the pumping system includes means for determining a value indicative of a flow rate of water moved by the pump. In addition or alternatively, the pumping system includes a filter arrangement. A method of controlling the pumping system for moving the water of the swimming pool is also disclosed.

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 determining a first motor speed of the motor;

means for determining a value indicative of a flow rate of water moved by the pump;

means for determining a first performance value of the pumping system, wherein the first performance value is based upon the determined flow rate;

means for determining a second performance value of the pumping system;

means for comparing the first performance value to the second performance value;

means for determining an adjustment value based upon the comparison of the first and second performance values;

means for determining a second motor speed based upon the adjustment value; and

means for controlling the motor in response to the second motor speed.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the performance value includes at least one of the group consisting of power consumed by the motor, flow rate of water moved by the water pump, and flow pressure of the water moved by the water pump.

3. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the determination of the performance value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

4. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining an adjustment value includes at least one of the group consisting of a proportional (P) controller, an integral (I) controller, a proportional integral (PI) controller, a proportional derivative controller (PD), and a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment value is based upon a difference value between the first and second performance values, and wherein the adjustment value is relatively greater when the difference value is relatively greater, and is relatively lesser when the difference value is relatively lesser.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the first performance value is further based upon the first motor speed and is calculated by way of an equation that uses the flow rate and first motor speed as variables.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the water pump and configured to filter the water moved by the water pump.

8. The pumping system of claim 1, further comprising means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during a time period.

9. The pumping system of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling the motor is configured to alter operation of the motor based upon a target volume of water moved by the pump.

10. 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 a filtering operation upon the water through a fluid circuit that includes at least the water pump and the swimming pool;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the fluid circuit and configured to filter the water moved by the water pump;

means for determining a first motor speed of the motor;

means for determining a first performance value of the pumping system;

means for determining a second performance value of the pumping system;

means for comparing the first performance value to the second performance value;

means for determining an adjustment value based upon the comparison of the first and second performance values;

means for determining a second motor speed based upon the adjustment value; and

means for controlling the motor in response to the second motor speed.

11. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the performance value includes at least one of the group consisting of power consumed by the motor, flow rate of water moved by the water pump, and flow pressure of the water moved by the water pump.

12. The pumping system of claim 11, wherein the determination of the performance value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

13. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for determining an adjustment value includes at least one of the group consisting of a proportional (P) controller, an integral (I) controller, a proportional integral (PI) controller, a proportional derivative controller (PD), and a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller.

14. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment value is based upon a difference value between the first and second performance values, and wherein the adjustment value is relatively greater when the difference value is relatively greater, and is relatively lesser when the difference value is relatively lesser.

15. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the first performance value is further based upon the first motor speed and is calculated by way of an equation that uses the flow rate and first motor speed as variables.

16. The pumping system of claim 10, further comprising means for determining a volume of water moved by the pump during a time period.

17. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the means for controlling the motor is configured to alter operation of the motor based upon a target volume of water moved by the pump.

18. A method of controlling a pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool including a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of a filtering operation upon the water, a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump, a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump, and a controller operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a first motor speed of the motor;

determining a first performance value based upon the first motor speed;

determining a second first performance value;

comparing the first performance value to the second performance value;

determining an adjustment value based upon the comparison of the first and second performance values;

determining a second motor speed based upon the adjustment value; and

controlling the motor in response to the second motor speed.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second performance values each include at least one of the group consisting of power consumed by the motor, flow rate of water moved by the water pump, and flow pressure of the water moved by the water pump.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second performance values is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the controller includes at least one of the group consisting of a proportional (P) controller, an integral (I) controller, a proportional integral (PI) controller, a proportional derivative controller (PD), and a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the adjustment value is based upon a difference value between the first and second performance values, and wherein the adjustment value is relatively greater when the difference value is relatively greater, and is relatively lesser when the difference value is relatively lesser.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of determining a volume of water moved by the pump during a time period.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of altering operation of the motor based upon a target volume of water moved by the pump.