PRIMING PROTECTION

• US 20070154321A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• 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 Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Stiles, Robert, Berthelsen, Lars, Lungeanu, Florin, Kjaer, Gert
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.100
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• 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 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0245 responsive to a condition of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 9/02 Self-priming pumps

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for determining a priming status of a pumping system. The pumping system includes a water pump and a variable speed motor. The method includes the steps of determining a reference power consumption of the motor, determining an actual power consumption of the motor, comparing the reference and actual power consumptions, and determining a priming status of the pumping system based upon the comparison. In addition or alternatively, the method includes operating the motor at a motor speed and altering control of the motor based upon the priming status. In addition or alternatively, the pumping system includes means for determining a reference power consumption of the motor, means for determining an actual power consumption of the motor, means for determining a priming status of the pumping system, and means for altering control of the motor based upon the priming status.

Claims

1. A method of determining a priming status of a pumping system for moving water of an aquatic application, the pumping system including a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water and a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a reference power consumption of the motor based upon a performance value of the pumping system;

determining an actual power consumption of the motor;

comparing the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption; and

determining a priming status of the pumping system based upon the comparison of the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance value includes at least one of the group of the motor speed of the motor, the flow rate of water moved by the water pump, and the flow pressure of the water moved by the water pump.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the actual power consumption of the motor is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the priming status includes at least one of the group of a primed condition and an unprimed condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of controlling the motor to adjust a flow rate of water moved by the water pump towards a constant value when the priming status is determined to be in a primed condition.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of operating the motor at an increased speed when the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of stopping operation of the motor if the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition for an amount of time that exceeds a threshold time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stopping operating the motor if the actual power consumption exceeds a dry run power consumption threshold.

9. A method of determining a priming status of a pumping system for moving water of an aquatic application, the pumping system including a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water and a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump, the method comprising the steps of:

operating the motor at a motor speed;

determining a reference power consumption of the motor based upon the motor speed;

determining an actual power consumption of the motor when the motor is operating at the motor speed;

determining a determined value based upon a comparison of the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption;

determining a priming status of the pumping system based upon the determined value, the priming status being unprimed when the determined value exceeds a first predetermined threshold and the priming status being primed when the determined value exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and

altering control of the motor based upon the priming status.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination of the actual power consumption is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein control of the motor is altered to adjust a flow rate of water moved by the water pump towards a constant value when the priming status is determined to be in a primed condition.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein control of the motor is altered to operate the motor at an increased speed when the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein control of the motor is altered to stop operation of the motor if the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition for an amount of time that exceeds a threshold time.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of stopping operating the motor if the actual power consumption exceeds a dry run power consumption threshold.

15. A pumping system for moving water of an aquatic application, 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 reference power consumption of the motor based upon a performance value of the pumping system;

means for determining an actual power consumption of the motor;

means for comparing the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption; and

means for determining a priming status of the pumping system based upon the comparison of the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption, the priming status including at least one of the group of a primed condition and an unprimed condition.

16. The pumping system of claim 15, wherein the performance value includes at least one of the group of the speed of the motor, the flow rate of water moved by the water pump, and the flow pressure of the water moved by the water pump.

17. The pumping system of claim 15, wherein the determination of the actual power consumption of the motor is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

18. The pumping system of claim 15, further comprising means for controlling the motor to adjust a flow rate of water moved by the water pump towards a constant value when the priming status is determined to be in a primed condition.

19. The pumping system of claim 15, further comprising means for operating the motor at an increased speed when the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition.

20. The pumping system of claim 19, further comprising means for stopping operation of the motor if the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition for an amount of time that exceeds a threshold time.

21. The pumping system of claim 15, further comprising means for stopping operating the motor if the actual power consumption exceeds a dry run power consumption threshold.

22. A pumping system for moving water of an aquatic application, 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 operating the motor at a motor speed;

means for determining a reference power consumption of the motor based upon the motor speed;

means for determining an actual power consumption of the motor when the motor is operating at the motor speed;

means for determining a determined value based upon a comparison of the reference power consumption and the actual power consumption;

means for determining a priming status of the pumping system based upon the determined value, the priming status being unprimed when the determined value exceeds a first predetermined threshold and the priming status being primed when the determined value exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and

means for altering control of the motor based upon the priming status.

23. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the determination of the actual power consumption is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

24. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the means for altering control of themotor is configured to operate the motor to adjust a flow rate of water moved by the water pump towards a constant value when the priming status is determined to be in a primed condition.

25. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the means for altering control of the motor is configured to operate the motor at an increased speed when the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition.

26. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the means for altering control of the motor is configured to stop operation of the motor if the priming status is determined to be in an unprimed condition for an amount of time that exceeds a threshold time.

27. The pumping system of claim 22, wherein the means for altering control of the motor is configured to stop operation of the motor if the actual power consumption exceeds a dry run power consumption threshold.