FILTER LOADING

• US 20070163929A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• 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: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Stiles, Robert, Kjaer, Gert, Robol, Ronald, Hoffmann Berthelsen, Lars, Kjartan Runarsson, Einar
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/97
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/04 Controlling the filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/043 by flow measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/046 by pressure measuring
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/0801 the throttle being a filter
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• 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

Abstract

A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump. The pumping system can also include means for determining a load value indicative of an unclogged filter that permits movement of water through the filter arrangement, means for determining a load value indicative of a clogged filter that inhibits movement of water through the filter arrangement, and means for determining a performance value of the pumping system. The pumping system also includes means for determining a relative loading value of the filter arrangement, means for displaying the relative loading value, and means for controlling the motor in response to the relative loading value. In one example, the load values and performance value can include flow pressure values. A method of moving water of a 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 a filtering operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump;

means for determining a load value indicative of an unclogged filter that permits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining a load value indicative of a clogged filter that inhibits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining a performance value of the pumping system;

means for determining a relative loading value of the filter arrangement based upon the load value indicative of an unclogged filter, load value indicative of a clogged filter, and the performance value;

means for displaying the relative loading value; and

means for controlling the motor in response to the relative loading value.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the load value indicative of a clogged filter is based upon at least one of the group consisting of an absolute value, a relative change of the performance value with respect to the load value indicative of an unclogged filter, and a percentage change of the performance value with respect to the load value indicative of an unclogged filter.

3. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the load value indicative of an unclogged filter, the load value indicative of an clogged filter, and the performance value are flow pressure values.

4. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the motor is configured to alter operation of the motor to reduce a flow rate of water moved by the water pump when the relative loading value exceeds a predetermined value.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the load value indicative of an unclogged filter is determined after a cleaning operation is performed on the filter arrangement.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the load value indicative of an unclogged filter and the load value indicative of a clogged filter is based upon an input value that is input by a user.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the determination of the performance value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

8. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the determination of the relative loading value is performed at a predetermined time interval.

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 a filtering operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump;

means for determining a flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter that permits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining a threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter that inhibits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining an actual pressure value of the pumping system during the filtering operation;

means for determining a relative loading value of the filter arrangement based upon the pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter, threshold pressure value indicative of a clogged filter, and the actual pressure value; and

means for displaying the relative loading value as a percentage with respect to the threshold flow pressure value.

10. The pumping system of claim 9, further comprising means for controlling the motor in response to the relative loading value.

11. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling the motor is configured to alter operation of the motor to reduce a flow rate of water moved by the water pump when the relative loading value exceeds a predetermined value.

12. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter is determined after a cleaning operation is performed on the filter arrangement.

13. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter and the threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter is based upon an input value that is input by a user.

14. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the determination of the actual pressure value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

15. The pumping system of claim 9, wherein the determination of the relative loading value is performed at a predetermined time interval.

16. 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;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump;

means for determining a flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter that permits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining a threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter that inhibits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

means for determining an actual pressure value of the pumping system during the filtering operation;

means for determining a relative loading value of the filter arrangement based upon the pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter, pressure value indicative of a clogged filter, and the actual pressure value; and

means for controlling the motor to perform an operation upon the water, wherein the means for controlling is configured to alter operation of the motor when the relative loading value exceeds a predetermined value.

17. The pumping system of claim 16, further comprising means for displaying the relative loading value.

18. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the means for controlling the motor is configured to alter operation of the motor to reduce a flow rate of water moved by the water pump when the relative loading value exceeds a predetermined value.

19. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter is determined after a cleaning operation is performed on the filter arrangement.

20. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter and the threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter is based upon an input value that is input by a user.

21. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the determination of the actual pressure value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

22. The pumping system of claim 16, wherein the determination of the relative loading value is performed at a predetermined time interval.

23. A method of 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 variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump, and a filter arrangement in fluid communication with the pump, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter that permits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

determining a threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter that inhibits movement of water through the filter arrangement;

determining an actual pressure value of the pumping system during the filtering operation;

determining a relative loading value of the filter arrangement based upon the pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter, pressure value indicative of a clogged filter, and the actual pressure value;

displaying the relative loading value; and

controlling the motor in response to the relative loading value.

24. The method of moving water of claim 23, further comprising the step of controlling the motor is to alter operation of the motor to reduce a flow rate of water moved by the water pump when the relative loading value exceeds a predetermined value.

25. The method of moving water of claim 23, wherein the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter is determined after a cleaning operation is performed on the filter arrangement.

26. The method of moving water of claim 23, wherein at least one of the flow pressure value indicative of an unclogged filter and the threshold flow pressure value indicative of a clogged filter is based upon an input value that is input by a user.

27. The method of moving water of claim 23, wherein the determination of the actual pressure value is based upon a measurement of electrical current and electrical voltage provided to the motor.

28. The method of moving water of claim 23, wherein the determination of the relative loading value is performed at a predetermined time interval.