COMMUNICATION NETWORK FOR WATER TREATMENT

• US 20120092981A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: West, Stephen J., Tincher, Terry, McDermott, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A communications network is provided for a water treatment system. A controller is in communication with a plurality of network elements using digital communications. The network elements have a connection configured to connect the network element to the controller or another network element. The controller sends a message to the network elements to configure the network elements for communication with the controller. The controller receives a response from the network elements including a network address and a header. If the network address is a default address, configuration information is sent to the network element for communication on the network. If the network address is not a default address, communication is established with the network element. Messages sent from the controller to a network element having a network address not matching the network address of the network element are sent over the network to a next network element.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a network element for communication with a controller over a network in a system for water treatment, the method comprising:

sending a message from the controller to the network element over the network;

receiving at the controller a response from the network element, wherein the response includes a network address and a header;

in response to the network address being a default address, sending configuration information to the network element for communication on the network; and

in response to the network address not being a default address, establishing communication with the network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sending configuration information to the network element comprises:

identifying a type of the network element from data in the header;

identifying a next available network address;

associating the type of the network element with the next available network address in the controller; and

transmitting the next available network address from the controller to the network element causing the network element to use the transmitted network address.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the type of network element is selected from a group consisting of a temperature probe, a conductivity probe, a flow sensor, an All-In-One probe, a pH probe, an ORP probe, a corrosion inhibitor, a counter, an expansion device, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the messages sent and the responses received are communicated digitally on the network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a user interface on the controller to include information related to the network element.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a power load on the network; and

in response to detecting an increase in the power load on the network, determining a type of network device added to the network

7. A method of communicating with a controller over a network in a system for water treatment, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the controller at a network element of a plurality of network elements;

comparing a network address associated with the message identifying a delivery target with the network address of the network element of the plurality of network elements;

in response to the network address associated with the message not matching the network address of the network element of the plurality of network elements, sending the message over the network to a next network element of the plurality of network elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network element of the plurality of network elements is selected from a group consisting of a temperature probe, a conductivity probe, a flow sensor, an All-In-One probe, a counter, an expansion device, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second message designated for the controller from the next network element of the plurality of network elements at the network element of the plurality of network elements;

sending the second message to one of the controller or another network element of the plurality of network elements,

wherein the second message is sent through network elements of the plurality of network elements over the network until the second message reaches the controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the messages sent and the responses received are communicated digitally on the network.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to the network address associated with the message matching the network address of the network element of the plurality of network elements, sending a reply message over the network to one of the controller or another network element of the plurality of network elements,

wherein the reply message is sent through network elements of the plurality of network elements over the network until the reply message reaches the controller.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to the controller losing communication with a network element of the plurality of network elements or the network element of the plurality of network elements providing faulty information;

cycling power to the plurality of network work elements; and

reestablishing communications with each network element of the plurality of network elements over the network.

13. A communications network for a water treatment system, comprising:

a controller; and

a plurality of network elements in communication with the controller, network elements of the plurality of network elements having a network connection configured to connect to the controller or another network element of the plurality of network elements,

wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of network elements using digital communications.

14. The communications network of claim 13, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of network elements according to a network protocol selected from a group consisting of MODBUS RTU over serial RS-232, MODBUS RTU over serial RS-485, CAN, LIN, Profibus, and combinations thereof.

15. The communications network of claim 14, wherein the network protocol is implemented over one of a single hardware layer and multiple hardware layers.

16. The communications network of claim 13, wherein the network elements of the plurality of network elements include a second network connection to further connect the network element to the controller or another network element of the plurality of network elements.

17. The communications network of claim 16, wherein the network elements of the plurality of network elements are connected in a daisy-chain fashion.

18. The communications network of claim 13, wherein the network comprises:

wires connecting the network connection of corresponding network elements of the plurality of network elements to the controller or another network element of the plurality of network elements.

19. The communications network of claim 18, wherein a length of the wires exceeds approximately 200 ft.

20. The communications network of claim 18, wherein the wires provide both data and power to the network elements.