Pressure Sewer Control System and Method

• US 20130243614A1
• Filed: 11/14/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: South East Water Corporation
• Original Assignee: South East Water Corporation
• Inventors: Moon, Rodney Leonard, Sutherland, Martin Alexander, Forster-Knight, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/63
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/007 for public or main systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/22 Adaptations of pumping plants for lifting sewage wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10; pumps, pumping plants, per se F04
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/00 Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to a pump control system for a pressure sewer installation. The system comprises a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation. The controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir. A memory is accessible to the controller and is arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation. A wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.

Claims

1. A pump control system for a pressure sewer installation, the system comprising:

a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir;

a memory accessible to the controller and arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation; and

a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control and monitor operation of the pressure sewer installation and to send stored operation information to the remote server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the operation information includes measured fluid level information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare the fluid level to a fluid level threshold stored in the memory of the controller and to cause the pump to operate to pump fluid out of the fluid reservoir when the fluid level is greater than or equal to the fluid level threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is responsive to a command received from the remote server to store a changed fluid level threshold in the memory.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the remote server using a mobile telephony standard protocol.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to be controllable remotely by commands received from the remote server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is mains powered and comprises a backup power supply to power the controller and the wireless transceiver in the absence of adequate mains power.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a float switch output signal from a float switch in the fluid reservoir indicative of a high fluid level, the controller being configured to operate the pump in response to the float switch output signal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more additional devices and one or more additional wireless or wired transceivers or receivers in communication with the controller, to allow the controller to communicate with or receive information from the one or more additional devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more additional devices include at least one flow meter or other instrument for monitoring part of a sewerage or water network.

12. A pressure sewer network monitoring system, comprising:

a remote server; and

a plurality of pump control systems, each pump control system comprising;

a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir,

a memory accessible to the controller and arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation, and

a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with the remote server over a communications network;

wherein the remote server is in communication with the wireless transceiver of each of the pump control systems; and

wherein the remote server is configured to monitor operation of each pressure sewer installation based on messages received from each pump control system and to affect operation of each pump control system by transmission of one or more commands from the remote server to each pump control system.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a computerised user interface in communication with the remote server to allow remote user control of each pump control system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the remote server is configured to determine an alarm condition based on the messages received and to automatically transmit one or more alarm messages to one or more user recipients, the one or more alarm messages including an indication of the alarm condition.

15. A pressure sewer installation, comprising:

a pump control system comprising;

a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir,

a memory accessible to the controller and arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation, and

a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network;

wherein the pressure sewer installation further comprises the pump, the sensor and the fluid reservoir.

16. A kit for a pressure sewer installation, the kit comprising:

a pump control system comprising;

a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir,

a memory accessible to the controller and arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation, and

a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network;

wherein the kit further comprises the pump, the sensor and the fluid reservoir.