Systems and Methods for Interrelated Control of Chlorinators and Pumps

• US 20160340205A1
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Murdock, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,486,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/002 Construction details of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/005 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4612 Controlling or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4615 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/003 Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/29 Chlorine compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1209 Treatment of water for swimming pools filters B01D
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1281 Devices for distributing chemical products in the water of swimming pools

Abstract

Systems and methods for combined controlling chlorinators and pumps for pools and spas are provided. Exemplary embodiments can include a pump operable to circulate a fluid for a specified time period according to a pump operation time setting and a chlorinator operatively coupled to the pump. The chlorinator can be configured to generate chlorine based on a chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time. A controller can be operatively coupled to the chlorinator and the pump and can be programmed to control the chlorinator and the pump based on a relationship between the chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the chlorine output of a chlorinator and a circulation schedule of a pump, the system comprising:

a pump operable to circulate a fluid according to a pump operation time setting;

a chlorinator operatively coupled to the pump and through which the fluid is circulated by the pump; and

a controller operatively coupled to the chlorinator and the pump, the controller accepting settings from a user for pump operation time setting and a chlorine output setting, the controller being programmed to automatically control the chlorinator and the pump based on a relationship between the chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time setting.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to automatically control a chlorine feed rate of the chlorinator or the pump operation time setting to achieve the chlorine output.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller receives an input from a user increasing the chlorine output setting and the controller is programmed to determine whether to increase the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting to achieve the chlorine output setting.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the chlorine feed rate is set to a maximum value and the controller increases the pump operation time setting.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller increases the chlorine feed rate and maintains the pump operation time setting.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller receives an input from a user decreasing the chlorine output setting and the controller is programmed to decrease the chlorine feed rate while the pump operation time is unchanged.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein controller receives an input from a user decreasing pump operation time and the controller is programmed to determine whether the chlorine feed rate is adjustable to maintain the chlorine output setting.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller decreases the chlorine output setting in response to a determination that the chlorine feed rate is not adjustable to maintain the chlorine output setting.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller increases the chlorine feed rate in response to a determination that the chlorine feed rate is adjustable to maintain the chlorine output setting and the controller maintains the chlorine output setting.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a control panel having a display configured to provide a visual indication of the chlorine output setting,

wherein the controller is programmed to interact with the display to change the visual indication based on the decrease of the chlorine output setting.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control controls an operation of the pump indirectly via another controller.

12. A method of controlling a chlorine feed rate of a chlorinator and the operation time of a pump operatively coupled to the chlorinator, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user via a control panel associated with a controller operatively coupled to a chlorinator and a pump, the chlorinator having a configurable chlorine output setting, the pump having a configurable pump operation time setting; and

controlling the chlorinator feed rate and the pump based on a relationship between the chlorine output setting, a chlorine generation capacity of the chlorinator, and the pump operation time setting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an input from the user comprises receiving an increase to the chlorine output setting and the method further comprises determining whether to increase the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting to achieve the chlorine output setting.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein it is determined the chlorinator is unable to increase the chlorine feed rate to maintain the chlorine output setting and the method comprises increasing the pump operation time setting.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

increasing the chlorine feed rate; and

maintaining the pump operation time setting.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an input from the user comprises receiving a decrease to the chlorine output setting and the method further comprises determining whether to decrease the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting to achieve the chlorine output setting.

17. The method of claim 16 and the further comprises:

decreasing the chlorine feed rate; and

maintaining the pump operation time setting.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

decreasing the pump operation time setting; and

maintaining the chlorine feed rate.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

decreasing the pump operation time setting; and

decreasing the chlorine feed rate.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving an input from the user comprises receiving a decrease to the pump operation time setting and the method further comprises determining whether the chlorine feed rate is adjustable to maintain the chlorine output setting.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

increasing the chlorine feed rate in response to a determination that the chlorine feed rate is adjustable to maintain the chlorine output setting; and

maintaining the chlorine output setting.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining that the chlorine feed rate is not capable of being adjusted to maintain the chlorine output setting; and

decreasing the chlorine output setting.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

changing a visual indication on a display of a control panel based on the decrease of the chlorine output setting.

24. The method of claim 12, controlling the chlorinator and the pump comprises executing code by a controller that is operably coupled to the chlorinator and the pump to implement a control process, wherein the controller controls an operation of the pump indirectly via another controller.

25. A method of determining a chlorine feed rate of a chlorinator and a schedule of operation for a pump operatively coupled to the chlorinator, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a user to adjust a chlorine output setting via a control panel associated with a controller operative coupled to a chlorinator and a pump, the chlorinator having a configurable chlorine feed rate setting, the pump having a configurable pump operation time setting; and

determining at least one of the chlorinator feed rate setting or the pump operation time setting to be set to achieve the chlorine output setting; and

indicating to the user that an adjustment of at least one of the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting is required to achieve the chlorine output setting.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein indicating to the user that an adjustment of at least one of the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting is required to achieve the chlorine output setting comprises prompting the user via the control panel to increase at least one the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting in response to receiving an input to increase to the chlorine output setting.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein indicating to the user that an adjustment of at least one of the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting is required to achieve the chlorine output setting comprises prompting the user via the control panel to decrease at least one the chlorine feed rate or the pump operation time setting in response to receiving an input to decrease to the chlorine output setting.