Automatic pump protection system
First Claim
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1. A system for automatically protecting a pump, comprising:
- means for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction;
first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present;
second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and
means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
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Abstract
An automatic pump protection system is comprised of a plurality of sensors for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction or of pump motor failure. Analysis of the parameters is performed by a microprocessor in order to determine whether conditions leading to a loss of pump suction or pump motor failure are present. The microprocessor then automatically initiates pump protective action in response to the foregoing analysis by tripping the pump or by providing an alternate suction source.
330 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for automatically protecting a pump, comprising:
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means for measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A residual heat removal system having automatic pump protection, comprising:
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a pump; a suction line connecting said pump to a suction source; means for measuring suction line parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; first means responsive to said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present; second means responsive to said first means for determining and said means for measuring for determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present; and means for automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination.
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13. A method for automatically protecting a pump, comprising the steps of:
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measuring process parameters indicative of a loss of pump suction; determining whether conditions leading to vortex formation are present in response to said parameters; determining whether conditions leading to air entrainment are present in response to said parameters and said first determination; and automatically initiating pump protective action in response to said second determination. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification