Solid state pump control and protection system

• US 5,577,890 A
• Filed: 03/01/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trilogy Controls, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trilogy Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Troccoli, Joseph E., Nielsen, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/205,038
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 417/12, 417/17, 417/20, 417/43, 417/44.2, 417/53, 417/44.3, 318/729
• US Class Current: 417/44.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers

Abstract

A pump control and protection system comprised of an analog module and a digital module. The analog module includes a synchronous phase detector, a pressure transducer and an over voltage/under voltage circuit. The synchronous phase detector determines the phase angle between a current signal supplied to a water pump and a voltage signal supplied to the pump. The output of the phase detector is directed to a programmable array logic device in the digital module and used to activate a solid state relay that controls the power supplied to the pump. The water pressure in the system is displayed on a digital display.

Claims

1. A pump control system comprising:

a synchronous phase detector for generating a first output signal related to a phase shift between an AC current signal supplied to a pump and a voltage signal supplied to the pump, the first output signal comprising a full cycle of the voltage signal as modified by the polarity of the amplitude of the AC current signal, the synchronous phase detector comprising a first operational amplifier for generating the first output signal; and

a switch means for receiving polarity information about the AC current signal and for adjusting the gain of the first operational amplifier in response to the polarity information;

a filter means for generating a filtered signal derived from the first output signal;

a comparator means for generating a second output signal based on a comparison of the filtered signal to a reference value;

a logic means for receiving the second output signal and generating a control signal; and

a relay means for turning power to the pump on or off in response to the control signal.

2. The pump control system of claim 1 wherein the relay means comprises a solid state relay that switches at zero crossings.

3. The pump control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a connection means for connecting a pump control system to a line carrying a liquid pumped by the pump, the liquid filling the connection means at the same pressure as is present in the line; and

a transducer means electrically connected to the pump control system for generating a signal that is proportional to the pressure of the liquid in the connection means.

4. The pump control system of claim 3 further comprising:

a display means electrically connected to the transducer means for displaying the pressure of the liquid in the connection means.

5. The pump control system of claim 1 further comprising:

first coupling means for inductively coupling a first electrical line to the pump control system and for providing the AC current signal to the pump control system; and

second coupling means for inductively coupling a second electrical line to the pump control system and for providing the voltage signal to the pump control system.

6. The pump control system of claim 1 wherein the logic means is selected from the group consisting of a programmable array logic device, an application specific integrated circuit and a microprocessor.

7. The pump control system of claim 1 wherein the comparator means comprises a second operational amplifier and a third operational amplifier.

8. A water pump control system comprising:

a current transformer means for extracting a first current signal from a first electrical line that supplies power to a water pump;

a current detector means for processing the first current signal to yield a second current signal whose amplitude is related to the sign of the amplitude of the first current signal;

a synchronous phase detector means for generating a first output signal related to a phase shift between the second current signal and a voltage signal taken from a second electrical line that supplies power to the pump, the first output signal comprising a full cycle of the voltage signal as modified by the second current signal, the synchronous phase detector comprising a first operational amplifier for generating the first output signal; and

a switch means for receiving polarity information about the second current signal and for adjusting the gain of the first operational amplifier in response to the polarity information;

a filter means for generating a filtered signal derived from the first output signal;

a comparator means for comparing the filtered signal to a reference value and generating a second output signal based on the comparison of the filtered signal to the reference value;

a logic means for processing the second output signal to yield a control signal; and

a relay means for turning power to the pump on or off in response to the control signal.

9. The water pump control system of claim 8 wherein the switch means comprises at least one transistor.

10. The water pump control system of claim 8 wherein the logic means comprises at least one integrated circuit.

11. The water pump control system of claim 8 further comprising:

a connection means for connecting the water pump control system to a water line carrying water pumped by the pump, the connection means being filled with water at the same pressure, as is present in the water line; and

a transducer means electrically connected to water pump control system for generating a signal that is proportional to the pressure of water in the connection means.

12. The water pump control system of claim 11 wherein the transducer means comprises an integrated circuit.

13. The water pump control system of claim 11 further comprising:

a display means for displaying the pressure of water in the connection means.

14. The water pump control system of claim 13 wherein the display means comprises a digital display.

15. The water pump control system of claim 8 further comprising:

a voltage detection means for detecting an overvoltage or undervoltage condition in a power supply that supplies power to the pump.

16. The water pump control system of claim 8 wherein the logic means includes an internal clock for measuring periods of time.

17. The water pump control system of claim 8 wherein the relay means comprises a solid state relay having switching at zero crossings.

18. The water pump control system of claim 8 further comprising:

a pressure line connection means for connecting the water pump control system to a source of pressurized air; and

a transducer means for measuring an air pressure value in the pressure line connection means.

19. The water pump control system of claim 8 wherein the comparator means comprises a second operational amplifier and a third operational amplifier.

21. The water pump control system of claim 18 further comprising:

a water line connection means for connecting the water pump control system to a water line carrying water pumped by the pump;

a transducer means for measuring a water pressure value in the water line connection means; and

a display means for displaying the water pressure value.

20. A water pump control system comprising:

a current transformer means for extracting a first current signal from a first electrical line that supplies power to a submersible water pump in the one-tenth to three horsepower power range;

a current detector means for processing the first current signal to yield a second current signal having the same phase as the first current signal but having a square wave amplitude;

a switch means for receiving the second current signal;

a synchronous phase detector comprised of an operational amplifier that generates a first output signal by using the second current signal to modify the amplitude of a full cycle of a voltage signal taken from a second electrical line that supplies power to the water pump, the gain of the operational amplifier being varied by the switch means in response to the second current signal;

a filter means for generating a filtered signal derived from the first output signal;

a comparator means for comparing the filtered signal to a reference value and generating a second output signal based on the comparison of the filtered signal to the reference value;

a logic means for processing the second output signal to yield a control signal; and

a solid state relay means for turning power to the pump on or off in response to the control signal only at zero crossings of the voltage signal.

22. The water pump control system of claim 20 wherein the logic means comprises a programmable array logic device that includes an internal clock for measuring periods of time.

23. A method for detecting mechanical problems in a pump comprising the steps of:

a. using inductive coupling to extract a current signal from a first conductor that supplies electrical current for a pump;

b. using inductive coupling to extract a voltage signal from a second conductor that supplies electrical current for the pump;

c. inputting a full cycle of the voltage signal into a synchronous phase detector, the synchronous phase detector comprising an operational amplifier and a switch means for receiving polarity information about the current signal and for causing a gain adjustment in the operational amplifier in response to the polarity information;

d. generating a first output signal from the operational amplifier comprised of the full cycle of the voltage signal as modified by the gain adjustment caused by the switch means;

e. generating a second output signal derived from the first output signal; and

f. interrupting the flow of electrical current to the pump when the second output signal moves outside of a predetermined range.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

g. starting a timer when the second output signal moves outside of the predetermined range; and

h. reestablishing the flow of electrical current to the pump after a predetermined period of time has been established by the timer and a logic circuit.

25. A method for detecting a low liquid condition in a pump comprising the steps of:

a. using inductive coupling to extract a current signal from a source of AC electrical current for a pump that pumps a liquid;

b. using inductive coupling to extract a voltage signal from a source of AC electrical current for the pump;

c. inputting the current signal into a switch means for causing gain adjustments in an operational amplifier in response to polarity information contained in the current signal;

d. generating a first output signal from the operational amplifier comprised of a full cycle of the voltage signal modified by the gain adjustments caused by the switch means;

e. generating a second output signal derived from the first output signal;

f. interrupting the source of AC electrical current to the pump when the second output signal moves outside of a predetermined range, thereby indicating a low volume of the liquid;

g. starting a timer that measures a first interval of time;

h. restoring the source of AC electrical current to the pump after expiration of the first interval of time; and

i. repeating steps a-f.