Method and apparatus for indicating pump efficiency

• US 5,628,229 A
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Dean E., Krone, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/221,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 73/168, 364/551.01, 364/551.02
• US Class Current: 73/168
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/10 Inlet temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/11 Outlet temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 19/005 Fault detection or monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus for indicating efficiency losses in a pump is provided. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor located at the pump input, a second temperature sensor located at a second location, a fluid flow sensor located at the second location, a processor for producing a difference signal in response to signals from the first and second temperature sensors and for quantifying efficiency losses of the pump in response to the difference signal and a signal from the fluid flow sensor. A fault indicator is also provided that is responsive to the efficiency losses.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the degree of wear in a pump having an outlet line, comprising:

a first temperature sensor adapted to produce a reference temperature signal;

a second temperature sensor connected to the outlet line, said second temperature sensor being adapted to produce an outlet temperature signal; and

means for determining whether the pump is in a predefined operating state responsive to a said temperature signal,

calculating a temperature difference between said reference and outlet temperature signals in response to the pump being in said predefined operating state and

indicating a fault in response to said difference exceeding a fault level.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1,

said means further calculating a rate of change of said difference,

comparing said rate of change to a second fault level and

indicating a fault in response to said rate of change exceeding said second fault level.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said outlet line is a main discharge line of the pump said first temperature sensor is connected to an inlet line of the pump and the second temperature sensor is connected to the main discharge line of the pump.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the pump includes a third temperature sensor connected to a second outlet line and being adapted to produce a second outlet temperature signal;

and said means further calculating a second temperature difference between said reference and second outlet temperature signals, and indicating a fault in response to said second difference exceeding a second fault level.

5. An apparatus for determining the energy loss in a pump, comprising:

means for measuring a temperature indicative of the input temperature of a pumped fluid and producing a first temperature signal;

means for measuring the fluid temperature at a second location and producing a second temperature signal;

means for producing a flow signal indicative of the amount of fluid flow at said second location;

processing means for calculating a difference between said first and second temperature signals

when the pump is in a predefined operating state, said processing

means quantifying efficiency losses of the pump from said difference and said flow signal and

indicating a fault in response to said efficiency losses exceeding a predetermined level.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the pump includes a case drain and said second location is in said case drain.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for producing a flow signal indicative of the amount of fluid flow includes a venturi.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said processing means for quantifying efficiency losses includes means for calculating the mass flow rate in response to said flow signal and producing a pump power loss signal by multiplying said difference by said mass flow rate.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, said processing means further including means for comparing said pump power loss signal with a predetermined constant and indicating a fault in response to said pump power loss signal exceeding said predetermined constant.

10. An apparatus for determining the energy loss in a pump, comprising:

means for measuring the input temperature of a pumped fluid and producing a first temperature signal;

means for measuring the fluid temperature at a second location and producing a second temperature signal;

means for producing a flow signal indicative of the amount of fluid flow at said second location; and

processing means for producing a difference signal representative of a temperature difference between said first and second temperature signals,

producing a loss signal in response to said difference signal and said flow signal, said loss signal quantifying pump efficiency losses,

calculating the rate of change of said loss signal and

indicating a fault in response to the level and rate of change of said loss signal.

11. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, said processing means further including means for calculating the rate of change of said difference signal and said flow signal.

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the pump includes a case drain and said second location is in said case drain.

13. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for producing a signal indicative of the amount of fluid flow includes a venturi.

14. A method for determining energy loss in a pump, comprising the steps of:

measuring the input temperature of a pumped fluid and producing a first temperature signal;

measuring a fluid temperature at a second location and producing a second temperature signal;

determining the amount of fluid flow at said second location in response to a signal indicative of fluid flow rate;

determining from a said temperature signal whether the pump is in a predefined operating state; and

producing a difference signal representing a temperature difference between said first and second temperature signals and quantifying efficiency losses of the pump using said difference signal and said flow signal, in response to the pump being in said predefined operating state.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the pump includes a case drain and said second location is in said case drain.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of determining the amount of fluid flow includes the step of measuring the pressure drop in a venturi.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of quantifying efficiency losses includes the steps of calculating the mass flow rate in response to said flow signal and producing a pump power loss signal by multiplying said difference signal by said mass flow rate.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, including the steps of comparing said pump power loss signal with a predetermined constant and indicating a fault in response to said pump power loss signal exceeding said predetermined constant.