Pump station control system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for monitoring operating parameters of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
- means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station;
means for determining a flow cycle time of the pump station;
means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to an operator in real time;
means in communication with the sensing means for storing the sensed operating parameters at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time;
means in communication with the storing means for displaying a time history of the operating parameters; and
means in communication with the sensing means for calculating a real-time cost parameter of the system averaged over an integral number of flow cycles.
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Abstract
The pump station control system and method monitors and displays a time history of the operating parameters of a pump station. Sensed operating parameters are transmitted to an operator in real time and are stored at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time. A real-time cost parameter of the system is calculated that provides a measure of the cost per throughput of the material being pumped. The system can be optimized for the cost parameter by controlling system variables such as pump speed in response to the level of fluid.
125 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring operating parameters of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; means for determining a flow cycle time of the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to an operator in real time; means in communication with the sensing means for storing the sensed operating parameters at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time; means in communication with the storing means for displaying a time history of the operating parameters; and means in communication with the sensing means for calculating a real-time cost parameter of the system averaged over an integral number of flow cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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3. A system for monitoring operating parameters of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to an operator in real time; means in communication with the sensing means for storing the sensed operating parameters at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time; means in communication with the storing means for displaying a time history of the operating parameters; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating a real-time cost parameter of the system; and means in communication with the calculating means for predicting a future cost parameter over a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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7. A control system for interfacing between an operator and a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to the operator in real time; means for the operator to communicate a control signal to the pump station to effect a change in an operating parameter; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating from the sensed parameters a real-time cost parameter of the system; and means in communication with the calculating means for displaying the cost parameter to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A control system for optimizing the energy usage of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; means for determining a flow cycle time of the pump station; an interface in communication with the sensing means between an operator and the pump station for transmitting the sensed operating parameters and the determined flow cycle time to the operator and for transmitting a control signal from the operator to the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating energy usage information averaged over an integral number of flow cycles from the sensed operating parameters and the determined flow cycle time; means in communication with the calculating means for displaying the energy usage information to the operator; and means in communication with the interface for permitting the operator to adjust a pump station operating parameter with a control signal to optimize for an energy usage parameter.
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10. A control system for optimizing the energy usage of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; an interface in communication with the sensing means between an operator and the pump station for transmitting the sensed operating parameters to the operator and for transmitting a control signal from the operator to the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating energy usage information from the sensed operating parameters; means in communication with the calculating means for displaying the energy usage information to the operator; means in communication with the interface for permitting the operator to adjust a pump station operating parameter with a control signal to optimize for an energy usage parameter; and means in communication with the calculating means for determining a set of altered operating parameters required to achieve an optimized energy usage parameter and for transmitting the set to the operator.
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11. An interactive interface and display system for providing communication between an operator and a pump station having a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of operating parameters, the system comprising:
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a processor; means for transmitting the operating parameters from the pump station to the processor; means resident in the processor for performing real-time calculations on the operating parameters to provide an efficiency parameter comprising an energy usage per volume of liquid pumped; means in communication with the processor for storing time histories of the operating parameters at predetermined time intervals and of the efficiency parameter over a predetermined period of time; and visual display means in communication with the processor for displaying the operating parameters and the efficiency parameter in real time and for displaying the time histories of the operating parameters and efficiency variable.
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12. A method for optimizing an efficiency parameter of a wastewater pumping system having a variable-speed pump for pumping wastewater from a wet well, the wastewater having a level in the wet well, the method comprising the steps of:
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setting a wet-well level for starting the pump; setting a wet-well level for stopping the pump; determining a minimum pump speed at which the efficiency parameter is an optimal value; determining the wet-well level; starting the pump when the level is greater than or equal to the pump start level; running the pump at the minimum pump speed when the wet-well level is less than or equal to the pump start level; running the pump at a level-dependent pump speed higher than the minimum pump speed when the wet-well level is greater than the pump start level, the pump speed generally equal to the minimum pump speed plus a level-dependent pump speed increment; and stopping the pump when the level is less than or equal to the pump stop level.
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13. A method for monitoring operating parameters of a pump station having a pump for pumping a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station; determining a flow cycle time of the pump station; transmitting the operating parameters to an operator in real time; storing the sensed operating parameters at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined period of time; displaying a time history of the operating parameters; and calculating a real-time cost parameter of the system averaged over an integral number of flow cycles.
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21. A control system for interfacing between an operator and a pump station having a plurality of differentially controllable pumps for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station, including a plurality of operating parameters of the pumps; means for determining a flow cycle time of the pump station; means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to the operator in real time; means for the operator to communicate a control signal to the pump station to effect a change in an operating parameter; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating from the sensed parameters a real-time cost parameter of the system averaged over an integral number of flow cycles; and means in communication with the calculating means for displaying the cost parameter to the operator.
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22. A control system for interfacing between an operator and a pump station having a plurality of differentially controllable pumps for pumping a liquid, the system comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the pump station, including a plurality of operating parameters of the pumps; means in communication with the sensing means for transmitting the operating parameters to the operator in real time; means for the operator to communicate a control signal to the pump station to effect a change in an operating parameter, comprising means for the operator to configure a set of setup parameters for the pumps; means in communication with the sensing means for calculating from the sensed parameters a real-time cost parameter of the system; and means in communication with the calculating means for displaying the cost parameter to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for operating a pump in a water pumping station comprising the steps of:
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increasing a speed of a pump being used in a water pumping station from a first rate to a second higher outflow rate responsive to a sensor detecting a threshold amount of water to be pumped from the water pumping station; detecting a water throughput flow rate associated with a selected energy input to the pump; determining a cost efficiency comprising an energy cost per unit volume of the water pumped at a time of usage of energy; adjusting the pump speed to optimize the cost efficiency of pumping the water; and decreasing the speed of the pump to a third outflow rate lower than the second rate upon achieving a preset value for a parameter of the station. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for operating a water pumping station comprising the steps of:
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increasing a speed of a pump being used in a water pumping station from a first rate to a second higher outflow rate responsive to a sensor detecting a threshold amount of water to be pumped from the water pumping station; detecting a water throughput flow rate for an energy input to the pump; determining a cost efficiency comprising a cost per unit volume of the water pumped at the station over a complete cycle of a characteristic parameter of the station; and returning the pump to a third outflow rate lower than the second outflow rate upon achieving a preset value for the characteristic parameter of the station. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of operating a water pumping station having a well and a plurality of pumps, the method comprising the steps of:
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activating a video display comprising a video image showing at least one of; a water level image in a schematic water well; a bar graph of water outflow rate from the well; a bar graph of cost per unit volume of water being pumped from the well; and a schematic configuration of pumps available for operation in the station; pressing a control segment of the video display to increase a speed of a pump from a first water outflow rate to a second higher water outflow rate; measuring a water throughput flow rate at the second rate; stepping through a plurality of water outflow rates; monitoring an efficiency for each of the water outflow rates; pressing the control segment of the video display to activate a pump operational state for a desired water outflow rate having an optimum efficiency; and returning the pump to a lower water outflow rate upon achieving a preset value for a parameter of the station. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of operating a water pumping station comprising the steps of:
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activating a video display comprising a visual image including a visual output of historical data for water outflow, energy consumption of at least one pump, and an efficiency value associated with the pump; displaying a visual image showing in real time a water outflow rate, energy consumption of the pump, and an efficiency value associated with the pump; actuating graphical means disposed on the video display to change a speed of the pump; comparing real-time values of the water outflow rate, energy consumption, and efficiency value with corresponding respective historical values;
, anddetermining an efficiency value for the station from at least one of the water outflow rate, the energy consumption, and number of active, water pumps. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification