Method for promoting energy saving in fluid machinery

• US 6,678,620 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Inventors: Miyake, Yoshio, Ichikawa, Kiyoshi, Tamai, Hiromi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, TUNG S
• Application Number:
  US09/688,087
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 702/61, 702/179, 702/60, 702/64, 702/65, 702/108, 702/122, 702/124, 702/125, 702/127, 111/11, 418/55.1, 340/825, 379/102
• US Class Current: 702/61
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A method for promoting energy saving in fluid machinery reduces electric power consumption of fluid machinery by introducing an energy-saving device such as an inverter into existing fluid machinery such as a pump. The method comprises submitting data specifying characteristics of the fluid machinery of a user to a service provider, and estimating an energy-saving effect due to introduction of an energy-saving device into the fluid machinery based on the data specifying characteristics of the fluid machinery and an energy-saving ratio predetermined according to a purpose of fluid machinery. The method further comprises selecting an effective energy-saving device to be introduced, and surveying an operating state of the fluid machinery. The method further comprises calculating an energy-saving effect based on data obtained from the survey, and offering the estimated energy-saving effect, the calculated energy-saving effect, and the selected energy-saving device.

Claims

1. A method for reducing electric power consumption and promoting energy saving in fluid machinery by introducing an energy-saving device into existing fluid machinery, said method comprising:

submitting data specifying characteristics of said fluid machinery of a user to a service provider;

estimating an energy-saving effect due to introduction of said energy-saving device into said fluid machinery based on said data specifying characteristics of said fluid machinery and an energy-saving ratio predetermined according to a purpose of said fluid machinery;

selecting an effective energy-saving device to be introduced;

offering the estimated energy-saving effect, the selected energy saving device, and a form of a transaction for the selected energy saving device,

wherein said form of said transaction is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of the selected energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost due to the introduction of the selected energy-saving device.

2. A transaction method for promoting energy saving in fluid machinery, said transaction method comprising:

estimating an energy-saving effect of said fluid machinery based on data specifying characteristics of said fluid machinery; and

offering said estimated energy-saving effect, energy-saving device meeting said estimated energy-saving effect, and a form of a transaction for said energy-saving device,

wherein said form of said transaction is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of said energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost.

3. A method for reducing electric power consumption and promoting energy saving in fluid machinery by introducing an energy-saving device into existing fluid machinery, said method comprising:

offering said energy-saving device and a form of a transaction for said energy-saving device;

wherein said form of said transaction is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of said energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost due to the introduction of said energy-saving device.

4. A transaction method for promoting energy saving in fluid machinery, said transaction method comprising:

offering an energy-saving device and a form of a transaction for said energy-saving device,

wherein said form of said transaction is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of said energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost.

5. A method for reducing electric power consumption and promoting energy saving in fluid machinery by introducing an energy-saving device into existing fluid machinery, said method comprising:

offering a cost for the introduction of said energy-saving device and an estimated energy-saving effect due to the introduction of said energy-saving device before the introduction of said energy-saving device; and

offering, to a user, an actual reduced cost due to the introduction of said energy-saving device after the introduction of said energy-saving device,

wherein a transaction for said energy-saving device is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of said energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost.

6. A method for reducing electric power consumption and promoting energy saving in fluid machinery of a user, comprising:

submitting data specifying characteristics of said fluid machinery of the user to a service provider;

estimating, by said service provider, an energy-saving effect due to an introduction of one of a plurality of energy-saving devices into said fluid machinery based on said data specifying characteristics of said fluid machinery and an energy-saving ratio predetermined according to a purpose of said fluid machinery;

selecting, from said plurality of energy-saving devices, an effective energy-saving device to be introduced into said fluid machinery;

offering the estimated energy-saving effect, the selected energy-saving device, and a form of a transaction for the selected energy saving device to the user,

wherein said form of said transaction is selected from options including at least two of (1) purchasing, (2) leasing, and (3) introduction of the selected energy-saving device into said fluid machinery gratis in exchange for payment of all or a part of an actual reduced cost resulting from the introduction of said energy-saving device.