Pumping system with power optimization

• US 7,686,589 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S), Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Low Power Drives Division of Danfoss Drives A/S, Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Berthelsen, Lars Hoffmann, Yahnker, Christopher R., Robol, Ronald B., Runarsson, Einar Kjartan, Stiles, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Devon C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weinstein; Leonard J
• Application Number:
  US11/609,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 417/1, 417/12, 417/20, 417/35, 417/36, 417/42, 417/43, 417/44.11, 417/44.1, 417/45, 210/103, 210/167.1, 210/167.12, 210/167.13, 210/167.14
• US Class Current: 417/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/00 Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps adapted for pumping specific fluids F04D7/00; priming or boosting F04D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed

Abstract

The present invention provides a pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, including a water pump and a variable speed motor. In one example, a target volume amount of water and an operational time period is provided, and the operational time period is altered based upon a volume of water moved. In another example, operation of the motor is altered based upon the volume of water moved. In addition or alternatively, a target flow rate of water to be moved by the water pump is determined based upon the target volume amount and a time period. In addition or alternatively, a plurality of operations are performed on the water, and a total volume of water moved by the pump is determined. In addition or alternatively, an optimized flow rate value is determined based upon power consumption.

Claims

1. A pumping system for at least one aquatic application controlled by a user, the at least one aquatic application including a pool, the pumping system comprising:

a pump;

a variable speed motor coupled to the pump;

a user interface that receives a volume of at least the pool, a time period, and a desired number of turnovers for at least the pool from the user; and

a controller in communication with the variable speed motor and the user interface, the controller determining a target flow rate and a minimum motor speed based on the volume of at least the pool, the time period, and the desired number of turnovers for at least the pool,

the controller operating the variable speed motor based on the minimum motor speed and substantially continuously modifying a current speed of the variable speed motor by making substantially minimum adjustments to the current speed in order to maintain the target flow rate using substantially minimum energy consumption.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the controller operates the variable speed motor at a baseline speed value and increments the current speed until the variable speed motor is operating at the minimum motor speed.

3. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the baseline speed value is a slowest operating speed of the variable speed motor.