Pumping system with power optimization

• US 8,500,413 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• 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, Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Stiles, Robert W. Jr., Berthelsen, Lars Hoffmann, Robol, Ronald B., Yahnker, Christopher R., Runarsson, Einar Kjartan
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamo, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US12/749,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20100254825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 417/1, 417/12, 417/40, 417/42, 417/44.11, 210/167.1, 210/167.12, 210/167.13
• 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, the at least one aquatic application including a pool, the pumping system comprising:

a pump;

a motor coupled to the pump; and

a controller in communication with the motor,

the controller altering a routine filtering cycle operation in response to performance of a pool cleaning operation,

the controller monitoring a cumulative volume of water movement during the routine filtering cycle operation and the pool cleaning operation,

the controller altering at least one of a flow rate, a motor speed, and a time period of at least one of the routine filtering cycle operation and the pool cleaning operation based on the cumulative volume of water movement.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pool cleaning operation requires a higher flow rate, and wherein the controller alters the routine filtering cycle operation in response to the pool cleaning operation.

3. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the controller further alters the routine filtering cycle operation in response to the performance of a heater operation.

4. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the controller stops operation of the motor after completion of the pool cleaning operation to eliminate further power consumption.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein a target volume of water to be moved and an operational time period for the pumping system are received from a user interface.

6. The pumping system of claim 5, wherein the operational time period is altered by the controller based on the cumulative volume of water movement.

7. The pumping system of claim 5, wherein the controller alters operation of the motor when the cumulative volume of water movement exceeds the target volume.

8. The pumping system of claim 6, wherein a gross operational time period is reduced.

9. The pumping system of claim 6, wherein the controller recalculates a new end time of the operational time period according to a remaining volume to be moved.

10. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the pool cleaning operation requires a lower flow rate, and wherein the controller increases at least one of a flow rate and an operational time period of the routine filtering cycle operation.

11. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein an optimized flow rate for each one of the routine filtering cycle operation and the pool cleaning operation is at least one of determined by the controller and provided by a user.

12. The pumping system of claim 11, wherein the optimized flow rate is determined by dividing a target volume by a time value.

13. The pumping system of claim 11, wherein the controller determines a motor speed value for each optimized flow rate.

14. The pumping system of claim 13, wherein the controller determines a power consumption value for each motor speed and optimized flow rate.

15. The pumping system of claim 14, wherein the controller chooses a lowest possible power consumption value from a range of power consumption values for the optimized flow rate.