Method and apparatus for detecting the fluid condition in a pump
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a pump configured to displace a fluid, the pump being in one of a first fluid condition wherein a compressible gas is present within the pump and a second fluid condition, wherein the pump has a first frequency response when the pump is in the first fluid condition and a second frequency response when the pump is in the second fluid condition;
selecting a frequency range of interest based on differences between the first frequency response and the second frequency response of the pump;
monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump within the frequency range of interest while the pump is powered, wherein the at least one characteristic of the frequency response includes one of a magnitude of the frequency response and a phase angle of the frequency response;
determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and
altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is the first fluid condition.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pump control system which detects a fluid condition in a pump is disclosed. The pump control system may include a control event based on the fluid condition in the pump. The pump control system may detect a fluid condition in the pump by monitoring the frequency response of the pump.
26 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a pump configured to displace a fluid, the pump being in one of a first fluid condition wherein a compressible gas is present within the pump and a second fluid condition, wherein the pump has a first frequency response when the pump is in the first fluid condition and a second frequency response when the pump is in the second fluid condition; selecting a frequency range of interest based on differences between the first frequency response and the second frequency response of the pump; monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump within the frequency range of interest while the pump is powered, wherein the at least one characteristic of the frequency response includes one of a magnitude of the frequency response and a phase angle of the frequency response; determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is the first fluid condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a pump configured to displace a fluid, the pump being in one of a first fluid condition wherein a compressible gas is present within the pump and a second fluid condition, wherein the pump has a first frequency response when the pump is in the first fluid condition and a second frequency response when the pump is in the second fluid condition; providing a flexible member positioned within the pump and configured to resonate upon the introduction of fluid in the pump, wherein the resonation of the flexible member is configured to enhance at least one difference between the first frequency response and the second frequency response of the pump monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump while the pump is powered, wherein the at least one characteristic of the frequency response includes one of a magnitude of the frequency response and a phase angle of the frequency response; determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is a first fluid condition.
-
-
10. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a pump configured to displace a fluid; monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump while the pump is powered; determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is a first fluid condition, wherein the monitoring step includes monitoring the phase angle of the frequency response of the pump at at least a first frequency and the determining step includes determining the fluid condition within the pump based on at least the phase angle of the frequency response.
-
-
11. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a pump configured to displace a fluid; monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump while the pump is powered; determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is a first fluid condition, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a shift in an anti-resonance peak in the frequency response of the pump.
-
-
12. A method of controlling an electrically powered fluid transfer system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a pump configured to displace a fluid, the pump being in one of a first fluid condition wherein a compressible gas is present within the pump and a second fluid condition, wherein the pump has a first frequency response when the pump is in the first fluid condition and a second frequency response when the pump is in the second fluid condition; selecting a frequency range of interest based on differences between the first frequency response and the second frequency response of the pump; monitoring at least one characteristic of a frequency response of the pump within the frequency range of interest while the pump is powered; determining a fluid condition within the pump based on the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump; and altering an operation of the pump when the fluid condition within the pump is the first fluid condition, wherein the at least one characteristic of the frequency response of the pump is a gain magnitude.
-
Specification