Pumping system with power optimization

• US 8,840,376 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• 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: 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): BERTHEAUD, PETER JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/749,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20100247332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 417/12, 417/20, 417/35, 417/36, 417/42, 417/43, 417/44.11, 417/44.1
• 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 automatically determining a minimum power consumption value of the motor and an optimized operational time period for operation of the pump that corresponds to the minimum power consumption value of the motor for a particular volume of at least the pool in order to filter at least the pool, the controller automatically determining an optimized flow rate associated with the minimum power consumption value of the motor, the controller automatically operating the motor to achieve the optimized flow rate over the optimized operational time period for operation of the pump.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the controller uses data plotted on a graph of power consumption per day versus operational time per day to determine the optimized operational time period for operation of the pump.

3. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the controller determines a minimum data point on the graph to determine the optimized operational time period for operation of the pump.

4. The pumping system of claim 2, wherein the controller determines a lowest value of a mathematical equation approximating a curve fit to the data plotted on the graph for the particular volume of at least the pool.

5. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the optimized operational time for operation of the pump occurs at a time of day when energy costs are lower.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the optimized operational time for operation of the pump occurs at night.