PUMP SYSTEM

• US 20130294931A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sulzer Management AG (Sulzer AG)
• Original Assignee: Sulzer Pump Solutions, AB
• Inventors: MAGNUSSON, Niklas, Hkby, Nils
• Granted Patent: US 10,240,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0693 Details or arrangements of the wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/086 the pump and drive motor are both submerged
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0027 Varying behaviour or the very pump F04D15/0055 and F04D29/46 take precedence
• 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: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0245 responsive to a condition of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5475 adapted for drill or well combined with data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/60 Systems for communication between relatively movable stations, e.g. for communication with lift H04B3/54 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for controlling a pump, such as a submersible pump intended for pumping water, including a pump and a separate electronic control unit connected to the pump by an electrical cable. The control unit is adapted to be detachably connected to the pump, by that the control unit is adapted to allow the pumps power supply to pass through the control unit, by that an electronic controller is arranged in the pump for controlling at least one of the pump'"'"'s functions and/or monitoring at least one of the pump'"'"'s operating conditions, and by that the pump and the control unit are adapted to communicate with each other and transmitting signals, including necessary control and/or monitoring information/data, between each other.

Claims

1. A system (6) for controlling a pump (9), such as a submersible pump mainly intended for pumping water, comprising a pump (9) and one from the pump separated electronic control unit (7) connected to the pump (9) by an electrical cable (13), wherein

the control unit (7) is adapted to be detachably connected to the pump (9) via an electrical power supply cable (13),

an electronic controller (26) is arranged in the pump (9) for controlling at least one of the pumps (9) operating functions and/or monitoring at least one of the pumps (9) operating conditions,

that the pump (9) and the control unit (7) are adapted to communicate with each other and transmit data/signals, comprising necessary control and/or monitoring information/data for managing the system.

2. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

internal cables (19a-e) are arranged within the control unit (7) in order to allow the pumps (9) power supply to pass through the control unit (7).

3. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit (7) is adapted to automatically detect at least one for the connected pump (9) important characteristic, and to adjust their control signals so that a pump (9) with different characteristics can be automatically controlled by the same control unit (7).

4. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

the system (6) is arranged to provide the communication between the pump (9) and the control unit (7) via galvanic connection to the power supply cable (13).

5. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

the data between the pump (9) and the control unit (7) are transmitted via signals that are superimposed on one or more conductors (13a-e) in the cable (13).

6. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit (7) is adapted to generate and transmit control signals to the pump (9) based on sensor signals from the pump (9).

7. The system (6) according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit (7) is adapted to generate and transmit control signals to the pump (9) by a user operating the actuating means (17a-c) of the control unit (7).

8. A pump (9) having an electrical motor (30) and a mechanical pump wheel (33), comprising an inlet (36) for incoming fluid and a discharge outlet (37) for the outgoing fluid, wherein

an electronic controller (26) is arranged in the pump (9) for controlling at least one of the pumps (9) functions and/or monitoring at least one of the pumps (9) operating conditions, and that a direct or soft starter unit (32) necessary for starting the electrical motor (30) to drive the pump wheel (33) is arranged in the pump (9).

9. The pump according to claim 8, wherein

the communication between the pump (9) and a control unit is made via the power supply to the pump (9).

10. The pump (9) according to claim 8, wherein

a second MCU (38) is adapted in the pump (9) to generate and transmit data signals to an electronic control unit (7) based on sensor signals within the pump (9).

11. An electronic control unit (7) for controlling and monitoring of a pump (9), wherein

the control unit (7) is adapted to be detachably connected to the pump (9) and to a power supply (8) for current to the pump (9),

the control unit (7) is provided with at least one operating switch (17a-c) for controlling of the pump (9) as well as with indicators (16a-d) for indicating of at least one operating condition of the pump (9), and

a communications unit (23-25) is arranged in the electronic control unit (7) to receive data from the pump (9) and for transmitting control commands to the pump (9).

12. The electronic control (7) unit according to claim 11, wherein

the communications unit (23-25) is arranged to receive data from the pump (9) and to transmit control commands to the pump (9) via signals transmitted by one or more wires (13a-d) for the drive current within the power cable (13).

13. The electronic control unit (7) according to claim 11, wherein

a circuit board (21) is arranged to superimpose the signals over the drive currents normal frequency in the power cable (13).

14. The electronic control unit (7) according to claim 11, wherein

the communications unit (23-25) is galvanically connected to one or more of the wires (13a-e) for the drive current in the power cable (13) located between the control unit (7) and the pump (9).

15. The electronic control unit (7) according to claim 11, wherein

electrical plug connectors (10,11) are arranged at opposite end areas of the electronic control unit (7).