Water treatment control system
First Claim
1. A water treatment system, comprising:
- a control system;
a water treatment filter, including;
a filter bed;
a plurality of valves coupled to the filter, said valves having sensors that communicate states of the valves; and
a plurality of actuators coupled to the plurality of valves, said actuators having an electronic interface;
measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface; and
a communication bus comprising two wires that couple the control system, the sensors, the electronic interface of the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, forming a communication network, wherein the control system controls and monitors the plurality of valves via the actuators and sensors, and monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus, and the two wires provide both power and communication to the sensors, actuators, and measurement instrumentation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water filter system comprising a control system, communication means, piping, actuators, sensors and valves. The control system utilizes a communication bus for controlling and monitoring water flow through the piping via control of the actuators and valves. The communication bus comprises a two-wire network in a loop configuration coupling the various actuators and valves to the control system. The control system includes a display and programmable control logic for monitoring and controlling the actuators and valves. In one embodiment, the communication bus adheres to a Actuator Sensor-Interface (AS-I) standard. The control system is further coupled to other control systems in a water treatment plant and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network.
80 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A water treatment system, comprising:
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a control system; a water treatment filter, including; a filter bed; a plurality of valves coupled to the filter, said valves having sensors that communicate states of the valves; and a plurality of actuators coupled to the plurality of valves, said actuators having an electronic interface; measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface; and a communication bus comprising two wires that couple the control system, the sensors, the electronic interface of the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, forming a communication network, wherein the control system controls and monitors the plurality of valves via the actuators and sensors, and monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus, and the two wires provide both power and communication to the sensors, actuators, and measurement instrumentation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling water flow in a water treatment system, comprising:
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providing measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over a communication bus; monitoring and testing the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus; sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via the communication bus, the plurality of valves having a plurality of actuators coupled thereto, the actuators having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over the communication bus, the communication bus comprising two wires that are coupled to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, wherein the two wires provide both power and communication to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation; changing states of the plurality of valves via the commands; and changing the water flow by changing the states of the plurality of valves. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of treating water in a water treatment system, comprising:
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providing measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over a communication bus; monitoring and testing the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus; sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via the communication bus, the plurality of valves having a plurality of actuators coupled thereto, the actuators having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over the communication bus and the digital communications include commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, the communication bus comprising two wires that are coupled to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, wherein the two wires provide both power and communication to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, at least one of the plurality of valves allowing water to flow into a filter; treating the water; and allowing the water to flow into and out of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of testing valves in a water treatment system, comprising:
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providing measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over a communication bus; sending commands to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system via the communication bus, the plurality of valves having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over the communication bus and the digital communications include commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, the plurality of valves having devices capable of communicating the state of the valve, the communication bus comprising two wires that are coupled to the electronic interface and the measurement instrumentation, wherein the two wires provide both power and communication to the plurality of valves and the measurement instrumentation; monitoring the operation of the water treatment system via a control system, the control system receiving valve state communication and measurement instrumentation communication via the communication bus; monitoring and testing the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus; testing the operation of the plurality of the valves, said testing comprising verifying a proper valve state; and transmitting test results from the plurality of valves. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A control system for a water treatment system, the control system comprising:
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a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller being coupled to a display and a communication bus; measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface coupled to the communication bus and configured for digital communications over the communication bus; and a plurality of valves having a plurality of actuators coupled thereto, the actuators having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over the communication bus and the digital communications include commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, the communication bus comprising two wires that are coupled to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, wherein the two wires provide both power and communication to the plurality of actuators and the measurement instrumentation, wherein the programmable logic controller monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus and controls and monitors the plurality of actuators in the water treatment system. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A water filter system for use in a water treatment plant, comprising:
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a control subsystem; a filter; measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface; a plurality of valves coupled to the filter for transport of water through the filter, each valve including an actuator and an electronic interface; and a bus extending from the control subsystem to the plurality of valves and the measurement instrumentation, the bus comprising two wires that provide both power and communication to the plurality of valves and the measurement instrumentation, and the control subsystem, the measurement instrumentation, and the plurality of valves being configured for digital communications over the bus, wherein upon installation of the system, the control subsystem monitors and controls the opening and closing of the plurality of valves and monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the two wires. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A water filter control kit for use in a water treatment system, comprising:
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a control system; a plurality of actuators and electronic interfaces capable of being coupled to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system; and measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface; a bus that upon installation of the water filter control kit couples the control system to the plurality of valves and the measurement instrumentation, the bus having two wires that provide both power and communications to the plurality of valves and the measurement instrumentation, and the control system, the measurement instrumentation, and the plurality of valves being configured for digital communications over the bus, wherein upon installation of the kit, the control system monitors and controls the opening and closing of the plurality of valves and monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the two wires. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of treating water in a water treatment system, the water treatment system having a water filter control process, comprising:
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providing a menu driven control system for controlling each step of the water filter control process, the menu driven control system comprising programmable control logic within a programmable controller, and a display; providing measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface configured for digital communications over a communication bus; monitoring and testing the measurement instrumentation via the communication bus; sending a command to a control device in the water treatment system via the communication bus, the control device being configured for digital communications over the communication bus and the digital communications include commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, the communication bus comprising two wires that are coupled to the control device, the measurement instrumentation and the menu driven control system, forming a communication network, wherein the two wires provide both power and communication to the control device and the measurement instrumentation, the control device allowing water to flow into a filter; treating the water; and allowing the water to flow into and out of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of providing a water filter control kit for use in a water treatment system, comprising:
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providing a control system; providing measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface; providing a plurality of actuators and electronic interfaces that are capable of being coupled to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system; and providing a communication bus that upon installation of the water filter control kit couples the control system to the electronic interfaces of the measurement instrumentation and the actuators of the plurality of valves, the communication bus having two wires that provide both power and communication to the measurement instrumentation and the plurality of valves, wherein the control system, measurement instrumentation, and the plurality of valves are configured to digitally communicate over the communication bus, the digital communication includes commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, and the control system controls the opening and closing of the plurality of valves and monitors and tests the measurement instrumentation via the two wires. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. A method of providing a water filter control kit for use in a water treatment system, comprising:
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providing a control system; providing a plurality of actuators and electronic interfaces that are capable of being coupled to a plurality of valves in the water treatment system; providing a communication bus that upon installation of the water filter control kit couples the control system to the plurality of valves, the communication bus having two wires that provide both power and communication to the plurality of valves, wherein the control system and the plurality of valves are configured to digitally communicate over the communication bus, the digital communication includes commands to determine whether one of the plurality of valves is faulty, and the control system controls the opening and closing of the plurality of valves via the two wires; retrofitting an existing water treatment system by installing said water filter control kit; and providing measurement instrumentation, the measurement instrumentation having an electronic interface, the communication bus coupling the control system and the measurement instrumentation'"'"'s electronic interface, wherein the control system monitors the instrumentation via the communication bus, and the control system is capable of testing said measurement instrumentation via the communication bus to determine its status. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification