No flow detection means for sensorless pumping control applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016246290-A1
Application number	US-201615044670-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about a pump no flow idle (NFI) state when the pump is running at a pump idle speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in a no flow shutdown (NFSD) state or the pump NFI state, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . Apparatus comprising:
a signal processor or processing module configured at least to:
receive signaling containing information about a pump no flow idle (NFI) state when the pump is running at a pump idle speed; and
determine corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in a no flow shutdown (NFSD) state or the NFI state, based upon the signaling received.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state.

3 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the corresponding signaling by taking a system flow Q* at a pump idle speed n idle as a no flow detection primary parameter under a no flow condition, using an equation:
0≦ Q*≦Q thr , t≧T p   (3.1),
where a flow threshold is defined as Q thr for a period of prove time of T P .

4 . Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine if the system flow Q* requested at the pump idle speed is less than the flow threshold Q thr for the period of prove time of T P , and determine that if an NFSD condition is met and control may remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state, by following NFSD/NSI schemes and a NFSD flag remains raised; or otherwise, turn the pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system, based upon the Equation: Q thr ≦Q* with t≧T p .

5 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the corresponding signaling by taking system pressure P* at a pump idle speed n idle as a no flow detection parameter under the no flow condition, using an Equation:
( H 0 −db )≦ P*≦H 0 , t≧T p   (3.2),
where H 0 is the idle pressure, (H 0 −db) is a pressure drop from the idle pressure, and T P , is the period of prove time.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine if the system pressure P* at the idle speed is less than the idle pressure H 0 and greater than the pressure drop (H 0 −db) from the idle pressure for the period of prove time of T P , and determine if an NFSD condition is met and control may remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state, by following NFSD/NSI schemes and an NFSD flag remain raised; or otherwise, turn pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system under the flow condition, based upon the Equation: P*≦(H 0 −db) with t≧T p .

7 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the corresponding signaling by taking an instant system coefficient C V at the pump idle speed of n idle as a no flow detection parameter as well under the no flow condition, using an Equation:
0≦ C* v ≦C v-thr , t≧T p   (3.3),
where C v-thr is a system coefficient threshold, and T P a period of prove time.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine if the instant system coefficient C V at the minimum speed is vanished or less than the system coefficient threshold of C v-thr for the period of prove time of T P , and determine if an NFSD condition is met and an NFSD flag is then raised accordingly; or otherwise, turn the pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system under the flow condition, using an Equation: C v-thr ≦C* v with t≧T p .

9 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the corresponding signaling by taking motor power w* at the pump idle speed of n idle as a no flow detection parameter as well under the no flow condition, using an Equation:
0≦ x*≦w thr , t≧T p   (3.4),
where w* is the motor power, w thr is a power threshold of w thr , and T P is a period of prove time.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine if the motor power w* at the idle speed is less than the power threshold w thr for the period of prove time T P , and determine if an NFSD condition is met and a NFSD flag is then raised accordingly; or otherwise, turn pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system under the flow condition, based upon an Equation: w thr ≦w* with t≧T p .

11 . A method comprising:
receiving with a signal processor or processing module signaling containing information about a pump no flow idle state (NFI) when the pump is running at a pump idle speed; and determining with the signal processor or processing module corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in a no flow shutdown (NFSD) state or the NFI state, based upon the signaling received.

12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the method comprises providing from the signal processor or processing module the corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state.

13 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor or processing module to determine the corresponding signaling by taking a system flow Q* at a pump idle speed n idle as a no flow detection primary parameter under a no flow condition, using an equation:
0≦ Q*≦Q thr , t≧T p   (3.1),
where a flow threshold is defined as Q thr for a period of prove time of T p .

14 . A method according to claim 13 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor or processing module to determine if the system flow Q* requested at the pump idle speed is less than the flow threshold Q thr for the period of prove time of T P , and determine that if an NFSD condition is met and control may remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state, by following NFSD/NSI schemes and a NFSD flag remains raised; or otherwise, turn the pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system, based upon the Equation: Q thr ≦Q* with t≧T p .

15 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor or processing module to determine the corresponding signaling by taking system pressure P* at a pump idle speed n idle as a no flow detection parameter under the no flow condition, using an Equation:
( H 0 −db )≦ P*≦H 0 , t≧T p   (3.2),
where H 0 is the idle pressure, (H 0 −db) is a pressure drop from the idle pressure, and T P , is the period of prove time.

16 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor or processing module to determine if the system pressure P* at the idle speed is less than the idle pressure H 0 and greater than the pressure drop (H 0 −db) from the idle pressure for the period of prove time of T P , and determine if an NFSD condition is met and control may remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state, by following NFSD/NSI schemes and an NFSD flag remain raised; or otherwise, turn pump back to its normal operation if flow is detected in system under the flow condition, based upon the Equation: P*≦(H 0 −db) with t≧T p .

17 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor or processing module to determine the corresponding signaling by taking an instant system coefficient C V at the pump i

Assignees

• Fluid Handling Llc

Inventors

• Cheng Andrew A
• Gu James J

Classifications

• F04D15/0218

  the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply · CPC title

• F04D15/0281

  responsive to a condition not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F04D15/0027

  Varying behaviour or the very pump (F04D15/0055 and F04D29/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04D15/0254

  the condition being speed or load · CPC title

• F04D15/0245

  responsive to a condition of the pump · CPC title