Anti-entrapment and anti-deadhead function

A method for controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump coupled to a motor, the method comprising:

• determining, via a controller in communication with the motor, whether a blockage condition exists by comparing a current power consumption value of the motor to one of:
• a baseline value of power consumption of the motor, or
• a previous power consumption value of the motor;
• performing a condition check to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed;
• shutting down the pumping system based on the comparison of the current power consumption value if the speed change did not occur during a transition or a stabilization stage of the speed change;
• and
• calculating a power gradient baseline value based on the change in speed and corresponding oscillations in power consumption of the motor if the speed has recently changed.

A method for controlling a pumping system having a pump that is coupled with a motor, the method comprising:

• establishing, via a controller in communication with the motor, a baseline value of power consumption of the motor during a deadhead condition;
• determining, via the controller, a current value of power consumption of the motor,
• increasing a counter, via the controller, when the current value decreases below the baseline value, and
• determining, via the controller, a deadhead condition caused by a blockage downstream from the pump when the counter exceeds a limit.

A method of operating a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump being electrically coupled with a motor, the method comprising:

• comparing, via a controller in electrical communication with the motor, a current power consumption value of the motor to a substantially immediately previous power consumption value of the motor to determine a difference value;
• shutting down the motor, via the controller, substantially immediately if the difference value indicates a sudden decrease in power consumption of the motor occurring during an entrapment condition caused by a blockage on a suction side of the pump;
• performing a condition check, via the controller, to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed before shutting down the motor due to torque ripple;
• and
• calculating a power gradient baseline value, via the controller, based on the change in speed.

A method of operating a pumping system for at least one aquatic application having a pump that is operatively coupled with a motor, the method comprising:

• comparing, via a controller in communication with the motor, a current power consumption value of the motor to a substantially immediately previous power consumption value of the motor to determine a difference value;
• shutting down the motor, via the controller, substantially immediately if the difference value indicates a sudden decrease in power consumption of the motor during an entrapment condition caused by a blockage on a suction side of the pump;
• and
• performing a condition check, via the controller, to determine whether a speed of the motor has recently changed before shutting down the motor in order to avoid shutting down the motor due to torque ripple,
• wherein if the speed has not recently changed, the controller calculates a power gradient baseline value based on a percentage of a present power consumption of the motor.