Switching of a pump based on the throughput determined by a thermal flow meter
AssigneeXylem IP Management S.à R.L.
InventorOliver Laing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A feed pump to increase the pressure in a line includes a pumping chamber for a pumping medium. At least one temperature sensor, which is arranged in the feed pump, is allocated to the pumping chamber and is in thermal contact with the pumping chamber for determining a temperature of the pumping medium in the pumping chamber. A temperature control device is allocated to the at least one temperature sensor and by which defined temperature conditions can be created in an area surrounding the at least one temperature sensor. An evaluation device to which the at least one temperature sensor is coupled for signal purposes uses the data from the at least one temperature sensor to determine whether pumping medium is flowing through the pumping chamber or not.
Claims21
A method for operating a feed pump for increasing pressure in a line to which the feed pump is connected, the method comprising:
- providing a feed pump comprising:
- a pumping chamber for a pumping medium,
- at least one temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of pumping medium in the pumping chamber, the at least one temperature sensor arranged in the feed pump, allocated to the pumping chamber, and in thermal contact with the pumping chamber,
- a temperature control device allocated to the at least one temperature sensor and by which defined temperature conditions can be created in an area surrounding the at least one temperature sensor, and
- an evaluation device to which the at least one temperature sensor is coupled to receive temperature signals;
- said method comprising:
- sending, from the at least one temperature sensor, a plurality of temperature signals over time to the evaluation device;
- detecting, with the evaluation device, a temperature trend based on the plurality of temperature signals sent from the at least one temperature sensor;
- and
- determining, with the evaluation device, an absence of flow in the line during operation of the pump, based on an increasing temperature trend indicative of heating of the pumping medium in the pumping chamber due to a lack of throughflow of the pumping medium.
The method of 12, comprising the evaluation device generating the deactivation signal either immediately after detecting the lack absence of flow, or when reaching a specific temperature threshold.
A feed pump for increasing pressure in a line, said feed pump comprising:
- a pumping chamber for a pumping medium,
- at least one temperature sensor configured for detecting a temperature of pumping medium in the pumping chamber, the at least one temperature sensor arranged in the feed pump, allocated to the pumping chamber, and in thermal contact with the pumping chamber,
- a temperature control device which is allocated to the at least one temperature sensor and by which defined temperature conditions can be created in an area surrounding the at least one temperature sensor, and
- an evaluation device to which the at least one temperature sensor is coupled for signal purposes, the evaluation device configured to use increasing temperature trend data from the at least one temperature sensor during operation of the pump to determine the pumping medium is not flowing through the pumping chamber, as indicated by heating of the pumping medium in the pumping chamber due to a lack of throughflow of the pumping medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.