In-line pressure boosting system and method
AssigneeFranklin Electric Co., Inc.
InventorsJeff Roussel, James J. Volk, Doug Lynn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure boosting system and a method of using the same to increase fluid pressure in a fluid distribution system are disclosed. The pressure boosting system may be installed “in-line” with the fluid distribution system.
Claims33
A pump unit configured to pressurize a fluid in a fluid delivery system, the pump unit comprising:
- a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir;
- a fluid inlet into the fluid reservoir;
- a fluid outlet from the fluid reservoir;
- a submersible pump positioned in the tank and arranged in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the submersible pump;
- an inlet pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the inlet pressure sensor configured to sense an inlet pressure of the fluid upstream of the submersible pump and to communicate the inlet pressure of the fluid to the controller, said controller configured to preclude activation of the pump if the inlet pressure is above a threshold inlet pressure;
- and
- an outlet pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the outlet pressure sensor configured to sense an outlet pressure of the fluid downstream of the submersible pump and to communicate the outlet pressure of the fluid to the controller;
- wherein said controller is configured to control the submersible pump based on the outlet pressure if the inlet pressure is below the threshold inlet pressure.
A method of controlling a pump unit having a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir and a submersible pump positioned in the tank, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing an inlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir upstream of the submersible pump;
- sensing an outlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir downstream of the submersible;
- and
- controlling the submersible pump based on the outlet pressure if the inlet pressure is below a threshold inlet pressure.
A method of controlling a pump unit having a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir and a submersible pump positioned in the tank, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing an inlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir upstream of the submersible pump;
- sensing a flow of the fluid through the fluid reservoir;
- and
- controlling the submersible pump based on the flow as a function of the inlet pressure, wherein the sensing step further comprises sensing an outlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir downstream of the submersible pump and the controlling step comprises controlling the submersible pump based on the inlet pressure and both the outlet pressure and the flow, wherein the controlling step comprises operating the submersible pump when:
- the inlet pressure is below a threshold inlet pressure;
- and
- at least one of the outlet pressure is below a threshold outlet pressure, and the flow is above a threshold flow rate, or the outlet pressure is below a threshold outlet pressure and the flow is above a threshold flow rate.
A method of controlling a pump unit having a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir and a submersible pump positioned in the tank, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing an inlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir upstream of the submersible pump;
- sensing a flow of the fluid through the fluid reservoir;
- and
- controlling the submersible pump based on the flow as a function of the inlet pressure, wherein said controlling step includes the step of precluding activation of the submersible pump if the inlet pressure is above a threshold inlet pressure.
A method of controlling a pump unit having a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir and a submersible pump positioned in the tank, the method comprising the steps of:
- sensing an inlet pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir upstream of the submersible pump;
- sensing a flow of the fluid through the fluid reservoir;
- and
- controlling the submersible pump based on the flow as a function of the inlet pressure, whereby the flow is used to control the submersible pump only if the inlet pressure is below a threshold inlet pressure.
A pump unit configured to pressurize a fluid in a fluid delivery system, the pump unit comprising:
- a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir;
- a fluid inlet into the fluid reservoir;
- a fluid outlet from the fluid reservoir;
- a submersible pump positioned in the tank and arranged in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- a controller communicatively coupled to the submersible pump;
- an inlet pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the inlet pressure sensor configured to sense an inlet pressure of the fluid upstream of the submersible pump and to communicate the inlet pressure of the fluid to the controller;
- and
- a flow sensor assembly communicatively coupled to the controller, the flow sensor assembly configured to sense a flow of the fluid through the pump unit and to communicate the flow of the fluid to the controller;
- wherein said controller is configured to control the submersible pump based on the flow as a function of the inlet pressure, whereby the flow is used to control the submersible pump only if the inlet pressure is below a threshold inlet pressure.
A pump unit configured to pressurize a fluid in a fluid delivery system, the pump unit comprising:
- a tank that forms at least a portion of a fluid reservoir;
- a fluid inlet into the fluid reservoir;
- a fluid outlet from the fluid reservoir;
- a submersible pump positioned in the tank and arranged in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet a controller communicatively coupled to the submersible pump;
- an inlet pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the inlet pressure sensor configured to sense an inlet pressure of the fluid upstream of the submersible pump and to communicate the inlet pressure of the fluid to the controller;
- and
- a flow sensor assembly communicatively coupled to the controller, the flow sensor assembly configured to sense a flow of the fluid through the pump unit and to communicate the flow of the fluid to the controller;
- wherein said controller is configured to control the submersible pump based on the flow as a function of the inlet pressure, wherein said controller is configured to not activate the pump if the inlet pressure is above a threshold inlet pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.