Variable speed pumping system and method
AssigneePentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
InventorRobert Stiles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable speed pumping system and an associated method for moving water of an aquatic application. The variable speed pumping system includes a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water. A variable speed motor is operatively connected to drive the pump. A sensor senses a parameter of the operation performed upon the water. A controller controls speed of the motor in response to the sensed parameter of operation.
Claims26
A pumping system for at least one aquatic application including a pool, the pumping system controlled by a user, the pumping system adapted to be coupled to a pool filter and a pool vacuum, the pumping system comprising:
- a pump;
- a variable speed motor coupled to the pump;
- a user interface that receives an input including a desired filtering level of operation from the user including a mode for operation of the pump at an increased level during use of the pool vacuum;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the variable speed motor and the user interface, the controller determining a current value of at least one of a volume, a flow rate, a mass, and a pressure in the pumping system associated with the desired filtering level of operation, the controller substantially continuously modifying an actual speed of the variable speed motor based on the current value in order to operate the variable speed motor at a substantially minimum speed to achieve the desired filtering level of operation with substantially minimal energy usage;
- a subsequent aquatic application being added to the pumping system and wherein the controller self-adjusts the actual speed of the variable speed motor to operate at a new minimum speed to achieve the desired filtering level of operation with substantially minimal energy usage.
A method of operating a pumping system for an aquatic application including a pool, the pumping system adapted to be coupled to a pool filter and a pool vacuum, the method comprising:
- operating the pool filter which is capable of filtering impurities from substantially all of the water in the pool;
- operating the pool vacuum;
- receiving an input from a user interface during operation of the pumping system, the input including a desired filtering level of operation including a mode for operation of the pump at an increased level during use of the pool vacuum;
- determining a current value of at least one of a volume, a flow rate, a mass, and a pressure of the pumping system associated with the desired filtering level of operation;
- substantially continuously modifying an actual speed of a variable speed motor coupled to the pump based on the current value and the desired filtering level of operation in order to operate the variable speed motor at a substantially minimum speed to achieve the desired filtering level of operation with substantially minimal energy usage;
- adding a subsequent aquatic application to the pumping system and self-adjusting the actual speed of the variable speed motor to operate at a new minimum speed to achieve the desired filtering level of operation with substantially minimal energy usage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.