A pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system includes a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, a filter coupled to the pump, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller is configured to make a sensorless determination of a current value of a water flow rate based on an input power to the motor, drive the motor speed to maintain the water flow rate at a first constant value during a first time period, and drive the motor speed to maintain the water flow rate at a second constant value during a second time period.

A pumping device for pumping liquids includes a centrifugal pump with a radially pumping pump wheel having a hollow center, and is configured to remove accumulations of gas from the interior of the pump. The pumping device includes a detecting device for detecting a first operating parameter, a sensor for measuring a second operating parameter, and a control unit for controlling the pump. The control unit is configured to control the operation of the pump so as to remove accumulations of gas from the hollow center of the pump during liquid pumping operation.

A redox flow battery includes a cell, an electrolyte tank configured to store an electrolyte supplied to the cell, and a circulation mechanism. The circulation mechanism includes a suction pipe configured to suck up the electrolyte from an open end thereof in the electrolyte to above an in-tank liquid level of the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank, a circulation pump, an extrusion pipe, and a return pipe. H.sub.L/H.sub.0 is greater than or equal to 0.4 and H.sub.S is less than or equal to H.sub.L, where H.sub.0 is a height from an inner bottom surface of the electrolyte tank to the in-tank liquid level, H.sub.L is a length from the open end of the suction pipe to the in-tank liquid level, and H.sub.S is a height from the in-tank liquid level to a center of a suction port of the circulation pump.

A system for maintaining a prime of a pump includes a suction line, a discharge line, a pump line, a bypass line, and a pressure tank connected to the bypass line. The pump line includes a pump, an inlet in communication with the suction line, and a discharge in communication with the discharge line. The pump is operable to propel fluid from the suction line to the discharge line through the pump line. The bypass line extends from the suction line to the discharge line. The bypass line includes a control valve operable to selectively permit fluid to flow through the bypass line from the discharge line to the suction line.

A device for pumping fluid such as paints, sealants, caulks, and polymers made of a rotor assembly and a pump body. The rotor assembly contains at least one laminar flow element arranged in such a manner as to conduct the fluid from inlet to outlet as the rotor spins. The rotor may vary its distance from the pump body. This arrangement provides a rotor with exceptional capacity to pump without damage to the fluid media and to measure the fluid rate at low or high rotational speed with viscosity that can vary. The device also may provide a spray nozzle or nozzles that produce a multiplicity of spray patterns.

A pumping system for a pool or spa application that pumps water. The pumping system comprising a means for moving water through the pool or spa application, a means for driving the means for moving water, and a means for controlling the means for driving. The means for controlling monitors a current flow rate based on an input power to the means for driving, monitors whether the current flow rate is above a priming flow value in order to identify whether the means for moving water has become initially primed, and indicates a priming alarm if the means for moving water has not become initially primed before reaching a maximum priming time allotment, wherein the maximum priming time allotment is a fixed time period.

A pumping system includes a pump for moving water. In one aspect, this is in connection with performance of an operation. The system includes a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump. A value indicative of flow rate of water is determined and the motor is controlled to adjust the flow rate indicative value toward a constant. A value indicative of flow pressure is determined and the motor is controlled to adjust the flow pressure indicative value toward a constant. A selection is made between flow rate control and flow pressure control. In another aspect, the pump is controlled to perform a first operation, and is operated to perform a second water operation. Control of operation of the pump to perform the first water operation is altered in response to operation of the pump to perform the second operation.

Priming systems and infusion assemblies are provided. For example, a priming system comprises a priming conduit having a priming portion and a pressure portion. The priming portion is in fluid communication with a first fluid source, with an inlet and an outlet for ingress and egress of a first fluid from the first fluid source. The pressure portion is in fluid communication with a second fluid source connected by a connector. Disposed within the priming conduit are a biasing member and a valve having an open position and a closed position. The biasing member is in operable communication with the valve to urge the valve into the closed position such that the valve defaults to the closed position. The open position allows the first fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet and the closed position prevents the first fluid from flowing from the inlet to the outlet.

Systems and methods described herein provide a vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps. The vacuum priming system is mounted separately from a centrifugal pump and powered by an electric motor. An auxiliary vacuum pump pulls prime (e.g., water or another liquid) through a solenoid valve that is in turn connected to a connecting tube. At one end of the connecting tube is a screen and prime sensor. The screen filters particulates to protect the vacuum pump, and the prime sensor may detect when the centrifugal pump is primed. The vacuum priming system includes a self-contained control panel with an auto operation mode to only pull power during priming, reducing power consumption over the lifetime of the pump system and improving efficiency.