A control system for an operable system such as a flow control system or temperature control system. The system operates in a control loop to regularly update a model with respect at least one optimizable input variable based on the detected variables. The model provides prediction of use of the input variables in all possible operation points or paths of the system variables which achieve an output setpoint. In some example embodiments, the control loop is performed during initial setup and subsequent operation of the one or more operable elements in the operable system. The control system is self-learning in that at least some of the initial and subsequent parameters of the system are determined automatically during runtime.

An improved compressed air system utilizes one or more base compressors, such as fixed speed drive compressors, to meet the compressed air demands and one or more trim compressors, such as variable speed drive compressors, to meet the variations in the demand. The operation of both the base and trim compressors may be controlled to provide improved overall efficiency while meeting the transient load demands. The control may spread the demands over the various base compressors to improve the overall loading on each base compressor. Efficiency metrics may be utilized to control the switching between base and trim compressors. Unloading of a base compressor may be controlled to avoid undesirable changes in system performance.

A method is provided for operating a wastewater pumping station of a wastewater pumping network. The pumping station includes a pump, that starts pumping if a level of a wastewater in a tank exceeds a first wastewater level, and the pump stops pumping if the level of the wastewater in the tank drops below a second level. The method includes determining a magnitude of a parameter (P.sub.sys, Q, n, ΔP, P.sub.electrical, cos φ, I) expressing the load of the wastewater pumping network. If it is determined that the magnitude of the parameter has passed a specified threshold, the pump is activated to start pumping in an energy optimization mode. A control unit is also provided for the wastewater pumping station of the wastewater pumping network, and a system is provided for centrally controlling a plurality of pumps of wastewater pumping stations in a wastewater pumping network.

A device and a method for operating multiple centrifugal pumps are disclosed. The device can include a communication interface for receiving as at least one input information, an instantaneous pressure drop and an instantaneous flow rate per pump or speed of the centrifugal pumps, and for transmitting output information to the centrifugal pumps, where the output information reflects a reference value for the number of centrifugal pumps to be operated in parallel. The device can contain a data storage unit and a processing unit, which determine from input information and additional information an instantaneous efficiency, a first expected efficiency under the assumption that the actual number is reduced by one, and a second expected efficiency under the assumption that the actual number is increased by one, and which can generate the reference value depending on which of the instantaneous or first expected or second expected efficiencies has a highest value.

A hydronic distribution system includes self-regulating valves networked together and operable to share valve temperature and valve position information with a microprocessor or other type of controller. The microprocessor runs one or more algorithms that process the temperatures and positions of the valves and then computes a desired speed for one or more variable speed pumps within the system. Controlling the pumps to operate at the desired speed and still maintain the correct amount of process fluid flow needed by the system reduces the overall energy use of the hydronic distribution system, saves on the operational lives of the pumps, and increases system efficiency.

Apparatus features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a power profile that is specific to a pumping system having N parallel pumps and based upon data related to one or more of pumping system power, losses and wire-to-water efficiency in real time for the N parallel pumps configured to run in the pumping system to generate a head H and a flow F with an efficiency E, and at least one calculation/prediction of at least one corresponding efficiency of at least one combination/number of N−1 and/or N+1 parallel pumps to achieve a corresponding/same head H and flow F with a corresponding efficiency; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the operation of the pumping system that depends on a comparison of the efficiency E and the at least one corresponding efficiency, based upon the signaling received, including staging/destaging a pump to or from the pumping system.

The invention relates to a method of operating a pressurized wastewater-drainage system (1) having interconnected line sections (SA1 . . . SA9) for conducting wastewater to a transfer station (10) and a plurality of pump stations (2) connected to the line sections (SA1 . . . SA9) for collecting the wastewater, wherein at least a portion of the pump stations (2) transmits at least status information indicating its respective pump standby status to a central controller (3), wherein a group is formed from the set of pump stations (2) that are in pump standby in relation to one of the line sections (SA1 . . . SA9) such that the number of pump stations (2) of the group corresponds at least to a minimum number (p min) of pump stations (2) associated with this line section (SA1 . . . SA9), and the pump station (2) or pump stations (2) of the group are then activated simultaneously by the central controller (3). A minimum flow rate is thus present in wide portions of the pressurized drainage system and for a maximum time, which results in a cleaning effect and thus reduces the danger of clogging.

A hydronic distribution system obtains, in real time, valve operating information from one or more valves arranged in a network, executes a speed determination algorithm which processes the valve operating information to determine a desired speed for one or more pumps to maintain a desired amount of process fluid flow of a process fluid to plural coils, and sets a speed of the one or more pumps, based on the desired speed for the one or more pumps that is determined.

A modular multiport pod missile includes a plurality of pipe sections securable together to form a conduit for transporting a fluid in a generally horizontal direction of travel, and at least one pod secured between two of the pipe sections forming the conduit. Each pod has a plurality of input ports extending radially outwardly at an angle from a perimeter of the pod. Each of the input ports is configured for connection to a high-pressure line for delivering a high-pressure fluid from a pump to the conduit. The input ports are angled such that, when connected to a high-pressure line, high-pressure fluid flowing through the input ports merges with the fluid in the conduit generally in the same direction of travel as the fluid in the conduit.

A demand-based load balancing function may be provided by one or more drive controllers that takes advantage of the affinity laws to linearize the control of the variable of interest (e.g., flow, pressure, etc.). Each drive controller may be set up by the user simply inputting a few values into the drive controller. Based on the inputs, the drive controllers may interpolate control points using an assumed linear relationship between the variable to be controlled (e.g., pressure) and the current driven to the pump. Feedback data from the system may be used to continually update the drive controllers so as to potentially allow them to better balance power usage to each pump.