Direct numeric affinity pumps sensorless converter

Abstract

A pumping system having a pump includes a pump controller having a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm to control the pump in the pumping system, based upon the signaling received.

Claims

1. A pumping system comprising: a pump driven by a motor; and a pump controller having a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump data published by a manufacturer of the pump, the pump data including pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data all at motor maximum speed, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm to control the pump in the pumping system, based upon the signaling received.

2. A pumping system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to control a hydronic pumping system.

3. A pumping system according to claim 2, wherein the hydronic pumping system comprises a close or open loop hydronic pumping system, including a primary pumping system, a secondary pumping system, a water circulating system, or a pressure booster system.

4. A pumping system according to claim 3, wherein the close or open loop hydronic pumping system comprises a single zone or multiple zones.

5. A pumping system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the corresponding signaling by implementing the combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm as follows: obtaining a corresponding maximum power at the pump's maximum speed with respect to the instant motor power and speed parameters using a power affinity equation; obtaining corresponding pump differential pressure and flow rate with respect to the corresponding maximum power at the pump's maximum speed using direct numerical interpolation; and determining the instant pump differential pressure and flow rate with respect to the instant motor speed and power by using pressure and flow affinity equations.

6. A pumping system according to claim 5, wherein the signal processor or processing module is configured to determine the instant pump differential pressure and flow rate by implementing the combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm and using numerical computation procedures as follows: $\begin{array}{cc}Q\left(n,w\right)=\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right).Math.\stackrel{\_}{q}\left(n_{\max },W_i,Q_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),& \left(1\right)\\ P\left(n,w\right)={\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right)}^2.Math.\stackrel{\_}{p}\left(n_{\max },W_i,P_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),& \left(2\right)\end{array}$ where q(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, Q.sub.i, w) and p(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, P.sub.i, ) and are pump differential pressure and flow rate distribution functions with respect to power and formulated numerically based upon discrete pump data of (P.sub.i, Q.sub.i, W.sub.i) at motor full speed, and is a corresponding power function at pump full speed by the power affinity equation of
(n,w)=(n/n.sub.max).sup.3.Math.w,(3) where of n is the motor speed and w is power.

7. A pumping system according to claim 1, wherein the pumping system comprises a hydronic pumping system having the pump and the pump controller for controlling the pump.

8. A pumping system according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a single pump, a circulator, a group of parallel ganged pumps or circulators, a group of serial ganged pumps or circulators, or some combination thereof.

9. A method for controlling a pump driven by a motor in a pumping system, comprising: receiving in a pump controller having a signal processor or processing module signaling containing information about pump data published by a manufacturer of the pump, the pump data including pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data all at motor maximum speed, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determining in the signal processor or processing module corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm to control the pump in the pumping system, based upon the signaling received.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises providing from the signal processor or processing module the corresponding signaling as control signaling to control a hydronic pumping system.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises configuring the hydronic pumping system as a close or open loop hydronic pumping system, including a primary pumping system, a secondary pumping system, a water circulating system, or a pressure booster system.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises configuring the close or open loop hydronic pumping system as a single zone or multiple zones.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises determining in the signal processor or processing module the corresponding signaling by implementing the combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm as follows: obtaining a corresponding maximum power at the pump's maximum speed with respect to the instant motor power and speed parameters using a power affinity equation; obtaining corresponding pump differential pressure and flow rate with respect to the corresponding maximum power at the pump's maximum speed using direct numerical interpolation; and determining the instant pump differential pressure and flow rate with respect to the instant motor speed and power by using pressure and flow affinity equations.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises determining in the signal processor or processing module the instant pump differential pressure and flow rate by implementing the combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm and using numerical computation procedures as follows: $\begin{array}{cc}Q\left(n,w\right)=\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right).Math.\stackrel{\_}{q}\left(n_{\max },W_i,Q_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),& \left(1\right)\\ P\left(n,w\right)={\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right)}^2.Math.\stackrel{\_}{p}\left(n_{\max },W_i,P_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),& \left(2\right)\end{array}$ where q(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, Q.sub.i, w) and p(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, P.sub.i, ) and are pump differential pressure and flow rate distribution functions with respect to power and formulated numerically based upon discrete pump data of (P.sub.i, Q.sub.i, W.sub.i) at motor full speed, and is a corresponding power function at pump full speed by the power affinity equation of
(n,w)=(n/n.sub.max).sup.3.Math.w,(3) where of n is the motor speed and w is power.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises configuring the pumping system as a hydronic pumping system having the pump and the pump controller for controlling the pump.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises configuring the pump as a single pump, a circulator, a group of parallel ganged pumps or circulators, a group of serial ganged pumps or circulators, or some combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The drawing includes the following Figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale:

(2) FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show examples of sensorless multistage pumping control systems, e.g., in which the present invention may be implemented, or form part of, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a pump sensorless converter for providing pump pressure (ft) and flow rate (GPM) from motor power (hp) and speed (RPM), e.g., in which the present invention may be implemented, or form part of, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 2B is a block diagram of apparatus, e.g., having a signal processor or processing module, configured for implementing the signal processing functionality, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a graph of pump pressure (Ft) vs. flow rate (gpm) showing pump, system and power characteristic curves with a pressure equilibrium point at a flow steady state.

(6) FIG. 4 shows a graph of pump pressure (Ft), motor power (hp) and flow rate (gpm) showing a pump sensorless pressure and flow rate conversion by using a affinity and numerical signal processing technique, e.g., according to implementations of some embodiments of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a graph of motor power (hp) vs. normalized system characteristics (Cv/Cv.sup.Duty), e.g. according to implementations of some embodiments of the present invention.

(8) FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show comparisons of pump differential pressure and system flow rate from the sensorless converter, e.g., each having six (6) respective solid lines for 30 Hz, 36 Hz, 42 Hz, 48 HZ, 54 Hz, 60 Hz, and each also having measured data from sensors indicated by symbols, e.g., including: for 30 Hz, diamond symbols; 36 Hz, plus (+) signs; 42 Hz, solid circle symbols; 48 Hz, minus () signs, 54 Hz, triangle symbols; and 60 Hz, x symbols; where FIG. 6A shows a graph of flow rate (gpm) vs. power (kw); FIG. 6B shows a graph of pressure (psi) vs. power (kw); and FIG. 6C shows a graph of pressure (ft) vs. flow rate (gpm).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2A and 2B: Implementation of Signal Processing Functionality

(9) In summary, the present invention provides a new and unique direct numerical affinity pump sensorless conversion signal processing technique, or means for implementing the same, e.g. based upon processing the pump differential pressure, flow rate and power at pump maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as the pump affinity law in order to obtain instant pump differential pressures and flow rate directly and numerically. The sensorless converter signal processing technique, or means for implementing the same, set forth herein may be applied to any form of pump characteristics distributions simple or complicated, since there is no need to reconstruct and to solve any pump and system characteristics equations. As a result, the computation accuracy is significantly improved.

(10) FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show examples of sensorless multistage pumping control systems, e.g., in which the present invention may be implement, or form part of, according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, FIG. 1A shows a hydronic pumping and variable speed control system, while FIGS. 1B and 1C show a pump sensorless converter for pump differential pressure and flow rate associated with the hydronic system coefficient at the discharge of a pump and the motor power and speed at the other end of a motor drive.

(11) By way of example, the direct numerical affinity pump sensorless conversion signal processing technique, or means for implementing the same, may include, or form part of, a pump sensorless converter shown in FIG. 2A, which processes signaling containing information about motor power (hp) and speed (RPM) and determines suitable processed signaling containing information about pump pressure (ft) and flow rate (GPM). The pump sensorless converter shown in FIG. 2A may be implemented, or form part of apparatus, e.g., consistent with that set forth herein.

(12) By way of further example, FIG. 2B shows apparatus 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention, e.g., featuring a signal processor or processing module 10a configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm, based upon the signaling received.

(13) In operation, the signal processor or processing module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling as control signaling to control a pump in a pumping system, e.g., such as a hydronic pumping system. The corresponding signaling may contain information used to control the pumping hydronic system.

(14) The signal processor or processing module 10a may be configured in, or form part of, a pump and/or a pump control, e.g., which may include or be implemented in conjunction with a pump control or controller configured therein. By way of example, embodiments are envisioned in which the apparatus is a pump having the signal processor or processing module 10a, and embodiments are envisioned in which the apparatus is a pump control or controller having the signal processor or processing module 10a.

(15) As one skilled in the art would appreciate and understand, the present invention may be implemented using system characteristics and associated equations, e.g., consistent with that set forth herein, as well as by using other types or kinds of system characteristics and associated equations that are either now known or later developed in the future.

(16) By way of example, the functionality of the apparatus 10 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In a typical software implementation, the apparatus 10 would include one or more microprocessor-based architectures having, e. g., at least one signal processor or microprocessor like element 10a. One skilled in the art would be able to program with suitable program code such a microcontroller-based, or microprocessor-based, implementation to perform the functionality described herein without undue experimentation. For example, the signal processor or processing module 10a may be configured, e.g., by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation, to receive the signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed, consistent with that disclosed herein.

(17) Moreover, the signal processor or processing module 10a may be configured, e.g., by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation, to determine the corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm, consistent with that disclosed herein.

(18) The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular implementation using technology either now known or later developed in the future. The scope of the invention is intended to include implementing the functionality of the processors 10a as stand-alone processor, signal processor, or signal processor module, as well as separate processor or processor modules, as well as some combination thereof.

(19) The apparatus 10 may also include, e.g., other signal processor circuits or components 10b, including random access memory or memory module (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM), input/output devices and control, and data and address buses connecting the same, and/or at least one input processor and at least one output processor, e.g., which would be appreciate by one skilled in the art.

FIGS. 3-6C: Detailed Implementation

(20) The following is a detailed description of an implementation of the present invention, e.g., consistent with that set forth in relation to FIGS. 3 to 6C.

(21) Considering a close loop system, pump flow rate and differential pressure at a motor speed for a system position given may be resolved at a steady equilibrium state of pump and system pressures, e.g., which is the intersection of the pump and system curves functions shown schematically in FIG. 3. Here, the instant pump characteristic curve, or pump curve, represents the pump differential pressure P with respect to flow rate Q at a motor speed of n. The instant system curve represents the system flow equation of C.sub.v=Q/{square root over (P)} accordingly. The pump affinity law, represented by the equations for pump flow, differential pressure and motor power (w), i.e., Q/Q.sub.max=n/n.sub.max, P/P.sub.max=(n/n.sub.max).sup.2 and w/w.sub.max=(n/n.sub.max).sup.3, may be used to compute and determine the pump differential pressure, flow rate and power with respect to an instant motor speed of n at a system position, respectively. Instead of resolving the pump and system curves equations to obtain the steady equilibrium state solution of pressure and flow at any pump speed in the patent document referenced as [6] below, a direct numerical affinity sensorless conversion approach is set forth herein, e.g., consistent with that shown schematically in FIG. 4. Here, the pump differential pressure, flow rate and their corresponding power data at motor maximum speed, together with the pump affinity law, may be used to resolve the instant pressure and flow rate of P and Q with respect to instant motor speed and power of n and w directly and numerically.

(22) The numerical determination, computational and signal processing procedures to obtain instant pump differential pressure and flow rate of P and Q are as following. First, the corresponding maximum power of at pump maximum speed of n.sub.max with respect to a pair of instant motor power and speed of n and W may be obtained by using the power affinity equation. The corresponding pump differential pressure and flow rate of {circumflex over (P)} and {circumflex over (Q)} with respect to the power of at n.sub.max can then be obtained by using numerical interpolation directly. Finally, the instant pressure and flow rate of P and Q with respect to instant motor speed and power of n and w may be achieved by the pressure and flow affinity equations based upon the pump differential pressure and flow rate of {circumflex over (P)} and {circumflex over (Q)}, respectively. Note that the affinity law implies that the sensorless parameter conversion is along the system characteristics curve shown in FIG. 3.

(23) The pump differential pressure and flow rate by following the numerical determination, computation and signal processing procedures described above may be written in form of equations (1) and (2), as follows:

(24) $\begin{array}{cc}Q\left(n,w\right)=\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right).Math.\stackrel{\_}{q}\left(n_{\max },W_i,Q_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),\mathrm{and}& \left(1\right)\\ P\left(n,w\right)={\left(\frac{n}{n_{\max }}\right)}^2.Math.\stackrel{\_}{p}\left(n_{\max },W_i,P_i,\hat{w}\left(n,w\right)\right),& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

(25) where q(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, Q.sub.i, ) and p(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, P.sub.i, ) are the pump differential pressure and flow rate distribution functions with respect to power and formulated numerically based upon the discrete pump data of (P.sub.i, Q.sub.i, W.sub.i) at motor full speed of n.sub.max (or at any speed given), and is the corresponding power function at pump full speed of n.sub.max by the power affinity equation (3) of:
{circumflex over (w)}(n,w)=(n/n.sub.max).sup.3.Math.w.(3)

(26) The distribution functions of q and p may be formulated directly through the numerical signal processing technique or means, for instance, by implementing interpolation or curve fitting, based upon their discrete pump testing data of (P.sub.i, Q.sub.i, w.sub.i) at motor full speed of n.sub.max. However, for slightly more complicated distributions, a piecewise numeric interpolation may be implemented to achieve a better functional representation and desired accuracy. Note that the monotonic distribution on power with respect to flow may be required here as well.

(27) In case, e.g., if there may be the accuracy requirement at low speed region with system nearly shut down, the pump power affinity law of Eq. 3 may not be sufficient to represent the relation of motor power and speed well due to motor speed slip in low speed as indicated in the patent document referenced as [6] below. A modified form of the power affinity law representation may, therefore, be formulated similarly using the equation (4) as follows:
{circumflex over (w)}(n,w)=w.sub.norm(n.sub.i,W.sub.i,n).Math.w.(4)

(28) where w.sub.norm(n.sub.i, W.sub.i, n) is the power distribution function calibrated based upon an array of the discrete and normalized motor power data of (n.sub.i, W.sub.i) at any system position, which may be obtained numerically by interpolation or fitting as well. Note that the system position can be any position from shut off to fully open, since the normalized power distribution of w.sub.norm with respect to speed of n is nearly identical at any system position.

(29) For a varying hydronic system with flow regulated by valves or other flow regulators, one may also want to know the instant system characteristic coefficient for a system position at an instant time. By following the similar approach, the normalized system characteristics coefficient with respect to the power data at motor full speed n.sub.max, presented in FIG. 5, may be formulated directly as that set forth in equation (5):
C.sub.v.sup.norm(w,n)=C.sub.v.sup.norm(n.sub.max,W.sub.i,C.sub.vi.sup.norm,(n,w)).(5)

(30) where C.sub.v.sup.norm(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, C.sub.vi.sup.norm, (n,w)) is the system coefficient distribution function with respect to the normalized motor power data and instant reversed maximum power of (n,w) at pump maximum speed. Note that the instant system coefficient is the same value along the instant system characteristics curve, shown in FIG. 3.

(31) By using the direct numeric affinity sensorless converter defined in Equations 1-4, the pressure and flow rate values may be determined and computed for a pumping system and compared with the measured data, which are shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, respectively. The conversion accuracy is reasonably satisfactory with around 5% error in the pump normal operation hydronic region.

(32) The direct numerical affinity pump sensorless converter set forth herein may be used for most hydronic pumping control and monitoring applications, since it is formulated directly and numerically from pump, power characteristics data published by pump manufacturers testing data as well as affinity law, without the need of resolving any characteristic equations reversely as set forth in the patent documents referenced as [3] through [6] below. The technique may be applied to any form of pump characteristics distribution pump simple or complicated, as long as the monotonic power distribution with respect to flow is preserved. Moreover, the direct numerical pump sensorless converter developed herein is much easier to be set up while providing reasonably satisfactory accuracy.

Various Points of Novelty

(33) The present invention may also include, or take the form of, one or more of the following embodiments/implementations:

(34) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter includes a pump sensorless converter which yields the pump differential pressure and system flow rate with respect to a given pair of motor speed and power readouts, based on the pump differential pressure, flow rate and power at pump maximum speed published by pump manufacturers as well as the pump affinity law. The direct numerical computation procedures to obtain the instant pump differential pressures and flow rate directly and numerically are presented schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4 as well. The signal processing technique, or means for implementing the same, may be applied to any form of pump characteristics distributions, as long as the monotonic power distribution with respect to flow is preserved.

(35) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above includes the numerical expression of pump differential pressure and flow rate of P(n,w) and Q(n,w) of Equations 1 and 2, at the steady state equilibrium point of the pump differential pressure and system pressure, which is the intersection of the pump and system curves schematically, based upon the pump differential pressure and flow rate numerical distribution data of (P.sub.i, Q.sub.i, W.sub.i) at motor full speed and the pump affinity law.

(36) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the direct numeric distribution functions in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above includes the signal processing technique, or means for implementing the same, to formulate the pump pressure and flow rate distribution function in terms of power at maximum speed directly and numerically, as shown in FIG. 4. For that, there is no need to have the system characteristics coefficient to be inversed from the power, prior to obtaining pump pressure and flow rate. The computation accuracy is significantly improved.

(37) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the direct numeric procedures in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above includes: 1) the corresponding maximum power of at pump maximum speed of n.sub.max with respect to a pair of instant motor power and speed of n and w is obtained by using power affinity equation; 2) the corresponding pump differential pressure and flow rate of {circumflex over (P)} and {circumflex over (Q)} with respect to the power of at n.sub.max are obtained by using numerical interpolation directly; 3) the instant pressure and flow rate of P and Q with respect to instant motor speed and power of n and w are achieved finally by the pressure and flow affinity equations based upon the pump differential pressure and flow rate of {circumflex over (P)} and {circumflex over (Q)}, respectively.
Note that the affinity law implies that the sensorless parameter conversion is along the system characteristics curve shown in FIG. 3.

(38) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the steady state pressure equilibrium point in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above includes the intersection point of the pump and system curves functions, as shown in FIG. 3. The system pressure or pump differential pressure and flow rate may be resolved by Equations 1 and 2, at the pressures equilibrium point for a pair of motor readout values given.

(39) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the numeric methods in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above may include any kinds of numerical interpolation and fitting algorithms to obtain the pump differential pressure and flow rate of {circumflex over (P)} and {circumflex over (Q)} at pump maximum speed. However, it is note that, for slightly complicated distributions, the piecewise numeric interpolation may be recommended to achieve better functional representation and accuracy.

(40) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations using use the pump power affinity function in Equation 3, e.g., in order to obtain the power of at maximum pump speed in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter mentioned above. A preferred version of the modified power affinity function may be formulated similarly with a numerical distribution expression of w.sub.norm(n.sub.i, W.sub.i, n) in Equation 4, e.g., calibrated based upon an array of the discrete and normalized motor power data of (n.sub.i, W.sub.i) at any system position, which may again be obtained numerically by interpolation or fitting. The modified power affinity function calibrated may be introduced to compensate the power loss due to motor speed slip at low speed region.

(41) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the system characteristics coefficient numeric conversion in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter includes the system characteristics coefficient numeric function in form of C.sub.v.sup.norm(n.sub.max, W.sub.i, C.sub.vi.sup.norm, (n,w)) in Equation 5, which is the system coefficient distribution with respect to the normalized motor power. For an instant reversed maximum power of (n,w) at pump maximum speed obtained from Equations 3 or 4, the instant system coefficient of may be obtained by Equation 5 directly and numerically by interpolation or fitting. Note that the instant system coefficient may be the same value along the instant system characteristics curve shown in FIG. 3.

(42) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the pump and power curves data at motor maximum speed in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter for converting pump differential pressure and flow from pump power and speed includes the pump and power curves data published by pump manufacturers or a few points of pump data acquired at motor full speed in field. Here, the motor power curve data may also be replaced by any potential motor electrical or mechanical readout signals, such as motor current or torque, and so forth.

(43) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the pumping hydronic system in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter includes all close loop or open loop hydronic pumping systems, such as primary pumping systems, secondary pumping systems, water circulating systems, and pressure booster systems. The systems mentioned here may consist of a single zone or multiple zones as well.

(44) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the hydronic signals for in the direct numeric affinity pump sensorless converter may include pump differential pressure, system pressure or zone pressure, system or zone flow rate, and so forth.

(45) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where control signals transmitting and wiring technologies may include all conventional sensing and transmitting techniques or means that are used currently and known in the art. Preferably, wireless sensor signal transmission technologies would be optimal and favorable.

(46) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where the pumps mentioned above for the hydronic pumping systems may include a single pump, a circulator, a group of parallel ganged pumps or circulators, a group of serial ganged pumps or circulators, or their combinations.

(47) According to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, implementations where systems flow regulation may include manual or automatic control valves, manual or automatic control circulators, or their combinations.

Hydronic Characteristics and Discrete Distribution Functions

(48) Techniques for determining a hydronic characteristics, and techniques for plotting distributions of such hydronic characteristics, e.g., like that shown in FIGS. 3-6, are also known in the art; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof that is either now known or later developed in the future.

(49) Moreover, one person skilled in the art would be able to implement the underlying invention without undue experimentation based upon that disclosed herein, including determining hydronic characteristics, and plotting distributions of such hydronic characteristics like that shown herein.

Computer Program Product

(50) The present invention may also, e. g., take the form of a computer program product having a computer readable medium with a computer executable code embedded therein for implementing the method, e.g., when run on a signal processing device that forms part of such a pump or valve controller. By way of example, the computer program product may, e. g., take the form of a CD, a floppy disk, a memory stick, a memory card, as well as other types or kind of memory devices that may store such a computer executable code on such a computer readable medium either now known or later developed in the future.

OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS

(51) The application is related to other patent applications that form part of the overall family of technologies developed by one or more of the inventors herein, and disclosed in the following applications: [1] U.S. application Ser. No. 12/982,286, filed 30 Dec. 2010, entitled Method and apparatus for pump control using varying equivalent system characteristic curve, AKA an adaptive control curve, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,700,221 on 15 Apr. 2014; and [2] U.S. application Ser. No. 13/717,086, filed 17 Dec. 2012, entitled Dynamic linear control methods and apparatus for variable speed pump control, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 61/576,737, filed 16 Dec. 2011, now abandoned; [3] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/091,795, filed 27 Nov. 2013, entitled 3D sensorless conversion method and apparatus, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 61/771,375, filed 1 Mar. 2013, now abandoned; [4] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/187,817, filed 24 Feb. 2014, entitled A Mixed Theoretical And Discrete Sensorless Converter For Pump Differential Pressure And Flow Monitoring, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 61/803,258, filed 19 Mar. 2013, now abandoned; [5] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/339,594, filed 24 Jul. 2014, entitled Sensorless Adaptive Pump Control with Self-Calibration Apparatus for Hydronic Pumping System, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 14/339,594, filed 24 Jul. 2014, now abandoned; [6] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/680,667, filed 7 Apr. 2015, entitled A Best-fit affinity sensorless conversion means for pump differential pressure and flow monitoring, which claims benefit to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/976,749, filed 8 Apr. 2014, now abandoned; and [7] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/730,871, filed 4 Jun. 2015, entitled System and flow adaptive sensorless pumping control apparatus energy saving pumping applications, which claims benefit to provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/007,474, filed 4 Jun. 2014, now abandoned; and [8] U.S. application Ser. No. 14/969,723, filed 15 Dec. 2015, entitled Discrete valves flow rate converter, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 62/091,965, filed 15 Dec. 2014; [9] U.S. application Ser. No. 15/044,670, filed 16 Feb. 2016, entitled Detection means for sensorless pumping control applications, which claims benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 62/116,031, filed 13 Feb. 2015, entitled No flow detection means for sensorless pumping control applications; [10] U.S. provisional application No. 62/196,355, filed 24 Jul. 2015, entitled Advanced real time graphic sensorless energy saving pump control system; [11] U.S. provisional application No. 62/341,767, filed 26 May 2016, entitled Direct numeric affinity multistage pumps sensorless converter; [12] U.S. provisional application No. 62/343,352, filed 31 May 2016, entitled Pump control design toolbox means for variable speed pumping application;

(52) which are all assigned to the assignee of the instant patent application, and which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety.

THE SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

(53) It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein. Also, the drawing herein is not drawn to scale.

(54) Although the present invention is described by way of example in relation to a centrifugal pump, the scope of the invention is intended to include using the same in relation to other types or kinds of pumps either now known or later developed in the future.

(55) Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.