METHOD FOR OPERATING AN UNDULATING DIAPHRAGM PUMP AND AN UNDULATING DIAPHRAGM PUMP OPERATING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating an undulating diaphragm pump comprising an undulating diaphragm and actuating means of the undulating diaphragm electrically powered according to a given frequency or voltage to make the undulating diaphragm oscillate and undulate. According to the invention, the method consists in modifying the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means according to at least one operating parameter, determined in advance, of the undulating diaphragm pump.

Claims

1. A method for operating an undulating diaphragm pump comprising at least one undulating diaphragm and actuating means of the undulating diaphragm electrically powered according to a given frequency and/or voltage to make the undulating diaphragm oscillate and undulate, wherein the method consists essentially of modifying the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means according to at least one operating parameter, determined in advance, of the undulating diaphragm pump.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps consisting of: (A) determining an operating parameter of the undulating diaphragm pump; (B) verifying whether the determined operating parameter has reached a predetermined target value; if the determined operating parameter does not reach the predetermined target value, (C) varying the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means until the determined operating parameter reaches the predetermined target value.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined target value corresponds to a maximum or minimum value.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein step (B) consisting of verifying whether the determined operating parameter has reached the predetermined target value, consists in verifying whether the determined operating parameter lies within a predetermined range of values.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the determined operating parameter is constituted by the voltage and/or the current applied to the actuating means.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the determined operating parameter is constituted by a phase shift between the current and the voltage applied to the actuating means.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the determined operating parameter is constituted by the output power of the undulating diaphragm pump.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the determined operating parameter is constituted by the power consumed by the undulating diaphragm pump.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the determined operating parameter is constituted by the output pressure of the undulating diaphragm pump.

10. An operating system for an undulating diaphragm pump, the system comprising an undulating diaphragm pump, having an undulating diaphragm and actuating means of the undulating diaphragm electrically powered by an electrical supply according to a given frequency and/or voltage to make the undulating diaphragm oscillate and undulate, wherein the system comprises a control unit able to control the actuating means according to at least one operating parameter, determined in advance, of the undulating diaphragm pump.

11. System according to claim 10, wherein the control unit comprises an electrical supply frequency and/or voltage regulating means, arranged between the electrical supply and the actuating means.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the system further comprises measurement means able to send to the regulating component at least one measurement of at least one operating parameter of the undulating diaphragm pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Of course, the various characteristics, variants and/or embodiments of the present invention may be associated with each other according to various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of one another.

[0028] Likewise, the present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will emerge upon reading the detailed description which follows comprising embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the appended drawings, presented by way of non-limiting examples, which may be used to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description of the embodiment thereof and, where appropriate, contribute to the definition thereof, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 represents a schematic diagram of the operating system of the diaphragm pump according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 represents, schematically, viewed from the side, the interior of an undulating diaphragm pump according to one embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3 represents a schematic diagram of an operating method of an undulating diaphragm pump according to the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] It should be noted that, within the figures, structural and/or functional elements that are common to the various embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless stated otherwise, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material elements.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 1, the invention relates to an operating system (1) for an undulating diaphragm pump (2) of which the use is optimized, for example, to operate according to the actual need of the pumping characteristics. Thus, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) and/or to increase the performance of the undulating diaphragm pump (2), and/or to improve any operating parameter of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) according to the application concerned.

[0034] In reference to FIG. 2, which illustrates an example of an embodiment of the undulating diaphragm pump (2), this comprises a pump body (3) delimiting a chamber (4) into which an inlet pipe (5) and outlet pipe (6) lead. The undulating diaphragm pump (2) comprises an undulating diaphragm (7) extending into the chamber (4), in particular an undulating diaphragm (7) in the form of a disc having a central, circular opening (8). The undulating diaphragm (7) is obtained from a deformable material such as a silicone elastomer for example or similar. Advantageously, the undulating diaphragm (7) is arranged between a lower end-plate and an upper end-plate.

[0035] The undulating diaphragm pump (2) comprises actuating means (9) enabling the undulating diaphragm (7) to be oscillated and undulated thereby enabling the pumping operations as such.

[0036] The actuating means (9) are powered by an electrical supply (10) delivering a given electrical supply voltage and/or frequency. The actuating means (9) enable electrical energy provided by the electrical supply (10) to be transformed into an alternating movement, advantageously into a linear alternating movement. The alternating movement causes the oscillating and undulating movement of the undulating diaphragm (7).

[0037] More particularly and in reference to FIG. 1, the undulating diaphragm (7) is secured to a mobile structure (11) connected to the actuating means (9) in the form of an electromagnet (12) comprising a mobile magnet (13). Thus, when the electromagnet (12) is electrically-powered by the electrical supply (10), the mobile magnet (13) oscillates and causes oscillation of the mobile structure (11) and therefore the oscillation and undulation of the undulating diaphragm (7). The oscillation and undulation of the undulating diaphragm (7) enables a wave front to be generated causing the circulation of a fluid to be pumped through the diaphragm pump (2). The mobile structure (11), also in the form of a disc, also serves to protect the undulating diaphragm (7).

[0038] According to the invention, and in reference to FIG. 2, the operating system (1) of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) comprises a control unit (14), such as an electronic computer, to capture signals and define running conditions. The control unit (14) is arranged between the actuating means (9) and the electrical supply (10). In other terms, the control unit (14) is electrically-supplied and controls the electrical supply to the actuating means (9) of the undulating diaphragm pump (2).

[0039] The control unit (14) manages the electrical/electronic interfaces of the undulating diaphragm pump (2). Furthermore, the control unit (14) enables an output signal (18) to be created, notably an electrical power signal capable of being sent to the actuating means (9) of the undulating diaphragm (7) of the undulating diaphragm pump.

[0040] More precisely, the control unit (14) comprises a regulating component (15). The regulating component (15) is able to modify and/or regulate the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means (9). Advantageously, software and/or an optionally programmable logic circuit compose the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage regulating component (15) of the actuating means (9). The regulating component (15) receives, at the input, an input signal (19), notably an electrical supply input voltage and/or input frequency, such as for example 400 Hz, coming from, for example, the aircraft's electrical network. As an output, the regulating component (15) delivers the output signal (18), notably an output frequency and/or output voltage, preferably a regulated output frequency and/or output voltage, which supplies the actuating means (9) of the undulating diaphragm (7). The regulating component (15) regulates the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means (9) according to at least one predetermined operating parameter, notably measured or calculated in advance, of the undulating diaphragm pump (2).

[0041] For example, the regulating component (15) may vary the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means (9) according to one or more determined target values to be reached for one or more determined operating parameters. Alternatively, or additionally, the regulating component (15) may vary the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage according to a range of tolerance values wherein the measured or calculated parameters should be found. The regulating component (15) may also regulate the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage such as to respect a control logic.

[0042] In the example of the illustrated embodiment, the input voltage delivered by the electrical supply (10) is continuous. Thus, the control unit (14) may also include a continuous/alternating inverter (16) to generate a periodic alternating output voltage to supply the actuating means (9) of the undulating diaphragm (7).

[0043] According to a particular embodiment, measurement means (17) are also connected, either to the regulating component (15) or, where applicable, to the continuous/alternating inverter (16), or directly to the undulating diaphragm pump (2). The measurement means (17) are able to measure, as well as the operating parameters of the undulating diaphragm pump (2), the output signal (18) of the regulating component (15) and/or of the continuous/alternating inverter (16). The control unit processing unit (14) is then able to compare the output signal (18) with the input signal (19), notably within the regulating component (15). The measurement means (17) may be of different types depending upon the parameter to be measured. They may, for example, comprise sensors, such as pressure, flow rate, temperature sensors.

[0044] In reference to FIG. 3, during the operation of the operating system (1) of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) according to the invention, and in a determination step (A), the control unit (14) calculates, or even the measurement means (17) measure at least one operating parameter of the undulating diaphragm pump (2). If several operating parameters are measured or calculated, these may be taken in isolation or in combination.

[0045] By way of example, the measured or calculated operating parameter may constitute:

[0046] a voltage and/or current applied to the actuating means (9);

[0047] a phase shift between the electrical supply current and voltage applied to the actuating means (9);

[0048] the output power of the undulating diaphragm pump (2);

[0049] the power consumed by the undulating diaphragm pump (2);

[0050] the output pressure of the undulating diaphragm pump (2);

[0051] or any other operating parameter, such as a temperature, pressure, flow rate, performance, etc.

[0052] In an information transmission step, the control unit (14) or the measurement means (17) send the value of the measured or calculated operating parameter to the regulating component (15).

[0053] In a verification step (B), the regulating component (15) conducts a verification consisting in determining whether the measured operating parameter(s) has/have reached the predetermined target value(s).

[0054] The predetermined target value(s) may be of different types. By way of example, they may be for verifying whether one of the measured or calculated operating parameters has reached a particular value, or whether it has reached a multitude of target values notably defining a range of tolerance values for the measured or calculated operating parameter.

[0055] In this way, in the negative, if the regulating component (15) determines that the measured or calculated operating parameter(s) has/have not reached the predetermined target value(s), in an adaptation step (C), the regulating component (15) varies the input signal (19), in particular the electrical supply frequency and/or voltage of the actuating means (9). A new measurement or a new calculation of the operating parameter is then conducted according to the previously described measurement or calculation step (A), and a new verification according to the previously described verification step (B) is performed.

[0056] The oscillation frequency of the undulating diaphragm (7) influences the flow rate of the undulating diaphragm pump (2), while the power supply voltage influences the oscillation amplitude of the undulating diaphragm (7), and therefore enables the power of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) to be varied. The flow rate and the operating power of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) are not constant. The invention thus enables the running of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) to be optimized in order that it always functions in an optimal way.

[0057] It follows from the above that the invention provides a method of operating an undulating diaphragm pump (2), as well as an operating system (1) for an undulating diaphragm pump (2), which enable the use of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) to be optimized, by regulating the electrical supply to the undulating diaphragm pump (2) according to the actual need and application concerned.

[0058] The invention thus enables the energy consumption of the undulating diaphragm pump (2) to be regulated, the performance, as well as any calculable or measurable parameter, to be optimized.

[0059] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described and provided by way of example only. It includes various modifications, alternative forms and other variants which may be envisaged by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention and notably all combinations of the various operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in combination.