Method of controlling a pump and motor

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling a pump driven by a motor with the motor connected to a drive. The method can determine a parameter value related to a fault operation, comparing the parameter value to a threshold value, and adjusting a speed control of the drive based on the comparison of the determined parameter to the threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring and controlling a pump driven by a motor, the motor connected to a drive, the method comprising:
 determining a temperature of a power monitor of the drive;   comparing the temperature to a first threshold temperature; and   initiating a fault operation when the temperature exceeds the first threshold temperature, the fault operation including steps of:
 initiating a fault timer; 
 generating a fault message; 
 comparing the temperature to the first threshold temperature after the fault timer has incremented past a time value; and 
 updating a speed control command to adjust the motor based on an output of the comparing step. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining if a user has pressed a fault reset button; and 
 comparing the temperature to the first threshold temperature when the user has pressed the fault reset button. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating a fault message when the temperature exceeds the first threshold temperature. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 comparing the temperature to a second threshold temperature when the temperature does not exceed the first threshold temperature; 
 decreasing a speed of the motor by a first value when the temperature exceeds the second threshold temperature; 
 comparing the temperature to a third threshold temperature; and 
 increasing the speed of the motor incrementally to an original speed when the temperature does not exceed the third threshold temperature. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining the temperature exceeds the first threshold temperature after the fault timer has incremented past the time value; 
 initiating the fault timer a second time; 
 comparing the temperature to the first threshold temperature when the fault timer has incremented past the time value for the second time; and 
 updating a speed control command to adjust the motor based on an output of the comparing step. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method of monitoring and controlling a pump driven by a motor, the motor connected to a drive, the method comprising:
 determining the drive is powered on;   determining a temperature of a power monitor of the drive;   comparing the temperature to a first threshold temperature;   detecting a fault operation when the temperature exceeds the first threshold temperature;   initiating a fault timer when the fault operation has occurred;   decreasing a speed of the motor gradually after the fault timer has incremented past a time value; and   generating a fault message.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 determining if a user has pressed a fault reset button; and 
 determining if the fault operation is still present. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fault operation is an external fault operation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 determining an external fault parameter is present; 
 determining a digital input status when the external fault parameter is present; 
 updating a fault log when the digital input status is high; 
 decreasing the speed of the motor gradually until the motor is stopped; and 
 stopping the drive. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fault operation is a voltage fault operation, an overheat fault operation, a transducer fault operation, an overcurrent fault operation, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fault operation is triggered by multiple fault conditions. 
     
     
         12 . A method for monitoring and controlling a pump driven by a motor, the motor connected to a drive, the method comprising:
 operating the motor at a low frequency for a first time period;   increasing the low frequency gradually at a first rate during the first time period;   operating the motor at a second frequency for a second time period;   increasing the second frequency at a second rate during the second time period;   determining a temperature of a power monitor of the drive;   comparing the temperature to a first threshold temperature;   detecting a fault operation when the temperature exceeds the first threshold temperature;   initiating a fault timer when the fault operation is detected;   decreasing a speed of the motor gradually after the fault timer has incremented past a time value;   generating a fault message;   engaging a stop button; and   disabling the pump when the stop button is engaged.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first rate of gradually increasing the low frequency of the pump is higher than the second rate of gradually increasing the second frequency of the pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first operating frequency range of the low frequency is lower than a second operating frequency range of the second frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first operating frequency range of the pump during a first ramp up period is between 0 Hz to 45 Hz.  16  The method of  claim 14 , wherein a second operating frequency range of a pump during a second ramp up period is between 45 Hz to 55 Hz. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 determining if a user has pressed a fault reset button; and 
 determining if the fault operation is still present. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fault operation is an external fault operation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 determining an external fault parameter is present; 
 determining a digital input status when the external fault parameter is present; 
 updating a fault log when the digital input status is high; 
 decreasing the speed of the motor gradually until the motor is stopped; and 
 stopping the drive. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fault operation is a voltage fault operation, an overheat fault operation, a transducer fault operation, an overcurrent fault operation, or a combination thereof.