Controller for a motor and a method of controlling the motor

Abstract

A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.

1 . A method of controlling a pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system comprising a vessel for holding a fluid, a drain, and a return, the pumping apparatus comprising
 a pump having an inlet fluidly connectable to the drain to receive the fluid, and an outlet fluidly connectable to the return to exhaust the fluid, and   a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, the method comprising:   controlling the motor to operate the pump;   monitoring the operation of the pump, the monitoring act comprising
 monitoring an output power of the motor, and 
 determining whether the monitored output power indicates a condition of the pump; and 
   controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump and zero or more other conditions.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condition of the pump is an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condition of the pump is a desired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the monitored power indicates a low fluid inlet flow, and wherein the act of controlling the motor to operate the pump comprises controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates a low fluid inlet flow and zero or more other conditions exist. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the monitored power indicates a high fluid outlet flow, and wherein the act of controlling the motor to operate the pump comprises controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates a high fluid outlet flow and zero or more other conditions exist. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises calibrating the motor to obtain a power calibration value, and wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the monitored power is within a window of the power calibration value, the window indicative of a desired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises calibrating the motor to obtain a power calibration value, and wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the monitored power is not within a window of the power calibration value, the window indicative of a desired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the zero or more other conditions consists of zero conditions. 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the act of monitoring an output power comprises sensing a speed of the motor and determining a slip speed based on the speed of the motor, and wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the slip speed is within a window indicative of a desired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the act of monitoring an output power comprises sensing a speed of the motor, sensing a voltage of the motor, and determining a slip based on the sensed speed of the motor and the sensed voltage of the motor, and wherein the determining act comprises determining whether the slip is within a window indicative of a desired flow of fluid through the pump. 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the act of monitoring an output power comprises sensing a speed of the motor, sensing a motor current, and determining the output power of the motor based on the sensed speed of the motor, the sensed motor current, and at least one parameter of the motor. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the act of monitoring an output power comprises sensing a speed of the motor, sensing a motor current, sensing at least one value indicative of motor parameters, and determining the output power of the motor based on the sensed speed of the motor, the sensed motor current, and the at least one value indicative of motor parameters.