Fluid pumping systems incorporating diaphragm pumps and strain measurement devices

Abstract

Fluid pumping systems and methods therefor are disclosed herein. A fluid pumping system includes a diaphragm pump and a strain measurement device. The diaphragm pump is configured to displace fluid provided to an inlet thereof so that the displaced fluid is discharged via an outlet thereof. The strain measurement device is coupled to the diaphragm pump and configured to detect a load applied to one or more components of the diaphragm pump by fluid pressure of the displaced fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid pumping system comprising:
 a diaphragm pump configured to displace fluid provided to an inlet thereof so that the displaced fluid is discharged via an outlet thereof; and   a strain measurement device coupled to the diaphragm pump and configured to detect a load applied to at least one component of the diaphragm pump by fluid pressure of the displaced fluid,   wherein the strain measurement device is bonded to the diaphragm pump without being fluidly coupled to the displaced fluid so as to avoid exposure of the strain measurement device to the displaced fluid during use of the fluid pumping system.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system including the strain measurement device and a controller communicatively coupled to the strain measurement device,
 wherein the controller includes memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to receive input data from the strain measurement device, to determine the fluid pressure of the displaced fluid based on the input data, and to control the fluid pumping system in response to the determination of the fluid pressure of the displaced fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the control system includes a Wheatstone bridge and an instrumentation amplifier, and wherein to receive the input data from the strain measurement device, the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to cause the processor to convert one or more raw signals from the strain measurement device to the input data via the Wheatstone bridge and the instrumentation amplifier. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 3 , wherein the strain measurement device is bonded to a conduit that extends to the outlet of the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is structured to perform a diagnostic evaluation of the diaphragm pump based upon data derived from the strain measurement device, the diagnostic evaluation including one of: identifying a blockage in a fluid flow passage associated with fluid capable of being displaced by the diaphragm pump, identifying an off-nominal performance in a diaphragm of the diaphragm pump, identifying an off-nominal performance of an actuating mechanism used to drive the diaphragm of the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the strain measurement device is bonded to a fluid cap of the diaphragm pump, and which further includes a control system useful to evaluate data generated from the strain measurement device and determine an operational performance degradation in the diaphragm pump through evaluation of a ripple in the data caused by periodic cycling of a diaphragm. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 6 , wherein the strain measurement device interfaces with the fluid cap such that the strain measurement device is not in fluid communication with fluid contained by the fluid cap, and wherein the diaphragm pump is a double diaphragm pump having two separate diaphragm pumping chambers structured to actuate out of phase with one another such that the first of the two separate diaphragm pumping chambers expels fluid while the other of the two separate diaphragm pumping chambers intakes fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the strain measurement device is configured to provide input data upon which a determination of at least one the following may be based: fluid pressure of the displaced fluid; a rate of change of fluid pressure of the displaced fluid; cavitation within the diaphragm pump; a flow differential of the displaced fluid; a pressure gradient of the displaced fluid; a viscosity of the displaced fluid; an off-nominal actuator performance of an actuator used to drive a diaphragm of the diaphragm pump; an off-nominal diaphragm of the diaphragm pump; a blockage of the diaphragm pump; and
 which further includes an energy source useful to provide motive force to the diaphragm of the diaphragm pump, the energy source including at least one of pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric.   
     
     
         9 . A fluid pumping system comprising:
 a diaphragm pump configured to displace fluid provided to an inlet of the diaphragm pump so that the displaced fluid is discharged via an outlet of the diaphragm pump, the diaphragm pump including at least two diaphragms, each diaphragm at least partially defining a fluid cavity through which at least some of the displaced fluid travels between the inlet and the outlet; and   at least two strain measurement devices coupled to the diaphragm pump, each strain measurement device configured to detect a load applied by fluid pressure of the displaced fluid,   wherein each of the strain measurement devices is bonded to the diaphragm pump without being fluidly coupled to the displaced fluid so as to resist leakage of fluid from the diaphragm pump and to avoid interaction between each strain measurement device and the displaced fluid during use of the fluid pumping system.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , further comprising a control system including the strain measurement devices and a controller communicatively coupled to the strain measurement devices,
 wherein the controller includes memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to receive input data from the strain measurement devices, to determine the fluid pressure of the displaced fluid in the diaphragm pump based on the input data, and to control the fluid pumping system in response to the determination of the fluid pressure of the displaced fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 10 , wherein the control system includes a Wheatstone bridge and an instrumentation amplifier, and wherein to receive the input data from the strain measurement devices, the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to cause the processor to convert raw signals from the strain measurement devices to the input data via the Wheatstone bridge and the instrumentation amplifier. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two strain measurement devices are arranged adjacent to the inlet and the outlet, respectively, to measure a pressure change across the diaphragm pump. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two strain measurement devices are each arranged on a fluid cap associated with one of the fluid cavities. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two strain measurement devices are configured to provide strain data upon which an evaluation of component performance is determined, the component performance includes at least one of an actuator performance, a diaphragm performance, and an actuating mechanism performance. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein each fluid cavity is at least partially defined by a fluid cap, and wherein the at least two strain measurement devices are arranged on respective fluid caps. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 9 , wherein a control system of the fluid pumping system is configured to compare an input from the at least two strain measurement devices to look for imbalanced flow through the fluid cavities. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid pumping system comprising:
 a diaphragm pump configured to displace fluid provided to an inlet thereof so that the displaced fluid is discharged via an outlet thereof; and   a control system including a strain measurement device and a controller communicatively coupled to the strain measurement device,   wherein the controller includes memory having instructions stored therein that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to receive input data from the strain measurement device, to determine a fluid pressure of the displaced fluid based on the input data, and to control the fluid pumping system in response to the determination of the fluid pressure of the displaced fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 17 , wherein the control system includes a Wheatstone bridge and an instrumentation amplifier; wherein to receive the input data from the strain measurement device, the instructions stored in the memory are executable by the processor to cause the processor to convert one or more raw signals from the strain measurement device to the input data via the Wheatstone bridge and the instrumentation amplifier; and wherein the diaphragm pump is structured to have a variable pumping speed. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 17 , wherein the strain measurement device is coupled to a sheet that is bonded to the diaphragm pump without being fluidly coupled to the displaced fluid so as to avoid exposure of the strain measurement device to the displaced fluid in use of the fluid pumping system. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid pumping system of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of strain measurement devices coupled to the sheet, wherein when the sheet is bonded to the diaphragm pump, the plurality of strain measurement devices are spaced from one another and configured to provide input data indicative of loads applied at different locations to one or more components of the diaphragm pump by fluid pressure of the displaced fluid.