Method for controlling a pump by means of a mobile user terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a pump by means of a mobile user terminal, wherein the pump and the mobile user terminal communicate with one another via a first communication interface, the method having the steps of: a. selecting and / or setting at least one target value for at least one control parameter of the integral pump controller of the pump by means of an application executed on the user terminal, b. requesting, to a central management unit, approval for the change to the at least one target value by means of the application via a second communication interface, c. checking, by means of the application, whether a valid approval is granted, and, in the event of a valid approval, transmitting the at least one set target value to the pump controller of the pump via the first communication interface.

Description

[0001] Method for controlling a pump using a mobile user device

[0002] The invention relates to a method for controlling a pump by means of a mobile user terminal.

[0003] Pumps, especially centrifugal pumps, are often driven by an electric motor at a fixed speed. The hydraulic design of the pump unit, especially the impeller, is carried out with the goal of achieving the desired operating point at a given speed in the most energy-efficient way possible. If the operating point deviates from the originally expected operating point after installation, it can be corrected by mechanical reworking of the pump, for example, by trimming the impeller.

[0004] Alternatively, the drive system can be equipped with a frequency converter to adjust the pump speed within the operating range. If the operating point deviates from the originally expected operating point after installation, the operating point can be readjusted by adjusting the pump speed. In this case, mechanical machining of the impeller to increase energy efficiency is unnecessary. However, changing the speed of pumps originally designed for fixed-speed operation should, if possible, be performed by trained personnel and ideally secured by the pump manufacturer. Therefore, a solution is being sought that enables secure remote control of the pump.

[0005] This object is achieved by a method according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the method are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, it is proposed to allow the control of a pump, in particular the integrated pump control of the pump, using a mobile user device. For this purpose, the pump and the mobile user device are communicatively connected via a first communication interface to enable the exchange of control parameters. The first communication interface ideally enables a direct connection between the pump and the user device, in particular a bidirectional connection. The use of the Bluetooth standard, a WLAN standard, or another suitable communication standard is conceivable.

[0007] A dedicated application runs on the mobile user device, such as a tablet, smartphone, or other mobile device, which is responsible for establishing communication with the pump controller via the first communication interface. The application offers the user at least one control parameter of the connected pump to select, for which the setpoint can be changed via the application. The user can select the desired control parameter of the pump controller via the application interface and enter a new setpoint if necessary.

[0008] However, before the setpoint changed by the user is transmitted to the pump control system, the application first checks the user's authorization, i.e. whether approval has been granted to change the setpoint of the selected control parameter. Such approval must first be requested by the mobile user device contacting a central administration unit via a second communication interface. This means that if the user wishes to adjust a control parameter, approval must first be requested via the application. Approval can be subject to any desired conditions. For example, it is conceivable that the user must first authorize themselves via the application and / or pay a fee and / or fulfill another condition.If the required conditions are met, the administrative unit sends a release to the application, which is stored on the user's device.

[0009] Before transmitting a setpoint value of a control parameter changed by the user, the application first checks whether an authorization is present on the user device and whether this authorization is valid, in particular whether it authorizes changing the specifically selected control parameter of the currently connected pump. If the authorization is valid, the setpoint value of at least one control parameter previously specified by the user is transmitted to the pump via the first communication interface.

[0010] According to the invention, communication between the user terminal and the management unit takes place via a second communication interface, for example a conventional mobile phone connection, WLAN connection, etc. The management unit can be a cloud-based solution.

[0011] After receiving a new setpoint for at least one control parameter, the pump controller can adopt this value for the pump control and control the pump accordingly. Preferably, the at least one control parameter is a speed specification for the pump, i.e., a new setpoint for the pump speed can be set using the adjustable setpoint.

[0012] However, the control parameter can also be electrical specifications for controlling the electric motor or hydraulic parameters, such as the target delivery head or the target delivery rate. In general, any variable control parameter of the pump control system can be adapted using the method according to the invention.

[0013] The authorization can be a specific data element that can be transferred from the management unit to the memory of the user's device. For example, the data element can be a digital coin, a token, or a digital key.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the release defines a time window. Changing the at least one setpoint is then only possible for a limited time during this time window. Obviously, the changed setpoint is retained by the pump control even after the time window has expired.

[0015] To validate the validity of the temporary release, the application checks whether the current time for transmitting the changed setpoint falls within the time window before transmitting the modified setpoint. The setpoint is only transmitted if this is the case; otherwise, the transmission is blocked. Time windows of a few hours or a few days are conceivable, for example. Ideally, the time window is 24 hours. After requesting the corresponding release, the user has time to specify a new setpoint for at least one pump control parameter within a defined time window.

[0016] The data element corresponding to a release then includes additional information that defines the time window, e.g. in the form of a timestamp.

[0017] It is also conceivable that the release only applies to a defined number of setpoint changes. In this case, the application includes at least one integral counter that counts the number of setpoints transmitted to the pump control of at least one pump. A newly adjusted setpoint for at least one pump parameter is only transmitted to the respective pump if, after a check, it is determined that the application's internal counter reading is less than the maximum number of pump setpoint changes defined for the release.

[0018] It is also conceivable that the granted release is pump-specific, and the application thus checks whether the release applies to the connected pump before transmitting the at least one changed setpoint to the pump connected via the first communication interface. A pump-specific release can, for example, be achieved by linking the release to a pump-specific identifier, which is contained, for example, in the data element representing the release. Before transmitting a changed setpoint, the application must therefore check whether the connected pump or its identifier matches the identifier contained in the release.

[0019] Accordingly, it may be advantageous for the application to retrieve a pump-specific identifier from the connected pump via the first communication interface before requesting a release. The received pump-specific identifier is then transmitted to the management unit along with the release request. The corresponding response with the granted release is associated with the pump-specific identifier, allowing the application to compare the identifier associated with the release with the identifier of the communicatively connected pump before transmitting a changed setpoint.

[0020] It is conceivable, for example, that the pump-specific identifier is the serial number of the respective pump.

[0021] It is also conceivable for an approval to be, at least initially, pump-non-specific, i.e. a requested approval is valid, at least initially, for any or unlimited number of different pumps. Preferably, it can be provided that the pump-specific approval is subsequently limited to a specific pump. For example, after receiving a pump-non-specific approval, the user can select a pump to be controlled in the application on the mobile user device. Before a changed setpoint is transmitted, a pump-specific identifier is first retrieved from the selected pump via the first communication interface, and the received identifier is associated with the existing pump-non-specific approval within the application. This limits the approval to validity for one pump according to the identifier.Before a subsequent transmission of a changed setpoint, a check is then carried out to determine whether the identifier linked to the release matches the identifier of the pump connected via the first communication interface.

[0022] Alternatively, it can also be provided that after receiving the pump-specific identifier, any pump can initially be selected in the application, and a new setpoint can be transmitted to the selected pump, provided that the release is considered valid with regard to further conditions (e.g., time window). After transmitting the new setpoint, the application receives a pump-specific identifier from the connected pump receiving the changed setpoint, which is then subsequently linked to the release present in the application. The release is thus limited to setpoint changes of the linked pump.

[0023] Alternatively or in addition to a pump-specific release, a control parameter-specific release is also conceivable, i.e., the release can be limited to a change of a specific control parameter. Technically, this is implemented similarly to the pump-specific release, except that a parameter-specific identifier is linked to the release instead of a pump-specific identifier. The parameter-specific identifier is present either in the application and / or the management unit and / or the pump control system.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, it can be provided that a test setpoint for at least one control parameter can be selected and set at any time via the application of the user terminal. The application can transmit such a test setpoint to the pump control of any pump even without approval, provided that a connection exists between the application and the pump control via the first communication interface. This allows the user to first test a new setpoint extensively before requesting final approval from the management unit. It is conceivable, for example, that the received test setpoint can only be used to control the pump for a defined period of time. This means that the pump control uses the received test setpoint and resets it to a previous or initial setpoint as soon as the expiration of the defined test period is detected.It is also conceivable that the test setpoint is only used by the pump control as long as a communication connection with the user terminal exists via the first communication interface. After the communication connection is interrupted, the respective setpoint is reset to the initial value or the previous value. It is also conceivable to provide a combination of the two conditions, i.e., a corresponding test setpoint is only used in the pump control as long as a communication connection exists between the user terminal and the pump control and a correspondingly defined test period has not yet expired.

[0025] In addition to the method according to the invention, the present invention also relates to a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, with an integral pump controller configured to carry out the method according to the present invention. In particular, the pump controller must be capable of receiving a new setpoint from an application running on a user terminal. Furthermore, the pump controller must be configured to transmit its pump identifier to the application upon request and to use a corresponding test setpoint for the duration of a test period or the existence of a communication connection to the application.

[0026] In addition to the pump according to the invention, the present invention also relates to a mobile user terminal with an application executed by a processor and configured to implement the method according to the present invention. In particular, the application is programmed to maintain appropriate communication connections with the pump controller or a central management unit in order to transmit the necessary data to the respective recipients or to retrieve it from them.

[0027] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an application stored on a data memory, which, when executed by a processor of a mobile user terminal, is configured to execute the method according to the invention. Finally, the present invention also relates to a central management unit configured to execute the method according to the present invention.

[0028] Further advantages and features of the invention are explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment illustrated by figures. They show:

[0029] Fig. 1 : an overview of the system for implementing the invention,

[0030] Fig. 2: a flow chart for setting a test speed, and

[0031] Fig. 3: a flow chart for the permanent adjustment of the target speed of a

[0032] Pump.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a pump 10 with an integrated pump control system for implementing the method according to the invention, as well as a mobile user device 20 in the form of a smartphone, on which the necessary application for implementing the method is executed. Finally, the system diagram shows the management unit 30 implemented via a cloud. To implement the method, the mobile user device 20 communicates with the pump control system of the pump 10 via a Bluetooth connection. The connection between the user device 20 and the cloud 30, however, is established via the mobile radio interface or the WLAN interface of the smartphone.

[0034] Using the application running on the user terminal, the user can first set a test speed for a specific pump 10. The corresponding flowchart for setting the test speed can be seen in Fig. 2. The speed can always be adjusted when the user terminal 20 is connected to the pump 10 via Bluetooth.

[0035] In step 40 of Fig. 2, the user first enters a desired test speed for a specific pump 10 via the application. In step 41, a check is made to determine whether a Bluetooth connection to the selected pump 10 exists. If so, the test speed is transmitted to pump 10 (block 42). Upon receipt of the test speed, a timer with a duration of a defined test period is started in the pump control system (block 43), and the test speed is simultaneously applied to the pump speed.

[0036] Block 45 checks whether the connection between smartphone 20 and pump 10 is still active or whether the timer has expired. As soon as either the timer has expired or the connection between smartphone 20 and pump 10 is interrupted, the pump controller resets the target speed to the previous speed, which was not a test speed (block 46).

[0037] For the permanent adjustment of the speed, the process sequence is as shown in the diagram in Fig. 3. First, the user selects a pump 10 via the application for which the speed is to be adjusted (block 50). The application 20 then connects to the pump 10 and retrieves its serial number (block 51). The user then logs into the system of the management unit 30 via the application on the user terminal 20 to request approval for a new pump speed (block 52). To request approval, the serial number previously received from the pump 10 is also transmitted to the cloud 30.

[0038] The management unit 30 first checks whether all conditions for a release are met (block 53), e.g., whether the specific pump 10 is authorized for a speed change, whether the user is authorized, or whether the user has paid a corresponding fee. If the conditions are met, the system 30 sends a pump-specific release in response to the application in the form of a data element, e.g., a digital coin. This release is valid for a defined time window, e.g., 24 hours (block 54).

[0039] If such a release is received by the application on the user terminal 20, a corresponding notification appears in the user interface there, informing the user of the possibility of permanently adjusting the speed. If the user confirms the received release (block 55), the application then reports back to the management unit 30 that the received release has been utilized and the corresponding time window begins to run by starting an integrated time counter (block 56).

[0040] The user can then adjust the speed as often as desired during the current time window (Block 57), whereby a change in the target speed in the application is immediately transmitted to the pump control if a Bluetooth connection exists (Block 58).

[0041] However, after the time window has expired (block 59), the application blocks the adjustment of the speed again, so that a corresponding transmission to the pump control is no longer possible without a new request for approval.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for controlling a pump (10) by means of a mobile user terminal (20), wherein the pump (10) and the mobile user terminal (20) communicate with each other via a first communication interface, comprising the steps of: a. selecting and changing at least one setpoint for at least one control parameter of the integral pump control of the pump (10) by means of an application executed on the user terminal (20), b. requesting approval for changing the at least one setpoint from a central management unit (30) by means of the application via a second communication interface, c. checking by means of the application whether a valid approval has been granted and, if a valid approval has been granted, transmitting the at least one changed setpoint to the pump control of the pump (10) via the first communication interface.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the release defines a time window within which a change in the at least one setpoint is possible, wherein the application only transmits the at least one changed setpoint to the pump control if the current time is within the time window.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release applies to a defined number of setpoint changes and the application provides an integral counter which counts the number of transmitted Setpoints are counted to the pump control and the application only transmits at least one changed setpoint to the pump control if the counter reading is less than the defined number of setpoint changes.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release is pump-specific and the application checks whether the release applies to this pump (10) before transmitting the at least one changed setpoint to the pump (10) connected via the first communication interface.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the application retrieves a pump-specific identifier from the pump (10) via the first communication interface before requesting the release and transmits the identifier to the management unit (30) with the request for the release.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release is non-pump-specific and a change and transmission of the at least one setpoint value to at least one pump (10) from a group of different pumps (10) is possible.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that after selecting a specific pump (10) for the remote control, the application retrieves a pump-specific identifier from the selected pump (10) and links the received identifier with the release, so that the release applies pump-specifically only to the selected pump (10).

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the pump control, after receiving the at least one changed setpoint, transmits a pump-specific identifier to the application of the user terminal (20) and the application links the identifier to the stored release, so that the release enables further changes to the at least one setpoint only for the pump (10) identified with the linked identifier.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a test setpoint for at least one control parameter can be selected and set via the application and the application transmits such a test setpoint to the pump control without release if a connection exists between the application and the pump control via the first communication interface.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the pump control uses the received test setpoint for controlling the pump (10) for a defined period of time and resets the setpoint to the previous setpoint or an initial value after the time has elapsed.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pump control uses the received test setpoint for the duration of the currently initialized and existing connection via the first communication interface.

12. Pump (10), in particular a centrifugal pump, with a pump control configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Mobile user terminal (20) with an application executed by a processor, which is configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. An application stored on a data memory which, when executed by a processor of a mobile user terminal (20), is configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

15. Management unit (30) configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

16. System comprising a pump (10), a mobile user unit (20) and a management unit (30), wherein the system components (10, 20, 30) configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

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