Electric Pump Flow Estimation Using Current Delay Without Flowmeter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating liquid flow from electric pumps without a flowmeter lack accuracy and introduce complexity or uncertainty, often requiring additional hardware or parameter estimation.
Innovation Solution
Estimate liquid flow based on current delay measurements of the electric pump, using parameters directly related to its operation, without the need for a flowmeter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flowmeter is used to measure liquid flow output from an electric pump, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow measurement function from a dedicated flowmeter and implements it through electrical parameter monitoring. By measuring current delay characteristics of the pump motor, the system obtains flow information without requiring a separate flowmeter device, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing current sensing infrastructure serve dual purposes: monitoring pump motor performance and estimating liquid flow rate. The current delay measurement serves both motor control and flow measurement functions, eliminating the need for dedicated flow measurement hardware
2Measurement precision
If a flowmeter is installed in the liquid path, then flow measurement accuracy is improved, but the liquid path introduces irregularities and additional failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flowmeter from the liquid path entirely, extracting flow measurement capability to the electrical domain. This eliminates the physical intrusion into the liquid path, maintaining flow integrity and reducing potential failure points while preserving measurement accuracy through electrical parameter analysis
3Device complexity
If existing flow estimation methods are used without a flowmeter, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability decrease due to additional parameter estimation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from multiple indirect parameters (temperature, power consumption) to a direct electrical parameter (current delay). This single parameter measurement provides more accurate flow estimation without requiring complex multi-parameter analysis or additional sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical flow measurement systems with electrical parameter analysis. By monitoring the electrical characteristics (current delay) of the pump motor, the system achieves flow measurement without mechanical flowmeters, improving both simplicity and accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating a volume of liquid output from an electric pump during an operation period of the electric pump, the method comprising: determining a current delay of the pump, wherein the current delay is a period between a first time corresponding to a first current drawn by the pump, and a second time corresponding to a second current drawn by the pump; and generating, based on the current delay, an estimate of the volume of liquid output from the electric pump during the operation period.