Hydraulic Shock Detection Through Pump Speed Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting hydraulic shock in fluid systems are unreliable, prone to false positives, and require sensors in direct contact with the transported fluid, which are at risk of damage and complicate setup and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that monitor pump speed and motor frequency variations to detect hydraulic shock events, using magnetic field sensors and vibration sensors to identify sudden fluctuations and peaks consistent with hydraulic shock, without requiring direct fluid contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors measuring fluid pressure are used to detect hydraulic shock, then detection accuracy is improved, but sensor reliability deteriorates because sensors are at risk of being damaged by hydraulic shock events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by detecting hydraulic shock events indirectly through pump speed variations rather than directly measuring fluid pressure. The pump speed acts as a mediator that reflects hydraulic shock events without being exposed to the high-pressure fluid environment, thus maintaining both detection accuracy and sensor reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure sensing system with an electrical/electronic monitoring system that measures pump speed variations. This substitution eliminates the need for pressure sensors to be in direct contact with the fluid, thereby improving reliability while maintaining detection capability through alternative physical measurements
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If pressure sensors in direct contact with transported fluid are used, then hydraulic shock detection capability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump speed serves as an intermediary parameter that indirectly indicates hydraulic shock events. This approach simplifies the detection system by using existing pump monitoring infrastructure rather than installing complex pressure sensor systems in the fluid path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copy or proxy measurement approach by monitoring pump speed variations that mirror hydraulic shock events rather than directly measuring the physical phenomenon. This copying method simplifies the detection setup while maintaining the ability to identify hydraulic shock occurrences
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If vibration sensors are used to detect hydraulic shock, then detection capability is improved, but false positives increase due to various other causes of vibrations and sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing on a specific characteristic (pump speed variations) that is locally affected by hydraulic shock events. This localized measurement approach reduces interference from other vibration sources that do not affect pump speed in the same manner
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of detecting hydraulic shock directly through its primary effect (pressure wave or vibration), the patent inverts the approach by detecting the secondary effect on pump speed. This inverted detection method reduces false positives because pump speed variations have a more specific relationship with hydraulic shock events compared to general vibration
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an apparatus for detecting hydraulic shock events in a fluid system, the fluid system comprising a pump assembly, the pump assembly comprising a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, and a pump motor, the apparatus comprising means for monitoring a pump speed of the pump and/or for monitoring a motor frequency; and a processing unit configured to detect a variation in the monitored pump speed and/or motor frequency; and detect a hydraulic shock event from the detected variation in the monitored pump speed and/or motor frequency.