Reservoir Pump Control Using Water-Level Feedback for Stable Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water reservoir supply pump systems face challenges in automatically adjusting the proportional factor to ensure continuous flow and maintaining water quality, with prior methods being complex and costly, such as Model Predictive Control, and struggling to stabilize system pressure and prevent pipe bursts.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling water reservoir supply pump arrangements by determining set values based on offset values adjusted by a proportional gain factor, allowing pressure variation with reservoir level, ensuring robustness and stability, and adjusting the gain factor and offset values based on predetermined water levels and time intervals to maintain a water level band, thereby stabilizing system pressure and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proportional control is used to stabilize system pressure, then pipe bursts are prevented and energy costs are reduced, but the system requires complex adjustment of proportional factors and cannot automatically ensure continuous flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual water level in the reservoir is continuously measured and fed back to the controller. The controller automatically adjusts the proportional factor based on the difference between actual and reference water levels, eliminating the need for manual tuning and ensuring continuous flow. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the contradiction by making the control parameter adjustment automatic while maintaining pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-adjustment by automatically modifying the proportional factor based on real-time water level measurements. The system serves itself by detecting deviations from reference levels and autonomously recalibrating control parameters without external intervention, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining reliable pressure control.
2Device complexity
If on/off control is used to simplify the control system, then the control mechanism is simple, but pressure shocks occur and wear on piping, valves, and pumps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static on/off control to dynamic proportional control where the pump speed varies continuously based on water level deviations. The controller adjusts the proportional factor dynamically according to actual water level conditions, enabling smooth pressure transitions that eliminate pressure shocks and reduce mechanical wear while maintaining relatively simple control hardware.
3Extent of automation
If Model Predictive Control is used to automatically adjust proportional factors, then continuous flow is ensured, but the system requires sophisticated models and involves high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves automatic adjustment of proportional factors by changing control parameters based on simple water level measurements rather than employing complex predictive models. The controller modifies the proportional factor in real-time according to the difference between actual and reference water levels, providing automation with minimal computational complexity and low cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a water reservoir supply pump arrangement determines a set value p, q, v, n of the pump arrangement based on an offset value pref, qref, nref, vref, G0 reduced by a component which is a function of a difference between an actual water level h and a predetermined water level href in a water reservoir. The difference is weighted by a proportional gain factor G. Further, a water reservoir supply pump arrangement is provided including at least one water pump and a control device for controlling the at least one pump.