Method and apparatus for calculating flow rates through a pumping station

Claim 3

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the sequential points of time are at equal intervals, and in which a timer function automatically initiates the computations by the computing means.

Claim 4

The invention claimed in claim 2, in which the pumping station has a plurality of pumps, and in which said memory means stores, for each pump and each combination of pumps, a table correlating pumping rate with pressure differential, the computing means accomplishing step c) for each pump or combination.

Claim 5

The invention claimed in claim 2, in which the pump is a variable speed pump, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 6

The invention claimed in claim 3, in which the pumps are variable speed pumps, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation, for each pump, of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 7

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the sequential points of time are determined by changes in the pressure differential that are greater than a predetermined amount.

Claim 8

The invention claimed in claim 6, in which the pumping station has a plurality of pumps, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in the number of pumps in operation, and in which said memory means stores, for each pump, a table correlating pumping rate with pressure differential, the computing means accomplishing step c) for each pump.

Claim 9

The invention claimed in claim 6, in which the pump is a variable speed pump, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in speed of the pump which is greater than a predetermined amount, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 10

The invention claimed in claim 7, in which the pumps are variable speed pumps, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in speed of any pump which is greater than a predetermined amount, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation, for each pump, of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 11

In combination: a pumping station having a wet well, a liquid inflow to the wet well, a pump, a connection from the suction side of the pump to the wet well, and an outflow conduit connected to the high-pressure side of the pump, memory means storing a table correlating pumping rate for the pump with the pressure differential across the pump, sensing means for detecting data on the basis of which the pressure differential across the pump may be computed, and computing means adapted to accomplish the following at sequential points of time: (i) compute the pressure differential across the pump on the basis of said data, (ii) access said table in the memory means in order to determine the pumping rate corresponding with the computed pressure differential, (iii) calculate the volume pumped during the time interval between the current time point and the immediately preceding time point by multiplying the determined pumping rate by the length of the time interval, and (iv) update a totalizer in the memory means by adding in the calculated volume pumped during the respective interval.

Claim 12

In combination: a pumping station having a wet well, a liquid inflow to the wet well, a pump, a connection from the suction side of the pump to the wet well, and an outflow conduit connected to the high-pressure side of the pump, memory means storing a table correlating pumping rate for the pump with the pressure differential across the pump, sensing means for detecting data on the basis of which the pressure differential across the pump may be computed, and computing means adapted to accomplish the following at sequential points of time: (i) compute the pressure differential across the pump on the basis of said data, (ii) access said table in the memory means in order to determine the pumping rate corresponding with the computed pressure differential, (iii) calculate the volume pumped during the time interval between the current time point and the immediately preceding time point by multiplying the determined pumping rate by the length of the time interval, and (iv) update a totalizer in the memory means by adding in the calculated volume pumped during the respective interval.

Claim 13

The invention claimed in claim 10, in which the sequential points of time are at equal intervals, and in which a timer function automatically initiates the computations by the computing means.

Claim 14

The invention claimed in claim 11, in which the pumping station has a plurality of pumps, and in which said memory means stores, for each pump, a table correlating pumping rate with pressure differential, the computing means accomplishing step c) for each pump.

Claim 15

The invention claimed in claim 11, in which the pump is a variable speed pump, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 16

The invention claimed in claim 12, in which the pumps are variable speed pumps, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation, for each pump, of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 17

The invention claimed in claim 10, in which the sequential points of time are determined by changes in the pressure differential that are greater than a predetermined amount.

Claim 18

The invention claimed in claim 15, in which the pumping station has a plurality of pumps, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in the number of pumps in operation, and in which said memory means stores, for each pump, a table correlating pumping rate with pressure differential, the computing means accomplishing step c) for each pump.

Claim 19

The invention claimed in claim 15, in which the pump is a variable speed pump, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in speed of the pump which is greater than a predetermined amount, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.

Claim 20

The invention claimed in claim 16, in which the pumps are variable speed pumps, the sequential points of time being also determined by a change in speed of any pump which is greater than a predetermined amount, the memory means storing sufficient data to allow computation, for each pump, of the pumping rate for a range of pumping speeds and a range of pressure differentials.