Abstract: A pumping system for an aquatic application includes a motor to be coupled to a pump and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller is configured to determine a speed of the motor, determine a current performance value of the pumping system, compare the current performance value to a referenced performance value, determine an adjustment value based upon the comparison of the reference and current performance values, and adjust a speed of the motor based on the adjustment value.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for configuring a motor controller using a one-click configuration scheme, simplifying the process of motor configuration in drives and similar devices. The system includes a specify component, a display component, and a single-action identification and configuration component. The specify component specifies a motor in communication with the motor controller. The display component displays information on the status of the motor controller. The single-action identification and configuration component, in response to performance of only a single action (i.e., a single-click or equivalent starting signal), performs an identification and configuration sequence for the motor comprising at least three identification steps to establish a single parameter for driving the motor. The at least three identification steps can include measurements of system parameters, noise, and resonance. The recommend bandwidth for motor operation can be selected from within a range of permissible bandwidths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for catching a rotating motor is described. Switches (typically the lower switches) of an inverter of a motor drive circuit are short-circuited for a brief period of time. The pulses generated by this process are analyzed to determine the speed and direction of rotation of the motor. The pulses are checked to determine whether they are orthogonal. If they are, the motor velocity determination is deemed to be reliable and then motor is magnetized and normal motor control can be resumed. If not, the motor velocity determination is deemed to be unreliable and a magnetization pulse before the velocity determination step is repeated.

Abstract: A cover for a motor drive is provided. The cover includes an opening (often at the bottom of the cover) to allow air to pass to an air inlet of the motor drive and an opening (often near the top of the cover) to allow air from an air outlet of the motor drive to exit the cover. A hood provides rain protection for the drive and a separator (such as a baffle) within the enclosure prevents air flowing within the enclosure from the air outlet to the air inlet of the drive. The hood and/or the separator are shaped to direct air from the air outlet away from the enclosure in order to substantially reduce the re-circulation of air from the air outlet to the air inlet of the drive.

Abstract: A field oriented control (FOC) system and method provides smooth field-oriented startup for three-phase sensorless permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) despite the absence of load information. The system uses the rotor flux projection on the d- or q-axis to determine whether the stator flux current reference being applied during reference startup phase is sufficient to spin the PMSM, thereby providing smooth operation during the reference startup phase and saving energy relative to applying rated current. The system also determines a suitable initial value for the stator torque current reference to use at the start of closed-loop sensorless FOC control mode based on an angle difference between the reference and estimated angles. Since this angle difference is reflective of the load on the PMSM, the selected initial value allows the system to achieve a smooth transition from reference startup mode to closed-loop sensorless FOC control mode.

Abstract: A pumping system for at least one aquatic application includes a motor coupled to a pump and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller is adapted to determine a first motor speed of the motor, determine a reference power consumption using a reference flow rate and a curve of speed versus power consumption for the reference flow rate, and generate a difference value between the reference power consumption and a present power consumption. The controller drives the motor to reach a steady state condition at a second motor speed based on the difference value.

Abstract: A system parameter identification system uses a combination of relay control and sinusoidal injection to derive accurate estimates of system parameters of a controlled system or process while satisfying the rate-limit associated with some control applications. The system uses rate-limited relay control with hysteresis to place the system in oscillation. The system then switches the control signal from relay-based control to open-loop sinusoidal control using oscillation frequency, amplitude, and phase information obtained during the relay control stage. During the sinusoidal control phase, the plant output passes through a bandpass filter at the oscillation frequency to get a clean sinusoidal signal. The phase difference between the input and output signals and the output/input amplitude ratio are then obtained and used to calculate of the system parameters.

Abstract: An algorithm for identifying a motor type of a multi-phase (typically 3-phase) motor is described. The algorithm applies a series of active voltage vector pulses to the phases of the motor and measures the current rise-time for each applied voltage vector. The motor type is determined on the basis of the measured current rise-times.

Abstract: An app store includes a plurality of state machines that describe the function of a product. The system allows a user to select at least one app from this plurality of apps. The user may also customize the state machine represented by the app or parameters thereof. The selected state machine can be translated into a format readable by a semiconductor device in a target platform without requiring the user to generate computer code. The app store can also transact rights to use the app represented by the state machine. The state machine may be executed in a simulation environment, on a reference platform or development board, or on a semiconductor device in an end-user product to facilitate control in accordance with the state machine defined by the state machine.

Abstract: A pumping system for at least one aquatic application controlled by a user. The pumping system includes a pump and a motor disposed in a first housing and coupled to the pump. A user interface is associated with a second housing, the second housing defined by a base portion shaped to interact with the first housing and a user interface portion that carries a plurality of control buttons, wherein the second housing is selectively positionable among a plurality of positions relative to the first housing.

Abstract: A method of determining electromagnetic characteristics of an asynchronous motor system is described. A motor system model is presented including a stator resistance, a transient inductance, a magnetizing inductance and a rotor resistance. A DC sequence is used to determine the stator resistance, a voltage pulse is used to determine the transient inductance, a binary injection frequency search algorithm is used to determine the magnetizing inductance, and an AC sine wave at slip frequency with DC offset is used to determine the rotor resistance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for catching a rotating motor is described. Switches (typically the lower switches) of an inverter of a motor drive circuit are short-circuited for a brief period of time. The pulses generated by this process are analysed to determine the speed and direction of rotation of the motor. The pulses are checked to determine whether they are orthogonal. If they are, the motor velocity determination is deemed to be reliable and then motor is magnetised and normal motor control can be resumed. If not, the motor velocity determination is deemed to be unreliable and a magnetization pulse before the velocity determination step is repeated.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for reducing harmonics, for example when using an AC to AC converter to drive a load such as a motor drive. In a first embodiment, a plurality of load driving circuits is provided, each drawing current from a 3-phase AC supply and driving an AC load, wherein each of said load driving circuit includes a 3-phase rectifier, with the rectifiers of the load driving circuits being controlled such that the rectification of the AC supply by the load driving circuits is staggered. In a second embodiment, a load driving circuit comprises an electronic inductor configured to control the DC link voltage and/or current such that the current drawn from the AC supply by the load driving circuit has a stepped profile. The first and second embodiments may be combined.

Abstract: A method (19) of cooling a heat generating device (2) where the cooling rate (17, 18) of the heat generating device (2) is determined using the rate of change of the temperature (16) of the heat generating device (2).

Abstract: A method of initiating a grid-tied inverter is described, in which in-rush currents and DC overvoltage conditions are reduced or avoided. The method uses a pulse width modulator to drive the inverter under the control of a voltage feedforward signal such that the inverter output is dependent on the measured grid voltage. Then, an AC current feedback controller is enabled and the pulse width modulator is used to drive the inverter under the control of both the voltage feedforward control signal and the feedback control signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor drive having a normal mode wherein a DC link voltage is charged using an AC (e.g. mains) power supply and an emergency mode wherein the DC link voltage is charged using a DC supply (e.g. from a battery) is described. In the normal mode of operation, if the DC link voltage falls below a threshold indicative of the AC power supply being lost, the emergency mode is entered, typically following an intervening coast mode (during which the motor is not driven). Similarly, in the emergency mode, if the DC link voltage rises above a threshold indicative of the AC power supply being restored, the normal mode is entered, typically following an intervening coast mode.

Abstract: A cover for a motor drive is provided. The cover includes an opening (often at the bottom of the cover) to allow air to pass to an air inlet of the motor drive and an opening (often near the top of the cover) to allow air from an air outlet of the motor drive to exit the cover. A hood provides rain protection for the drive and a separator (such as a baffle) within the enclosure prevents air flowing within the enclosure from the air outlet to the air inlet of the drive. The hood and/or the separator are shaped to direct air from the air outlet away from the enclosure in order to substantially reduce the re-circulation of air from the air outlet to the air inlet of the drive.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power plant (25, 32, 33, 34, 35) comprising one or more photovoltaic devices (27), each device comprising at least two terminals (30, 31) wherein one or more of the terminals (30, 31) is connected to a switch (12, 13) which is in turn connected to a point (10, 15, 16) held at a voltage relative to ground (11) and at least one switch (12, 13) is controlled in response to one or more parameters, and a method of controlling such a power plant (25, 32, 33, 34, 35).

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement having at least one electric potential-varying device for varying the electric potential of at least one electrical device with respect to earth potential, and a plant room facility. In the operating state, the electric potential-varying device is disposed in the plant room facility.