Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a flow rate indicator relating to the output flow rate of one or more activated pumps of a pumping station. The pumping station includes a well configured to receive or supply fluid flow. The method includes the step of determining, using a computational device, an operating condition relating to the activated pumps. The activated pumps are temporarily deactivated and a well flow rate relating to the fluid flow is determined, responsive to the determination of the operating condition. The method further includes the step of determining the pump output flow rate indicator using the determined well flow rate. The step of temporarily deactivating the activated pumps involves deactivating the activated pumps for a predetermined period of time and determining the well flow rate over that period of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling access to a compartment of a control panel. The method includes the step of posing, with a controller, an indemnification query to a user. The controller receives a response to the indemnification query. The method further includes the step of enabling, with the controller, access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a flow rate indicator relating to the output flow rate of one or more activated pumps of a pumping station. The pumping station includes a well to be at least partially emptied by the pumps and an inlet through which inflow can be supplied into the well. The method includes the step of determining, using a computational device, an operating condition relating to the activated pumps. The pumps are temporarily deactivated and an inflow rate indicator relating to the inflow is determined using the computational device, responsive to the determination of the operating condition. The method further includes the step of determining, using the computational device, the flow rate indicator using the determined inflow rate indicator. The present invention is equally applicable to a well to be at least partially filled by the pumps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for managing a pumping station. Two or more pumping station profiles can be associated with a remote pumping station. The profiles can include one or more parameters related to the pumping station. One or more conditions relating to the pumping station can be measured and can cause the running of a first pumping station profile. A second pumping station profile can be run in response to the completion of the first pumping station profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid sensor for locating in a liquid. The liquid sensor includes a level sensor including one or more sensing stations located between a head and a tail of the liquid sensor. The liquid sensor is suitable for sensing the liquid level. The liquid sensor further includes a depth sensor for sensing the depth of the tail in the liquid. The liquid sensor is particularly suited to pumping station applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling access to a compartment of a control panel. The method includes the step of posing, with a controller, an indemnification query to a user. The controller receives a response to the indemnification query. The method further includes the step of enabling, with the controller, access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.

Abstract: This invention relates to a controller for a pumping installation using a combined pressure sensor and fluid level sensor arrangement. The controller includes a processor responsive to measurements from the sensor arrangement, as well as memory for storing a set of instructions for execution by the processor to correlate initial measurements taken by the sensors. The instructions allows the controller to monitor a fluid level in a well with the combined arrangement to compile a history of respective measurements for both sensors, and, in the event of an unexpected discrepancy between the measurements, to automatically calibrate the sensor arrangement according to the history of respective measurements to re-establish a correlation between the sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid sensor for locating in a liquid. The liquid sensor includes a level sensor including one or more sensing stations located between a head and a tail of the liquid sensor. The liquid sensor is suitable for sensing the liquid level. The liquid sensor further includes a depth sensor for sensing the depth of the tail in the liquid. The liquid sensor is particularly suited to pumping station applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring method for monitoring a remote pumping station in communication with a computational device via the Internet. An embodiment of a method may comprise requesting, using the computational device, pumping station information from the pumping station. The pumping station information may then be received by the computational device. The pumping station information may be in the form of a pumping station profile. In one embodiment, information from the pumping station profile is displayed on a display of the computational device. The information displayed would typically comprise the water level, and indicators of the activation set points and deactivation set points for the pumps.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a pumping station controller (14) is provided for monitoring pumping station hardware such as a well level sensor (8) and pumps (10a, . . . , 10n). A user interface (12) enables a user to input data to the controller (14) for controlling the operation of the pumps (10) based on the sensed liquid level. Pumping hardware configurations vary from site to site so that wiring the hardware to the controller may be confusing for the user. To address this problem the controller may comprise a software product (20). The software product may comprise instructions for processor (19) to determine a suitable wiring configuration between the controller (14) and the pumping station hardware, based upon user entered parameters identifying the pumping station hardware to be used.