Patents by Inventor Edward A. Fowler

Edward A. Fowler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11710197
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling electrical activation of elements in a system. A method includes identifying (710) a first element (102) of a system (100) by a control system (600), among a plurality of elements (102, 110, 122) of the system (100), that is to be powered. The method includes determining (712) connected elements (110, 122) of the system (100) by the control system (600). The connected elements (110, 122) are connected to deliver power to the first element (102) directly or indirectly, based on an adjacency matrix (400), and the adjacency matrix (400) identifies connections between each of plurality of elements of the system (100). The method includes identifying (714) at least one of the connected elements (110, 122) to activate by the control system (600), based on the adjacency matrix (400), a health table (500), and the connected elements (110, 122), to deliver power to the first element (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 11655823
    Abstract: A method and controller for operating a pumping station. The method includes receiving (1102), by at least one controller (910, 952), sensor data (712) of a first pumping station (900) corresponding to a liquid being transported from the first pumping station (900). The method includes predicting (1104) arrival of the liquid, by the at least one controller (910, 952), at a second pumping station (900). The method includes executing (1106) one or more pump models (720), by the at least one controller (910, 952), according to the sensor data (712) to determine an optimal pumping configuration. The method includes operating (1108) one more pumps of the second pumping station (900), by the at least one controller (910, 952), according to the optimal pumping configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20210373517
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling electrical activation of elements in a system. A method includes identifying (710) a first element (102) of a system (100) by a control system (600), among a plurality of elements (102, 110, 122) of the system (100), that is to be powered. The method includes determining (712) connected elements (110, 122) of the system (100) by the control system (600). The connected elements (110, 122) are connected to deliver power to the first element (102) directly or indirectly, based on an adjacency matrix (400), and the adjacency matrix (400) identifies connections between each of plurality of elements of the system (100). The method includes identifying (714) at least one of the connected elements (110, 122) to activate by the control system (600), based on the adjacency matrix (400), a health table (500), and the connected elements (110, 122), to deliver power to the first element (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 10921765
    Abstract: A method and controller for creating a digital twin of a pump. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a specification curve corresponding to a centrifugal pump. The method includes building and executing, by the controller, a first model of the centrifugal pump, based on the specification curve. The method includes receiving sensor data corresponding to and during the operation of the pump. The method includes updating the first model according to the sensor data to produce an updated model, and storing the updated model as a digital twin of the centrifugal pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20210017999
    Abstract: A method and controller for operating a pumping station. The method includes receiving (1102), by at least one controller (910, 952), sensor data (712) of a first pumping station (900) corresponding to a liquid being transported from the first pumping station (900). The method includes predicting (1104) arrival of the liquid, by the at least one controller (910, 952), at a second pumping station (900). The method includes executing (1106) one or more pump models (720), by the at least one controller (910, 952), according to the sensor data (712) to determine an optimal pumping configuration. The method includes operating (1108) one more pumps of the second pumping station (900), by the at least one controller (910, 952), according to the optimal pumping configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20200102961
    Abstract: A pump station positioned to receive a first flow of fluid from a pipeline and to discharge a second flow of fluid into the pipeline includes an interface detection instrument positioned at an upstream point and operable to measure a sonic velocity, a temperature, and a flow rate of the fluid at the upstream point. A first pump is operable at a first speed to receive the first flow of fluid and discharge a pressurized flow of fluid, a first discharge pressure controller is positioned within the pressurized flow of fluid and operable to control the pressure of the pressurized flow of fluid, and a control assembly is coupled to the interface detection instrument to receive the measured sonic velocity, temperature, and flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Edward A. Fowler, Gerd Klöppner, Ganesh Kumar Seeniraj, Raphael Rhote-Vaney
  • Publication number: 20190187640
    Abstract: A method and controller for creating a digital twin of a pump. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a specification curve corresponding to a centrifugal pump. The method includes building and executing, by the controller, a first model of the centrifugal pump, based on the specification curve. The method includes receiving sensor data corresponding to and during the operation of the pump. The method includes updating the first model according to the sensor data to produce an updated model, and storing the updated model as a digital twin of the centrifugal pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Edward A. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20170299123
    Abstract: The pump systems (pump+driver) used in a pump station are selected based on the type of fluid or batch. The selection is of the more efficient pump systems for that batch. Less efficient pumps are avoided. When a new batch is detected, the selection is performed again for that new batch, which may result in a different combinations of pump systems for a given pump station. If variable speed pump drives are available, the efficiency at the desired speed is used for selection. The cost of energy (utilities) by pump station may alternatively or additionally be used to select the speed or combination of pump systems. The pump station and pipeline operation is optimized for efficiency of pump systems and/or cost of energy (utilities) for the different pump systems based on pipeline inventory and local utilities tariffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Edward A. Fowler, Gerd Kloeppner, You Hau Lee, Harley Frankfurt
  • Publication number: 20170030359
    Abstract: A pump system includes an interface detection meter arranged at a pipeline assembly, a drive assembly for controlling speed of a pump arranged at the pipeline assembly, a discharge pressure control assembly and/or flow control assembly for controlling discharge pressure of the pump system, and a control assembly operably coupled to the drive assembly and/or the discharge pressure control assembly and/or the flow control assembly. A logic control of the control assembly receives fluid data of fluid in the pipeline assembly provided by the interface detection meter, and forwards the fluid data for calculating speed set points for the drive assembly and/or discharge pressure control parameter and/or set points for the discharge pressure control assembly, and/or flow rate control set points for the flow control assembly. A method for controlling variable speed driven pumps or pump systems during batch change and an embodiment of a plug-and-play device are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Edward A. Fowler, Gerd Klöppner, Ganesh Kumar Seeniraj, Raphael Rhote-Vaney