Abstract: A condition monitoring device for monitoring machinery includes a combination of on-board sensors and a condition monitoring module. The on-board sensors include modules for non-contact temperature, magnetic flux and 3-axis vibration sensing of the machinery. The condition monitoring module provides a condition monitoring signal containing information about an operating condition of the machinery, based upon a data synthesis condition monitoring technique that synthesizes non-contact temperature, magnetic flux and 3-axis vibration sensed data received from the combination of on-board sensors, determines a current operating condition of the machinery, and compares the current operating condition and the baseline operating condition of the machinery.

Abstract: A LWCO remote monitoring and diagnosing system or device features a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information for running a remote low water cut off (LWCO) mobile application, and also containing information about historical data related to a LWCO circuit that monitors and controls a burner of a boiler that opens and closes to provide water to the boiler depending on the water level in the boiler; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about the historical data requested based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about real time pump operating parameters related to pumps forming part of a pumping system in a plant/facility, and a user input selecting a pump for displaying the real time pump operating parameters on a control monitor to allow a plant/facility operator to implement a centralized pump control of the pumps at a given centralized location; and that determines corresponding signaling containing information to display on the control monitor the real time pump operating parameters to allow the plant/facility operator to implement the centralized control of the pumps at the given centralized location, based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: An automatic self-driving pump system features a pump/motor/drive detector and an automatic self-driving and control design/setup module. In operation, the pump/motor/drive detector receives sensed signaling containing information about a pump/drive for operating in a hydronic pump system, e.g., stored in and sensed from a signature chip or barcode installed that can be scanned by a scanner, and provides corresponding database signaling containing information about parameters for providing automatic pump control design, setup and run to control the pump/drive for operating in the hydronic pump system, based upon the sensed signaling received. The automatic self-driving and control design/setup module receives the corresponding database signaling, and provides control signaling containing information for providing the automatic pump control design, setup and run to control the pump/drive for operating in the hydronic pump system, based upon the corresponding database signaling received.

Abstract: Apparatus features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a power profile that is specific to a pumping system having N parallel pumps and based upon data related to one or more of pumping system power, losses and wire-to-water efficiency in real time for the N parallel pumps configured to run in the pumping system to generate a head H and a flow F with an efficiency E, and at least one calculation/prediction of at least one corresponding efficiency of at least one combination/number of N?1 and/or N+1 parallel pumps to achieve a corresponding/same head H and flow F with a corresponding efficiency; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the operation of the pumping system that depends on a comparison of the efficiency E and the at least one corresponding efficiency, based upon the signaling received, including staging/destaging a pump to or from the pumping system.

Abstract: A condition monitoring device for monitoring machinery includes a combination of on-board sensors and a condition monitoring module. The on-board sensors include modules for non-contact temperature, magnetic flux and 3-axis vibration sensing of the machinery. The condition monitoring module provides a condition monitoring signal containing information about an operating condition of the machinery, based upon a data synthesis condition monitoring technique that synthesizes non-contact temperature, magnetic flux and 3-axis vibration sensed data received from the combination of on-board sensors, determines a current operating condition of the machinery, and compares the current operating condition and the baseline operating condition of the machinery.

Abstract: A discrete valve flow rate converter is provided to obtain a system flow through a valve in a dynamic hydronic pumping system, e.g., based on signaling containing information about the valve's differential pressure and the valve's hydronic characteristics calibration data. The discrete valve flow rate converter resolves the valve system flow rate directly and accurately with the valve's open position and the corresponding valve differential pressure signals associated therewith. The discrete valve flow rate converter may be applied to all kinds of valves as long as their open position and differential pressure associated with is available, e.g., including implementations for control valve applications, e.g., where the valve open position is controlled automatically and accurately, as well as implementations either for pumping system pressure controls with the flow rate known, such as adaptive hydronic system pressure controls, or as an alternative to sensorless pump monitoring and control.

Abstract: A switch assembly features an automatic switch and an electronic circuit board. The automatic switch has a common contact and a normally open switch contact to short when a boiler has sufficient water, and has the common contact and a normally closed switch contact to short when the boiler has a low water level. The electronic circuit board has a signal processor, a reset switch, and a low water status LED for providing a status indication of a low water condition that remains ON even if the water level has risen unless the reset switch is reset. The signal processor couples to the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, senses signaling containing the status of the common contact, the normally closed switch contact and the normally open switch contact, provides corresponding signaling to turn ON the low water status LED when the water level is low, and responds to a reset switch signal and turn OFF the low water status LED.

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump, motor, a bearing assembly, integrated data acquisition system and combined programmable logic controller (PLC), data acquisition and modem. The pump couples to a pump shaft that responds to a pump shaft force to pump a liquid. The motor couples to the pump shaft, responds to VFD/VSD control signaling and provides the pump shaft force to drive the pump shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing with the pump shaft arranged therein and couples the pump and the motor. The variable frequency/speed drive (VFD/VSD) receives PLC control signaling and provides the VFD/VSD control signaling to drive the motor. The integrated data acquisition system responds to PLC data acquisition signaling, and provides integrated data acquisition system signaling containing information about an integrated set of pumping system parameters related to the pump, the bearing assembly, the motor and the VFD/VSD in the pump system.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a pump system, features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is also configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

Abstract: An automatic self-driving pump system features a pump/motor/drive detector and an automatic self-driving and control design/setup module. In operation, the pump/motor/drive detector receives sensed signaling containing information about a pump/drive for operating in a hydronic pump system, e.g., stored in and sensed from a signature chip or barcode installed that can be scanned by a scanner, and provides corresponding database signaling containing information about parameters for providing automatic pump control design, setup and run to control the pump/drive for operating in the hydronic pump system, based upon the sensed signaling received. The automatic self-driving and control design/setup module receives the corresponding database signaling, and provides control signaling containing information for providing the automatic pump control design, setup and run to control the pump/drive for operating in the hydronic pump system, based upon the corresponding database signaling received.

Abstract: A pumping system having a pump includes a pump controller having a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about pump differential pressure, flow rate and corresponding power data at motor maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as instant motor power and speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about instant pump differential pressure and flow rate using a combined affinity equation and numerical interpolation algorithm to control the pump in the pumping system, based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a pump system, features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a relationship between frequencies of pump vibration resonances detected around critical pump speeds and a 3-dimensional pump vibration power spectrum in the frequency domain with respect to pump speed and pump temperature change differences; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to adjust the pump speed to avoid the pump vibration resonances around the critical pump speeds, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is also configured to provide the corresponding signaling as control signaling to adjust the pump speed.

Abstract: A low water cutoff switch controller features a dual inline package (DIP) in combination with low water cutoff switch processor. The dual inline package (DIP) has DIP switches, each DIP switch configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set. The low water cutoff switch processor is configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model.

Abstract: Apparatus features a controller having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a power profile that is specific to a pumping system having N parallel pumps and based upon data related to one or more of pumping system power, losses and wire-to-water efficiency in real time for the N parallel pumps configured to run in the pumping system to generate a head H and a flow F with an efficiency E, and at least one calculation/prediction of at least one corresponding efficiency of at least one combination/number of N?1 and/or N+1 parallel pumps to achieve a corresponding/same head H and flow F with a corresponding efficiency; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the operation of the pumping system that depends on a comparison of the efficiency E and the at least one corresponding efficiency, based upon the signaling received, including staging/destaging a pump to or from the pumping system.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes an automatic type 11 switch having 1 and 2 contacts and 3 and 4 contacts with the 2 and 3 contacts being shorted together, configured to respond to a water level of a boiler, short the 1 and 2 contacts when the water level is high, short the 3 and 4 contacts when the water level is low; and an electronic circuit board having a processor configured to sense signaling containing information about the 1, 2/3 and 4 contacts, and provide control signaling containing information about the water level of the boiler. The electronic circuit board also includes a relay configured to respond to the control signaling, and turn the relay on/off.

Abstract: A technique for determining a boiler water condition includes a boiler controller (aka PSE unit) having a signal processor that implements a boiler control algorithm to receive signaling containing information about sets of N consecutive probe data samples related to a boiler water condition; determine stable average signaling containing information about a stable average by averaging a set of N consecutive probe data samples in the signaling received; determine present stable average signaling containing information about a present stable average by averaging a present set of N consecutive probe data samples in the signaling received; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about the boiler water condition, based upon whether the present stable average is within an allowable limit and a comparison of the present and previous stable average signaling determined.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about a pump no flow idle (NFI) state when the pump is running at a pump idle speed; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in a no flow shutdown (NFSD) state or the pump NFI state, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module is configured to provide the corresponding signaling containing information about whether the pump should remain in the NFSD state or the NFI state.

Abstract: Apparatus features a signal processor or processing module configured to respond to signaling containing information about a set point and a speed related to one or more pumps in a pump system, e.g., including a variable speed multiple pump booster system, operating at a substantially constant discharge pressure; and determine an adjustment to the set point to compensate for system friction loss and maintain the substantially constant discharge pressure of the variable speed multiple pump booster system for flow variation, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module 10a provides corresponding signaling containing information to control the one or more pumps in the variable speed multiple pump booster system.

Abstract: A pumping system featuring a pump, motor, a bearing assembly, integrated data acquisition system and combined programmable logic controller (PLC), data acquisition and modem. The pump couples to a pump shaft that responds to a pump shaft force to pump a liquid. The motor couples to the pump shaft, responds to VFD/VSD control signaling and provides the pump shaft force to drive the pump shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing with the pump shaft arranged therein and couples the pump and the motor. The variable frequency/speed drive (VFD/VSD) receives PLC control signaling and provides the VFD/VSD control signaling to drive the motor. The integrated data acquisition system responds to PLC data acquisition signaling, and provides integrated data acquisition system signaling containing information about an integrated set of pumping system parameters related to the pump, the bearing assembly, the motor and the VFD/VSD in the pump system.