Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about calibrated motor speed and power data for a hydronic pumping system; and determine system pumping flow rate and pressure associated with an equivalent hydronic system characteristic variable, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined. The corresponding signaling may contain information used to control the hydronic pumping system.

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: Apparatus, such as a pump controller, features a signal processor configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about a linear set point control curve based at least partly on an adaptive set point control curve related to fluid being pumped by a pump in a pumping system, and determine a control set point based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor may be configured to provide a control signal containing information to control the pump based on the control set point determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a hydronic sensorless pumping system, that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about motor readout values of power and speed, and also about pump and system characteristics equations together with empirical power equations that are constructed by a polynomial best-fit function together with pump affinity laws based upon a pump curve published by a pump manufacturer; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a pump or system pressure and a flow rate at the motor readout values of power and speed, 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: The present invention provides apparatus that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about an adaptive or self-calibrating set point control curve and a varying equivalent system characteristic curve based at least partly on an instant pump pressure and a flow rate using an adaptive moving average filter, and equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the instant pump pressure and the flow rate to corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped using a discrete numerical approach; and determine an adaptive pressure set point, based at least partly on the signaling received.

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: 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: A signal processor receives signaling containing information about flow rates from sensorless converters in zone circulators in heating/cooling zones controlled by temperature sensors in a hydronic heating system in order to derive an adaptive pressure set point to meet the flow rates requested by the heating/cooling zones using an adaptive system and flow control curve equation, the signaling containing information about total flow rates requested by the zone circulators; determines desired pump speeds for the zone circulators to meet temperature requirements in heat zones; provides corresponding signaling containing information about the desired pump speeds; and/or determines the adaptive pump control curve equation based upon an adaptive system curve and as a moving maximum system flow rate depending on an adaptive pressure set point, a system flow rate requested by temperature loads, a minimum pressure at no flow, a control curve setting parameter, and an adaptive moving maximum flow and pressure.

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 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: The present invention provides apparatus featuring a signal processor or processing module that may be configured at least to: process signaling containing information about an equilibrium point of pump differential pressure and system pressure formulated in a hydronic domain by utilizing pump and system characteristic curve equations so as to yield system pressure and flow rate at any particular load and time in a pump hydronic system, including using a multi-dimensional sensorless conversion technique; and determine equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the pump differential pressure and flow rate to their corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped by using a discrete numerical approach, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module may provide corresponding signaling containing information about the system pumping flow rate and pressure determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a numerical affinity pump sensorless conversion signal processing technique, e.g. based upon processing the pump differential pressure, flow rate and power at pump maximum speed published by pump manufacturers, as well as the pump affinity law in order to obtain instant pump differential pressures and flow rate directly and numerically. The sensorless converter technique may be applied to any form of pump characteristics distributions simple or complicated, since there is no need to reconstruct and to solve any pump and system characteristics equations. As a result, the computation accuracy is significantly improved.

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: 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 signal processor receives signaling containing information about flow rates from sensorless converters in zone circulators in heating/cooling zones controlled by temperature sensors in a hydronic heating system in order to derive an adaptive pressure set point to meet the flow rates requested by the heating/cooling zones using an adaptive system and flow control curve equation, the signaling containing information about total flow rates requested by the zone circulators; determines desired pump speeds for the zone circulators to meet temperature requirements in heat zones; provides corresponding signaling containing information about the desired pump speeds; and/or determines the adaptive pump control curve equation based upon an adaptive system curve and as a moving maximum system flow rate depending on an adaptive pressure set point, a system flow rate requested by temperature loads, a minimum pressure at no flow, a control curve setting parameter, and an adaptive moving maximum flow and pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus, including a hydronic sensorless pumping system, that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about motor readout values of power and speed, and also about pump and system characteristics equations together with empirical power equations that are constructed by a polynomial best-fit function together with pump affinity laws based upon a pump curve published by a pump manufacturer; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a pump or system pressure and a flow rate at the motor readout values of power and speed, based upon the signaling received.

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: The present invention provides apparatus that features a signal processor or processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about an adaptive or self-calibrating set point control curve and a varying equivalent system characteristic curve based at least partly on an instant pump pressure and a flow rate using an adaptive moving average filter, and equivalent hydronic system characteristics associated with the instant pump pressure and the flow rate to corresponding motor power and speed reconstructed and remapped using a discrete numerical approach; and determine an adaptive pressure set point, based at least partly on the signaling received.