Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining the rotational speed of a pump system or other suitable rotating equipment having a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply. The method features, before being rectified, directing one phase of AC power through a zero crossing circuit that identifies an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time. In operation, the AC voltage is detected when it crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. The method also includes steps for measuring the period of the square wave pulse and calculating the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment.

Abstract: An electrical power supply for powering electrical pump instrumentation and process control equipment associated with a pump having a rotating member. The power supply includes an electrical current generator driven by the rotating member of the pump, and a voltage regulator for regulating the output of the generator.

Abstract: The invention provides a pumping system or other suitable rotating equipment having a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply, featuring a shaft sealing device having an AC power generating device that form part of the self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply for supplying local AC electrical power to a circuit or other suitable pump instrumentation and monitoring equipment of the pumping system or other suitable rotating equipment. The sealing device may include a lip seal, packing, a laby seal, or a mechanical seal. The sealing device may also include an electrical connector that is used to connect the sealing device to the circuit or other suitable pump instrumentation and monitoring equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining the rotational speed of a pump system or other suitable rotating equipment having a self-contained pump electrical equipment power supply. The method features, before being rectified, directing one phase of AC power through a zero crossing circuit that identifies an instant of time the AC voltage crosses from one polarity to the other polarity and triggers a square wave pulse for each instant time. In operation, the AC voltage is detected when it crosses from a negative polarity to a positive polarity, or vice versa. The method also includes steps for measuring the period of the square wave pulse and calculating the speed of the pump or other rotating equipment.

Abstract: A system for determining whether a centrifugal pump assembly is degraded as operating outside of acceptable operating limits and includes a processor adapted by software to perform the steps of automatically characterizing the pump characteristics at a predetermined operating level and testing for degradation using the automatically acquired pump characteristics.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a centrifugal pump is operating within its normal flow operating range includes the steps: of determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for a minimum flow rate in order to obtain a minimum flow operating range for the centrifugal pump; determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for a maximum flow rate in order to obtain a maximum flow operating range for the centrifugal pump; determining the actual operating motor torque and TDH of the centrifugal pump at a given operating point; and determining whether the actual operating motor torque and TDH of the centrifugal pump fall within the minimum flow and maximum flow operating ranges of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: A system for determining whether a centrifugal pump assembly is degraded as operating outside of acceptable operating limits and includes a processor adapted by software to perform the steps of automatically characterizing the pump characteristics at a predetermined operating level and testing for degradation using the automatically acquired pump characteristics.

Abstract: A method, apparatus or system is provided for storing information related to a product in a memory device attached thereto, that features the step of gathering, assembling and storing in the memory device product documentation or a link to a website containing the product documentation. The link includes an address to the website. The product documentation includes sales literature, a purchase order, an order entry, performance or test data, equipment selected data/curves, bill of material, repair parts list, installation and operation manuals (IOM), maintenance manuals, product bulletins, product and repair contact lists, equipment drawings, purchase requisition of repair parts orders, factory work and stock orders, product history, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A controller for controlling operating parameters associated with fluid flow, speed or pressure for a centrifugal pump for pumping fluid, wherein at least one sensor is coupled to the pump for generating a signal indicative of a sensed operating condition. The controller comprises a storage device for storing data indicative of at least one operating condition and a processor in communication with the sensor and operative to perform an algorithm utilizing the at least one sensor signal and the stored data indicative of the at least one operating condition to generate a control signal, wherein the control signal is indicative of a correction factor to be applied to the pump.

Abstract: A method is provided of identifying a rotating bearing defect featuring the steps of measuring the vibration of the rotating bearing to obtain a waveform signal; filtering the waveform signal to remove unwanted signal frequencies; enveloping the filtered waveform signal to obtain an enveloped low frequency time waveform; and synchronizing the enveloped low frequency time waveform to the running speed of the rotating bearing in such a way to preserve the phase relationship between the tachometer pulse and bearing defect to obtain a time synchronized waveform. The method may include the step of measuring the rotational speed of the rotating bearing; and the step of measuring the rotational speed of the rotating bearing comprises measuring the rotational speed of the rotating bearing with a tachometer.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a centrifugal pump is degraded as operating outside of acceptable operating limits and includes the steps of determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for minimum and maximum flow rates and at least at two other intermediate flow rates, sensing and measuring at least another pump value selected from a differential pressure across the pump, a pump discharge pressure or pump flow, to provide an output pump value and comparing said value with said determined relationship values to provide an indication as to whether said pump has degraded.

Abstract: An electrical power supply for powering electrical pump instrumentation and process control equipment associated with a pump having a rotating member. The power supply includes an electrical current generator driven by the rotating member of the pump, and a voltage regulator for regulating the output of the generator.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a centrifugal pump is degraded as operating outside of acceptable operating limits and includes the steps of determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for minimum and maximum flow rates and at least at two other intermediate speeds, sensing and measuring at least another pump value selected from a differential pressure across the pump, a pump discharge pressure or pump flow, to provide an output pump value and comparing said value with said determined relationship values to provide an indication as to whether said pump has degraded.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a centrifugal pump is operating within its normal flow operating range includes the steps: of determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for a minimum flow rate in order to obtain a minimum flow operating range for the centrifugal pump; determining a motor torque/TDH relationship over a range of speeds for a maximum flow rate in order to obtain a maximum flow operating range for the centrifugal pump; determining the actual operating motor torque and TDH of the centrifugal pump at a given operating point; and determining whether the actual operating motor torque and TDH of the centrifugal pump fall within the minimum flow and maximum flow operating ranges of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: A method of identifying a rotating bearing defect comprising the includes of: measuring the vibration of the rotating bearing to obtain a waveform signal; filtering the waveform signal to remove unwanted signal frequencies; enveloping the filtered waveform signal to obtain an enveloped low frequency time waveform; and synchronizing the enveloped low frequency time waveform to the running speed of the rotating bearing to obtain a time synchronized waveform.

Abstract: A method for determining the suction pressure of a centrifugal pump including the steps of determining pump torque and pump discharge pressure at at least two different speeds, forming a first order wave curve as a straight line using said pump torque and pump discharge and determining suction pressure from the y axis intercept of said line.

Abstract: A controller for controlling operating parameters associated with fluid flow, speed or pressure for a centrifugal pump for pumping fluid, wherein at least one sensor is coupled to the pump for generating a signal indicative of a sensed operating condition. The controller comprises a storage device for storing data indicative of at least one operating condition and a processor in communication with the sensor and operative to perform an algorithm utilizing the at least one sensor signal and the stored data indicative of the at least one operating condition to generate a control signal, wherein the control signal is indicative of a correction factor to be applied to the pump.

Abstract: A method and system for determining pump cavitation is disclosed. In accordance with the principle of the invention, changes in dynamic fluid pressure within a pump are monitored and compared to a determined cavitation alarm pressure. The determined cavitation pressure is determined as a known percentage of a known non-cavitation pressure. Fluid cavitation is determined when the change in dynamic fluid pressure falls below the determined cavitation alarm pressure. In a further aspect of the invention, a remaining mechanical seal operational life can be determined by maintaining a total time of fluid cavitation and reducing the expected life by the known operational time of the pump and the time the pump is in cavitation.

Abstract: A method and system for determining pump cavitation is disclosed. In accordance with the principle of the invention, changes in dynamic fluid pressure within a pump are monitored and compared to a determined cavitation alarm pressure. The determined cavitation pressure is determined as a known percentage of a known non-cavitation pressure. Fluid cavitation is determined when the change in dynamic fluid pressure falls below the determined cavitation alarm pressure. In a further aspect of the invention, a remaining mechanical seal operational life can be determined by maintaining a total time of fluid cavitation and reducing the expected life by the known operational time of the pump and the time the pump is in cavitation.

Abstract: A controller for controlling operating parameters associated with fluid flow, speed or pressure for a centrifugal pump for pumping fluid, wherein at least one sensor is coupled to the pump for generating a signal indicative of a sensed operating condition. The controller comprises a storage device for storing data indicative of at least one operating condition and a processor in communication with the sensor and operative to perform an algorithm utilizing the at least one sensor signal and the stored data indicative of the at least one operating condition to generate a control signal, wherein the control signal includes a correction factor between 0.1 and 1.0 that is applied to the pump controlling algorithm in order to prevent overcorrection.