Abstract:
Design solutions to mitigate the following four fatal flaws in the conventional pump system design; namely, (1) surprised pump-failure in single pump design that can result in costly water damage; (2) the threat of fatal high voltage electrocution accident in flooding situation; (3) grid power outage and no energy supply to support the needed pumping power that result in water damage; (4) stinky smell from the sitting foil water in the well after a period of low seeping rate with or without activated pumping. The principles described in the content disclosure, the proposed designs can completely mitigate the above four fatal design issues.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Millions of houses in the United States of America are built with a basement. Many of these houses use a pump system that operates from a sunk well below the basement floor. Such a pump system is referred to as a “sunk” pump system. A sunk pump system operates to pump water that has leaked from outside (e.g., due to a high water table, flooding, or other forms of leakage) and that has thus gathered into the sunk well in the basement. The pumped water is channeled out back out of the house, thereby allowing the basement to stay dry. 
         [0002]    The typical existing sunk pump system is powered by a high voltage electrical grid to which the houses are connected. Such existing pumps often comprise a single pump that operates at a fixed pumping rate, and which has a capacity that meets the anticipated worst-case flooding conditions. The pump is typically activated by a “high” water level sensor to pump water in the sunk well to the outside. After activation, the pump is stopped upon a “low” water level sensor being triggered. The typical existing pump system is referred hereinafter as “the conventional pump system”. 
         [0003]    If the convention pump system has insufficient pumping to accommodate a large volume of water flooding into the house, the inadequate pumping can result in water damage. Likewise, if there is an unexpected pump failure, or a period of grid power outage, the pump will not operate at all, again resulting in water damage. Such water damage can typically costs thousands of dollar to repair. Furthermore, when there is a low seeping rate, and the pump is not activated for a long period of time, the relatively stagnant water can begin to emit a musty and foul odor, thereby diminishing the quality of life of the occupants. 
         [0004]    The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Statistically, when using the conventional pump system, the most frequent cause of the serious water damages is due to unexpected pump failures that lead to basement flooding. Unexpected pump failure is the Akeley&#39;s heel of the conventional pump system which operates using a single pump. The second most frequent cause of major water damage when using the conventional pump system is due to grid power outages. But use of the conventional pump system also has other potential concerns, in addition to water damage. For instance, there is a threat of high voltage electrocution when there is flooding. 
         [0006]    The principles described herein comprises a pump system of multiple smaller pumps, and that only turns on or off pumps at the granularity down to a single pump to better match the water seeping rate. This system reduces the severe consequences of pump failure, since redundant pumps now exist in case of failure of any given pump. To mitigate the risk of electrocution and exposure to grid power outage, the embodiments of the pump system convert the high voltage (e.g., above 100 volts) AC grid power to a low voltage (e.g., below 72 volts) DC power and then temporarily stores the power in an energy reservoir. This DC energy reservoir supplies a low voltage DC power for the pump system together with the grid power that is converted into the charging DC power. During a grid power outage, the reservoir alone can provide the needed emergency power to the pump system (e.g., as an UPS but without an inverter) for a design duration time (e.g., six hours). Thus, the proposed design concept not only provides pumping power support during grid power outage; but also alleviates the threat of high voltage electrocution in basement flooding situations. 
         [0007]    Embodiments described herein also may use a regulator to manage the charging and discharging of the reservoir. As described later, a system check device may perform a scheduled periodic check on the system&#39;s functions according to a designed procedure, and uses a communication device to send out the findings so as to prevent flooding due to unexpected pump failure. The proposed system check and communication devices can also monitor/detect in real time and send out proper messages when important incidents occur. These events might include pump failure during normal operation, grid power outage and recovery, water influx rate exceeding the pump system&#39;s capacity, and so forth. When these events occur, the messages are sent out to a person or persons (as specified by the owner) via channels (as also specified by the owner) such that someone can judge what action he/she should take to minimize the upcoming consequence. For instance, an individual might choose to rush to the house to contain the water damage at its early stage. 
         [0008]    The principles described herein can also correct at least two other shortcomings of the conventional pump system design. Firstly, a single big pump is designed with a fix pumping rate to handle the largest anticipated water leak-in flow. As a result, during the normal seeping rate, there is a periodic short pulsed start-then-stop pumping action that can shorten the motor&#39;s life and also waste a lot of electric energy. The system described herein turns on or off the small pumps one by one at the granularity of a single pump to better match the seeping rate that results in much less wasteful motor actions. Secondly, a single big pump is designed with no spare pumping capacity to handle a larger than designed maximum seeping rate. Even if the seeping rate exceeds the pumping rate by just 10% for a short time; there may still be water damage. The system described herein can have a total maximum pumping rate that equals or exceeds the single pump capacity of the conventional pump system, and then add at least one pump as a system&#39;s “assurance spare”; resulting in a higher capacity. 
         [0009]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features can be obtained, a more particular description of various embodiments will be rendered by reference to the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only sample embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of the scope of the invention, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  schematically illustrates a conventional pump system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  schematically illustrates an embodiment of a pump system in accordance with the principles described herein, and may be compared with  FIG. 1A  to show the novel differences; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates an assembly that includes a water level sensors and a corresponding switch, and which may operate within the pump system of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of method for checking a pump function in accordance with the principles described herein; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method for checking an energy reservoir in accordance with the principles described herein; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Section One: Conventional Pump Systems. 
         [0017]    Statistically, when using the conventional pump system, the most frequent cause of the serious water damages is due to unexpected pump failures that lead to basement flooding. Unexpected pump failure is the Akeley&#39;s heel of the conventional pump system which operates using a single pump. The second most frequent cause of major water damage when using the conventional pump system is due to grid power outages. But use of the conventional pump system also has other potential concerns, in addition to water damage. For instance, there is a threat of high voltage electrocution when there is flooding. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  schematically illustrates a conventional pump system  1000 A. In contrast,  FIG. 1B  schematically illustrates an embodiment of a pump system  1000 B in accordance with the principles described herein. As depicted in  FIG. 1A , a conventional pump system  1000 A includes (1) a power supply subsystem (or “energy subsystem”)  1100 A to supply AC electric power from a high voltage power source; (2) a water pump subsystem  1200 A consisting of a single AC-powered water pump  1201 A to pump the water in a sunk well; (3) a system regulator  1300 A consisting of single water level sensor assembly  1311 W in which there is built-in a pair of high/low water level sensors  1311 H and  1311 L; and (4) a power switch subsystem  1400 A consisting of a single pump switch  1411 A. 
         [0019]    The AC electric power supply subsystem  1100 A connects through the pump switch  1411 A to power the AC-powered pump  1201 A. The switch  1411 A is activated by the high level sensor  1311 H to turn on the electric power supply to drive the pump  1201 A; and is deactivated by the low water level sensor  1311 L to turn off the electrical power supply to stop the pump  1201 A. 
         [0020]    Typically, the water pump  1201 A is powered by the high voltage AC power of an electrical grid. The water level sensor assembly  1311 W is often a buoy-spring device that uses the water buoyancy to detect water levels. When water reaches above the location of the buoy, the buoy-weight is reduced by the water buoyancy; when the water level falls below the buoy location, the buoy recovers its normal weight. This weight difference activates the spring and produces a distinct high/low signals that turn the switch  1411 A on and off. 
         [0021]    Typically, a single assembly contains the switch  1411 A and the water level sensors  1311 W as a combined unit and is named as the “pump-control-switch” assembly in the art; and is referred to as “the assembly” or “assembly module” herein. As used herein, the assembly module has the same labels as the water level sensor in each of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Accordingly, the water level sensor (or the same numbered assembly module) can also send out control signals herein, unless otherwise specified. As example, “the assembly” that combines the switch  1411 A and the water level sensor  1311 W is also numbered as assembly  1311 W; and can also send out signals for control functions in  FIG. 1A . Likewise, the assemblies that respectively combine the switches  1311 W,  1312 W, and  1313 W of  FIG. 1B  can send out signals for control functions of respective pumps  1201 B,  1202  and  1203 , respectively, of  FIG. 1B . 
         [0022]    To reiterate, the conventional pump designs use an AC grid power to drive a single big pump controlled by a single pump-control-switch assembly. When a water level reaches above a high level, the assembly turns on the switch and sends in the AC power to drive the pump to pump water. When the water level falls below a low level, the assembly turns off the power to the pump to stop pumping of the water. Thus, any unexpected grid power outage, or assembly failure, or pump failure could allow basement flooding to occur; causing significant damage, and introducing a chance of high voltage electrocution. 
         [0023]    Section Two: Pump System in accordance with the Principles Described Herein. 
         [0024]    As an embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1B , water pump systems  1000 B that incorporate the principles described herein include a power supply subsystem  1100 B that, unlike the conventional pump system  1000 A, supply low voltage (e.g., 36 volts DC) electrical power. Furthermore, unlike the conventional pump system, the power supply subsystem  1100 B also includes an energy reservoir  1102 . Also, unlike the conventional pump system, the water pump system  1000 B includes a water pump subsystem  1201 A that includes multiple water pumps (three pumps  1201 B,  1202 , and  1203  in the illustrated example) to pump the water from a well. The water pump system  1000 B further includes a subsystem of regulators  1300 B to regulate management functions of the pump system. The water pump system  1000 B further includes switch groups  1400 B consisting of groups of switches. Each switch can be activated to turn on or turn off the electric power that is supplied to a specific module when dictated. 
         [0025]    The water pump system  1000 B also includes a subsystem of a check/monitoring device  1500  to perform the designed functional checking and monitoring for specific individual subsystems or modules; a valve (or “water inlet regulator”) subsystem  1600  to turn on/off fresh water inlet through a group of valves in the procedure of system check and flushing; a communication module  1700  to deliver proper communications to people of concern; an AC to DC converter  1800  to convert AC power to charge the reservoir  1102 ; and a charging/discharging regulator  1900  to regulate the charging and discharging of the energy reservoir in  1100 . The functions of the above subsystems, devices, components, and modules will be described later. 
         [0026]    In lieu of being designed and equipped with only one big pump  1201 A as in the conventional pump system, the principles described herein uses multiple smaller pumps (say,  1201 B,  1202 , and  1203  as depicted in  FIG. 1B ). Note that pump  1201 B of the water pump system  1000 B is different (e.g., smaller and/or DC powered) than the single pump  1201 A of the convention pump system  1000 A and thus has a different label. The power delivery routes to these pumps are controlled by a group of pump-control-switch assemblies (or the “assemblies”)  1311 W,  1312 W and  1313 W, respectively. The total maximum capacity of the multiple small pumps is proposed to be equal to or just exceed the anticipated worst influx rate, and thereto add at least one additional pump as the “assurance spare” pump(s) to mitigate the consequence of pump failure that might occur in the middle of operation or other unexpected situations. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1B , the total pumping capacity of the pumps  1201 B and  1202  is equal to or exceeds of the capacity of anticipated worst water in-flux rate; while the pump  1203  is the “assurance spare” pump. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1B  depicts the proposed multiple pump system  1000 B with  3  smaller pumps and the additional devices  1500  and  1700 , which are absent in the conventional pump system depicted in  FIG. 1A . As described above, unexpected pump failure is the Akeley&#39;s heel of the conventional pump system  1100 A which operates using a single pump  1201 A. In accordance with the multiple pump system described herein, the consequence of expected single pump failure is definitively much less than those of the conventional pump system designs; especially when there is an additional assurance spare pump. Even so, the addition of the devices of the system checking/monitoring subsystem  1500  and the communication subsystem  1700  can even further reduce the consequence of an unexpected single pump failure. Thus, the multiple pump system as described herein clearly improves the technical state of the art. 
         [0028]    The regulator subsystem  1300 B comprises sensors that include a sensor  1310 G to detect the grid power outage and recovery. The regulator  1300 B also includes a group  1310 W of level sensing assemblies (e.g., sensors  1311 W,  1312 W,  1313 W, and so forth). These level sensing assemblies  1310 W are positioned to detect water levels and are thus also referred as “the water level sensors” herein. A switch and a pair of high/low water level sensors may be built into each of these level sensing assemblies. As examples, the assembly  1311 W may have a built-in switch  1411 B and high/low water level sensors  1311 H and  1311 L that controls the power delivery of the pump  1201 B. The assembly  1312 W may have a built-in switch  1412  and high/low sensors  1312 H and  1312 L that controls the power delivery of the pump  1202 . Likewise, the assembly  1313 W may have a built-in switch  1413  and high/low sensors  1313 H and  1313 L that controls the power delivery of the pump  1203 . Such continues for as many pumps as there may exist in the multiple pump system  1000 B. The regulator subsystem  1300 B also includes a system check assembly  13 SC 1 , that includes two flow sensors  1361 F and  1362 F, and high level sensor  13 SCH. 
         [0029]    The working principle of these assemblies can be the same as the buoy-spring plus switch assembly described in the previous section (Section One). Thus, these assemblies ( 1311 W,  1312 W,  1313 W, and so forth) can also send out water level signals to control devices to perform the designed control functions.  FIG. 2  depicts the assembly  1311 W which consisting high/low water level sensors  1311 H,  1311 L and assembly  1411 B that can also send out control signals. The assemblies  1312 W and  1313 W may be similarly structured, each with their respectively high/low water level sensors and switch. 
         [0030]    For instance, when the seeping rate increases such that water level reaches the high water level  1311 H; the sensor activates the switch  1411 B to turn on the electric power to drive the pump  1201 B. When the water level increases further to reach above another high water level  1312 H (located above the first high water level  1311 H), the sensors  1312 H further activates the switch  1412  to turn on the electric power to drive pump  1202  (in addition to pump  1201 B being driven by switch  1411 ). When the combined pumping and seeping rate results in a decreasing water level; and the water level decreased to below the sensor  1312 L but above the sensor  1311 H, the sensor  1312 L activates the switch  1412  to turn off the pump  1202 ; but the sensor  1311 H can still keep the pump  1201 B running. 
         [0031]    As described, the design of the embodiment  FIG. 1B  is equipped with  3  assemblies ( 1311 W,  1312 W, and  1313 W) to control the 3 pumps ( 1201 B,  1202 , and  1203 ) that can be turned on/off to better matching the seeping rate to adequately handle the anticipated maximum seeping rate (pump  1201 B plus pump  1202 ); and also have at least one more assurance spare pump (pump  1203 ) for purposes described above. 
         [0032]    Section Three: System Checking: 
         [0033]    At a specified schedule, the system regulator  1300 B performs a system check. At the specified scheduled check time, the regulator  1300 B activates the system check module  1530  as the system check coordinator. The system check module  1530  then sends out a signal to activate the communication device  1700  so as to register this activation into the record keeping module  1701 , and activates the system check/monitoring device  1533  to perform the scheduled system check. After finishing the system check, the coordinator device  1530  activates the message delivery component  1702  to send out the finalized check report. 
         [0034]    As an example, when the system check shows normal operation, the finalized check report might be “The water pump system of [name or address] performed a scheduled system check at [yy/mm/dd/hh] (dating the year, the month, the day, and the hour). The results are as follows: All subsystems are in normal condition.”. As another example, when the system check shows the pump  1202  and/or its related control assembly is not operating normally, the finalized check report might be “Alert!! The system check of the water pump system of [name or address] reports the following malfunction(s): pump  1202  not functioning”. As yet another example, when the system check failed to finish at the scheduled time, the finalized check report might be “Alert! ! The system check of the water pump system of [name or address] did not perform its scheduled system check”. 
         [0035]    Section Four: Pump Check Procedure: 
         [0036]    Since the reliability of each subsystem may be very different, the subsystem checks may be performed at different frequencies. For instance, the check of the pump subsystem may be performed semiannually while the check of the energy reservoir may be performed every season. Also, the fresh water inlet flow rate might be adjusted such that the flow rate is less than the designed worst flooding rate (e.g., less than the total pumping capacity of pumps  1201 B and  1202 ). 
         [0037]    During the pump check, the checking and monitoring subsystem  1500  activates the check coordination device  1530  (depicted in  FIG. 2 ) to coordinate the pump checking. As the starting point, the subsystem  1500  records the system&#39;s running state into the record keeping module  1701 . For instance, at the initial state of pump check, pump  1201 B is running—but pumps  1202  and  1203  are not. The device  1530  keeps the system running state as is; and starts to perform the pump checking procedure. At the end of pump check, the subsystem  1500  resets back to the initial running state. The following checking sequence assumes the initial state is as stated above (i.e., pump  1201 B is running, but pumps  1202  and  1203  are not). 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of method  300  for checking a pump function in accordance with the principles described herein. Depicted in the starting step  301  (i.e., the fresh water inlet step), the system check coordinator  1530  activates a fresh water inlet regulator  1600  to let-in the fresh water through a set of series-connected valves  1601  and  1602 , which are respectively controlled by inlet switches  1460 , which includes switches  1461  and  1462 . At the initial state, the valve  1601  is shut while the valve  1602  is open. The water inlet regulator  1600  activates the valve  1601  to open its valve such that fresh water can flow through valve  1601  (detected by flow sensor  1361 F) and valve  1602  (detected by flow sensor  1362 F) and into the well. Signals of water flow through valve  1601  and  1602  are sent out by flow sensors  1361 F and  1362 F of the assembly  13 SC 1  to the coordinator  1530  and are recorded by the record keeping module  1701  indicating the water inlet valves properly opened. Commercial water flow sensors are available. For instance, they are used in the flow activated gas ignitor of water heaters or in flow activated electric shower heaters. 
         [0039]    Thereafter, the water level may then be increased to reach a designed water-level (level SC 1 H at the assembly  13 SC 1 ). The level SC 1 H is higher than the highest pump control assembly (level  1313 H as in the embodiment of  FIG. 1B ). The assembly  13 SC 1  sends out a signal to the coordinator  1530  when the water level reaches level SC 1 H, resulting in the event being recorded by the record keeping module  1701 , which indicates that the inlet step  301  has been performed and is completed. The coordinator  1530  then performs the step  302  (the step of shutting off the water inlet). 
         [0040]    As depicted in step  302 , the water inlet regulator  1600  activates the valve  1602  to shut off such that fresh water cannot flow through valve  1602 . The resulting lack of flow is detected by flow sensor  1362 F, and a resulting signal that the water flow is off is then set to water inlet regulator  1600 . The water inlet regulator  1600  then activates the valve  1601  to shut off. When valve  1601  is completely shut off, and the signal sent to the water inlet regulator  1600 , the water inlet regulator  1600  then activates the valve  1602  to reopen. If the valve  1601  is shut off and the valve  1602  is indeed reopened, then for a short while, there will be some water flow detected by flow sensor  1362 F but not by flow sensor  1361 F. However, after a proper time delay, the water flow sensors  1361 F and  1362 F sense no fresh water flow through valves  1601  and  1602 . 
         [0041]    This step  302  can detect whether the valves are function properly or not. When the inlet regulator  1600  determines that the valves  1601  and  1602  return to their initial state (valve  1601  is closed and valve  1602  is open) and also no water flows through the valves, an “ok” signal is then sent to the coordinator  1530  indicating the valves  1601  and  1602  are properly closed and opened, respectively. 
         [0042]    The steps  301  and  302  not only perform water inlet and water shut off for purposes of checking the pumps, but also for purposes of checking the valves to prevent the malfunctioning of the fresh inlet valves, which could also lead to basement flooding. Any valve failure is detected and reported before there is the potential for any two of the valves to have failed. A manual valve at the inlet source can shut off the water flow when a valve repair is needed. The coordinator  1530  records the completion of step  302  into the record keeping module  1701 ; and activates the step  303 . 
         [0043]    As depicted in step  303 , pump function is checked for all pumps. The coordinator  1530  turns on all the pumps ( 1203 ,  1202 , and  1201 B) through their control assemblies; specifically  1313 H of  1313 W,  1312 H of  1312 W, and  1311 H of  1311 W. The water level decreases with time to reach level  1313 L to turn off the pump  1203 . The water level shall then decrease with time to reach  1312 L to turn off the pump  1202 , if the pump  1202  was not running at the initial state. The water level shall then decrease with time to reach  1311 L to turn off the pump  1201 B, if the pump  1201 B was not running at the initial state. When the pumps are activated one by one by the control assemblies to pump water and turned off one by one by the control assemblies to return to the initial state described above, the coordinator  1530  can conclude that the pumps and their control assemblies are functioning properly. The coordinator  1530  records the completion of step  303  into the record keeper  1701 ; and proceeds to step  304 . As an alternative embodiment, one can directly equip each pump with one flow sensor to determine whether each pump and its control assembly is functioning properly or not. 
         [0044]    As depicted in step  304 , the pump subsystem is analyzed and reported about. The system check coordinator  1530  activates the system check analyzer  1510  to analyze the pumps based on the records produced in step  301  to step  303 . Based on this analysis, the analyzer  1510  concludes as to whether the pumps are function properly and fill in a formatted report as designed. When finished, the analyzer sends a signal for the coordinator  1530  to activate the message delivery module  1702  to deliver the report to all people concerned via predetermined means such as e-mail, TWITTER, or phone messages. 
         [0045]    Section Five: Energy Reservoir Check: 
         [0046]    When the time for the scheduled energy reservoir checking arrives, the system control  1300  activates the system check coordinator  1530  to perform the checking sequential block diagram depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0047]    As depicted in the step  401 , the DC charge inlet power of the AC/DC converter is turned off. As depicted in step  402 , fresh water is taken in in accordance with the step  301  of the pump check described above. In other words, fresh water is taken in through the valves  1601  and  1602  (which are again at the control of respective switches  1461  and  1462 ) such that the water level activates at least two of the pumps  1201 B,  1202 , and  1203 . The water inlet is then turned off in accordance with the procedure described above for step  302  of the pump check. After the energy reservoir supplies the pumping power of the three pumps for about an hour or after the water level reaches  13 SC 1 H, the pump(s) is/are kept running for another hour before proceeding to the next step  403 . 
         [0048]    As depicted in the step  403 , the coordinator  1530  activates the regulator  1910  to measure the terminal voltage and determine whether or not the energy storage level is larger than 60%. If it is larger than 60%, the reservoir is functioning properly. If it is smaller than 60%, the reservoir needs to be replaced by a new reservoir in about one to three months. 
         [0049]    The charge/discharge regulator  1900  is designed in a robust way and monitored continuously by the monitoring module  1520 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, the charge/discharge regulator is not checked. Other subsystems are commercially available units, including the AC/DC converter. They shall be maintained and check in according with the guidelines specified in their user&#39;s manual. Thus, they are not included in the specified system check of this disclosure. 
         [0050]    Section Six: System Monitoring: 
         [0051]    The stated system-check and communication devices  1500 ,  1700  can perform not only scheduled system checks and resulting reporting, but may also perform real-time checks and send out proper messages as important incidents are detected (e.g., pump-failure in the middle of normal operation, grid power outage, the water influx rate exceeding the maximum pump system&#39;s capacity) to a list of owner specified phone numbers. Accordingly, someone can judge that what action should be taken to mitigate the upcoming consequence (such as rushing to the house to contain the water damage at its early stage; or no immediate action needed but call for repair or replacement help in a month; or other action). 
         [0052]    For instance, the module  1310 G may monitor and report grid power outage and recovery in real time. Therefore, the owner specified people receive this information via owner specified channels. The pumps are also monitored in real time. When any pump failure occurs, it will report to the owner specified people via owner specified communication channels. A water level assembly  130 F 1  is placed near and above the assembly  13 SC 1  level; such that when an abnormal flooding rate enters into the well, such is detected and reported to the owner specified people via owner specified communication channels. 
         [0053]    To alleviate the issue of unpleasant odors emitting from stagnant water in the sunk-well stated in the background section, an automatic water flushing regulator  1350  flushes the sunk well periodically with a time clock. When pumps are not running, the clock is counting to a preset time period. If the preset time period arrives after the last pump run, flushing is initiated. To avoid fresh water waste, the flushing schedule can be arranged to coincide with the system-check schedules. For instance, whenever the regulator decides to flush the sunk well, the system check performs the pump check. After every system check performed, the clock of the  1350  shall be reset to initiate the counting. 
         [0054]    Section Seven: Other Benefits: 
         [0055]    The proposed principles herein can also correct at least two other shortcomings of the conventional pump system design. First, in the convention pump system, a single big pump is designed with a fixed pumping rate to handle the rarely occurred maximum anticipated water leak-in condition. As a result, during regular normal seeping, there is an induced periodic short pulsed start-then-stop motor-action that shorten the motor&#39;s life and also waste a lot of electric energy. On the other hand, the proposed design turns on/off the additional small pumps to better matching the seeping rate. Second, the single pump of the conventional design often has no spare pumping capacity to handle a larger than typical maximum designed leak-in rate (say, 36 gallons per minute). In contrast, the principles described herein proposes to have the total maximum pumping rate (say, 18 gallons per minute for each pump, 54 gallons per minute in total) which is a substantially bigger capacity than the single pump capacity; and also has built-in one assurance spare pump. 
         [0056]    Section Eight: Elaboration on Other Subsystems 
         [0057]    To elaborate on the power subsystem  1100 , as depicted in  FIG. 1B , the convertor  1800  converts high voltage AC to low voltage DC power, which is temporarily stored into an energy reservoir  1100 . When grid power is normal, the combined DC power from the convertor and the reservoir operates the pump system including the DC pumps  1201 ,  1202 , and  1203 . While grid power is out, the energy reservoir alone powers the system directly in a low voltage DC form within a designed time-duration (no invertor needed). 
         [0058]    This power subsystem operates with built-in sensors to check itself in real-time; and the vitality of the reservoir also regularly checked by the system-check coordinator  1530  as described above. Therefore, the vitality of the UPS energy reservoir during grid power outage can be assured. 
         [0059]    The principles described herein propose that the converter  1800  is purchased from commercial market; which is safety certified (with UL and CE), and designed to be water-proof; or to be located at a place free of water. All the other subsystems, devices, modules, and motors are proposed to operate with low voltage DC power. Thus, the safety from fatal electrocution of this pump system as well as its UPS energy reservoir can be assured. 
         [0060]    To elaborate on the water pump subsystem  1200 , as depicted in  FIG. 1B , multiple smaller pumps  120 B,  1202 , and  1203  may be low voltage DC powered (say, either 36, 24, or 12 volts) that are free from electrocution dangers. The pump motors are DC motors such as simple blushless DC motor or variable frequency blushless DC motor. 
         [0061]    The water pumps can be mounted at the bottom of the well at the same height; or mounted inside the well with different height; or mounted above the well. These water pumps shall be activate by the water level sensors  1310 W to start/stop water pumping. For instant, the water pump  1201 B is activated by water level sensor  1311 H to start water pumping and activated by  1311 L to stop pumping; the water pump  1202  is activated by water level sensor  1312 H to start water pumping and activate  1312 L to stop pumping; and so forth. In another embodiment, when the pumps are mounted at the same height or above the well, the water level sensors can send their signals to the device  1310 W; and the device  1310 W can be designed to determine which pump to be turned on or turned off. 
         [0062]    Among the designed functions, the system-checking device  1500  can perform periodic system checking on all standby functions in accordance with a designed procedure. The devices  1300 B and  1500  combined can also monitors system&#39;s operating functions in real time; including grid power is normal or outage, the convertor is delivering DC power or not, the pump is fail in mid of operation or not, etc. The communication device  1700  can deliver these findings via proper messages at proper time to proper persons. 
         [0063]    The device  1900  is designed to properly regulate the UPS&#39; charging by grid power conversion and discharging to the pump system. As an example, when energy storage of the energy reservoir reaches or exceeds 95%, the regulator  1360  stops the charging until the energy reservoir declines to or below 75% storage, at which time the regulator  1900  again allows charging. On the other hand, when the energy reservoir storage level declines to 5% or below, the regulator  1900  stops the discharging; until the charge is recovered to at or above 15% of energy storage, at which time the regulator  1900  again allows discharging. In doing so, the regulator prevents the battery over-charging and over-draining; such that the reservoir&#39;s batteries are well protected to have their designed long life. 
         [0064]    All the electronic signals between sensors, regulators, and switches can be sent via standard industrial electronic communication cables, or via wireless gear such as the blue-tooth; or being translate into optical signals and using optical cable for mutual communication among these devices. 
         [0065]    Section Nine: Summary 
         [0066]    To summarize, the principles described herein propose to use multiple smaller pumps in the pumping subsystem  1200 B, in lieu of the single big pump design as in the conventional pump system. The principles described herein add a system-checking device  1500  to monitor in real-time operation and periodically check all functions of the whole system. The principles described herein also add a communication device  1700  to send out messages to the owner specified persons via owner specified communication channels for either the findings in the periodic check, or at the important incident occurrence. 
         [0067]    The principle described herein further design for the total capacity of the smaller pumps to be bigger than the capacity at the anticipated worst case scenario; preferably to add one more pump as the assurance spare. Therefore, there will be almost no chance for basement water damage to happen when grid power is normal. 
         [0068]    As described above, to perform the system function check and the sunk well flushing, the principles described herein further equipped with a fresh water inlet valve set and regulator  1601 ,  1602  and  1600 . The fresh water inlet regulator  1600  lets in the designed amount of fresh water via the inlet valve set  1601  and  1602  to fill the sunk well up to a designed water level sensor location SC 1 H, and then shut-off the valve; such that the water level sensors can activate all the pumps as scheduled. By monitoring the actions of sensors&#39; signals and switching on/off of each water pump, the system-check device  1500  can collect all the vital data to determine the subsystem&#39;s function or not. The findings of the system check described above can be sent out via the communication device  1700  to proper persons. Notice that the in-let valve  1600  is designed to have at least 2 in-let valves  1601  and  1602  connecting in series such that the inlet water can be shut off even one valve is failed; that prevents the basement flooding due to the valve failure. The message of valve malfunction will be sent out also. 
         [0069]    The principles described herein further propose to convert high voltage AC power to a low voltage DC power and also to temporarily store the DC energy into an energy reservoir; such that the pump system is operated at low voltage DC form. The designed energy storage capacity of the reservoir shall support system&#39;s operation for a desired duration time. The principles described herein therefore propose to use low voltage DC pumps in its pumping subsystem to realize the embodiments without any inverter. 
         [0070]    The principles further suggest that the convertor, which converts high voltage AC to the low voltage DC power; either be located at a location free from flood-water, or should be fabricated with water-proof design. By doing so, it can assure the system not only is safe and free from high voltage electrocution accidents, but also provides a reliable UPS energy to sustain the pumping function during a period of grid power outage. 
         [0071]    A charge/discharge regulator is also incorporated; not only to regulate the reservoir to be properly charged and discharged, but also to assure the energy storage level of the reservoir is keep to above the designed level. This not only assures the ability of energy support to endure grid power outage, but also assures the long lifetime of the batteries. 
         [0072]    As stated above, when incorporate the principles described herein, there would be almost no chance of having water damage to occur either with normal grid power or during grid power outage. Additional benefits of incorporating the principles described herein include mitigating any threat from fatal high voltage electrocution, and reduction in odor emissions due to stagnant water. Notice that a term, “well” is used hereinafter that covers all wells including the basement sunk well used above; or any container at the lower ground relative to the location receiving the liquid (water) that to be pumped. 
         [0073]    While the system described above is referred as a “water” pump system, many modifications and changes can occur in those skilled in the art; such as one can design a pump system to pump liquid from a lower location to a higher location and overcoming similar obstacles described above. Or a pump system to pump water from water well to a tank (reservoir) with certain water head using the principle described herein to obtain certain desired benefits. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended in cover all such modifications and changes as full within the spirit of the invention; and the term “liquid” is thus used to replace “water” in the claims. 
         [0074]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by appended claims rather than by the forgoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.