Patent Publication Number: US-7588422-B2

Title: Pump driving method and device therefor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-331569, filed in Japan on Nov. 15, 2002, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a pump driving method and apparatus thereof which drive a motor based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and carrying out feedback of the discharge pressure, and drive a pump using the motor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     From the past, a pump driving apparatus is proposed which drives a motor based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and carrying out feedback of the discharge pressure, and drives a pump using the motor. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a conventional pump driving apparatus. 
     The pump driving apparatus comprises a converter section  101 , an inverter section  102 , a motor  103 , and a pump  104 . 
     The converter section  101  receives an alternate current power source as input and generates a direct current voltage. 
     The inverter section  102  receives the direct current voltage as input and outputs an alternate current voltage. 
     The motor  103  is supplied the alternate current voltage. 
     The pump  104  is connected to an output shaft of the motor  103 . 
     The pump driving apparatus also comprises a horse power command generation section  105 , a subtraction section  106 , a proportional controller  107 , an integral controller  108 , an integrator  109 , an addition section  110 , a speed control section  111 , and a current control section  112 . 
     The horse power command generation section  105  generates a horse power command based upon discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic (hereinafter, referred to as P-Q characteristic), a current pressure, and a current flowing amount, the P-Q characteristic being generated, as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , by a set pressure, a set flowing amount, and a set horse power defined for a predetermined power voltage. 
     The subtraction section  106  calculates a difference between the horse power command output from the horse power command generation section  105  and a current horse power. 
     The proportional controller  107  receives the horse power difference as input, and carries out the proportional control. 
     The integral controller  108  receives the horse power difference as input, and carries out the integral control. 
     The integrator  109  integrates the integral control result. 
     The addition section  110  adds the proportional control result and the integration result so as to obtain a proportion-integration control result (speed command). 
     The speed control section  111  receives the speed command as input, carries out the speed control operation, and outputs a current command. 
     The current control section  112  receives the current command and a DC voltage of the converter section  101 , carries out the current control operation so as to generate a duty command, and supplies the duty command to the inverter section  102 . 
     The pump driving apparatus further comprises a speed detection section  114 , a flowing amount detection section  117 , a pressure sensor  115 , and a horse power operation section  116 . 
     The speed detection section  114  receives a pulse output from a pulse generator  113  which is connected to the motor  103 , and calculates a current speed of the motor  103  based upon a pulse interval. 
     The flowing amount detection section  117  receives the current speed as input, and calculates a discharge flow by taking a pump volume and the like into consideration. 
     The pressure sensor  115  detects a current pressure of discharge fluid from the pump  104 . 
     The horse power operation section  116  calculates a current horse power based upon the current flowing amount and the current pressure. 
     Therefore, adequate pump control can be realized in which the defined P-Q characteristic is determined to be a maximum area. 
     However, a power voltage is not guaranteed to be kept to a predetermined voltage. A power voltage affects driving, stopping, and the like of adjacent apparatus and the like, and varies accordingly. Therefore, sufficient capacity cannot be realized when a pump is driven using P-Q characteristic which is defined for the predetermined power voltage. 
     Description is made further. 
     When a power voltage becomes lower than a predetermined rated voltage, a discharge pressure which is actually possible to be output becomes lower than the discharge pressure {circle around ( 1 )} for the predetermined rated voltage, as is illustrated with {circle around ( 3 )} in  FIG. 2 . This P-Q characteristic can be converted to torque—revolution speed characteristic of a motor (refer to  FIG. 3 ). And, {circle around ( 1 )}{circle around ( 2 )}{circle around ( 3 )} in  FIG. 2  correspond to {circle around ( 1 )}{circle around ( 2 )}{circle around ( 3 )} in  FIG. 3 , respectively. As a result, a condition continues where a current value does not reach for the command value corresponding to the P-Q characteristic illustrated with {circle around ( 1 )}. And, for this time period, the integrator  109  of the P-Q control continues the integration, therefore, the discharge pressure greatly overshoots after the integration result exceeding the constant horse power region (windup phenomenon). 
     Therefore, in the past, the P-Q characteristic is determined, as is illustrated with {circle around ( 3 )}, for not causing problem in control response even when a power voltage is lowered to some degree. As a result, a disadvantage arises in that a motor capacity cannot be utilized sufficiently. 
     On the contrary, when the discharge pressure which is actually possible to be output becomes higher than the discharge pressure {circle around ( 1 )} for the predetermined rated voltage, as is illustrated with {circle around ( 2 )} in  FIG. 2 , the output following the P-Q characteristic illustrated with {circle around ( 2 )} becomes possible. However, a command value only corresponds to the P-Q characteristic illustrated with {circle around ( 1 )}, therefore, a disadvantage arises in that a motor capacity cannot be utilized sufficiently, similarly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made in view of the above problems. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a pump driving method and apparatus thereof in which a motor capacity cannot be utilized sufficiently following varying in a power voltage. 
     A pump driving method of a first aspect changes discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a power voltage when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. 
     A pump driving method of a second aspect holds discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristics corresponding to a plurality of power voltage, respectively, and selects a corresponding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage. 
     A pump driving method of a third aspect defines a predetermined pressure, flowing amount, and horse power as characteristic values for a predetermined power voltage, and changes a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage. 
     A pump driving method of a fourth aspect judges whether or not a DC voltage of an inverter for supplying a driving voltage to a motor is a ideal DC voltage value of an alternate current power voltage, changes a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic for the DC voltage when it is judged that the DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, and maintains the changed discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic when it is judged that the DC voltage is not the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage and when the just prior DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. 
     A pump driving method of a fifth aspect maintains a power voltage value instead of maintaining of the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic. 
     A pump driving apparatus of a sixth aspect drives a motor based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and carries out feedback of the discharge pressure, and drives a pump using the motor, the apparatus comprises characteristic changing means for changing discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a power voltage. 
     A pump driving apparatus of a seventh aspect employs means for holding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristics corresponding to a plurality of power voltage, respectively, and for selecting a corresponding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage, as the characteristic changing means. 
     A pump driving apparatus of an eighth aspect employs means for defining a predetermined pressure, flowing amount, and horse power as characteristic values for a predetermined power voltage, and for changing a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage, as the characteristic changing means. 
     A pump driving apparatus of a ninth aspect drives a motor based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and carries out feedback of the discharge pressure, and drives a pump using the motor, the apparatus comprises judgment means for judging whether or not a DC voltage of an inverter for supplying a driving voltage to a motor is a ideal DC voltage value of an alternate current power voltage, for changing a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic for the DC voltage when it is judged that the DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, and for maintaining the changed discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic when it is judged that the DC voltage is not the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage and when the just prior DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. 
     A pump driving apparatus of a tenth aspect employs means for maintaining a power voltage value instead the maintaining of the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic, as the judgment means. 
     When the pump driving method of a first aspect is employed, the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is changed in correspondence with a power voltage when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. Therefore, the motor can be driven to match a value which can be actually output, and the motor capacity can be made the best use of sufficiently. 
     When the pump driving method of a second aspect is employed, the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristics corresponding to a plurality of power voltage are held, respectively, and a corresponding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is selected in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage. Therefore, performing of the processing rapidly can be realized, and operation and effect similar to those of the first aspect can be realized. 
     When the pump driving method of a third aspect is employed, a predetermined pressure, flowing amount, and horse power are defined as characteristic values for a predetermined power voltage, and a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is changed in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage. Therefore, a required memory capacity can be made smaller, and operation and effect similar to those of the first aspect can be realized. 
     When the pump driving method of a fourth aspect is employed, it is judged whether or not a DC voltage of an inverter for supplying a driving voltage to a motor is a ideal DC voltage value of an alternate current power voltage, a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is changed for the DC voltage when it is judged that the DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, and the changed discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is maintained when it is judged that the DC voltage is not the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage and when the just prior DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. Therefore, instability in transition condition is dissolved, the motor can be driven to match a value which can be actually output, and the motor capacity can be made the best use of sufficiently. 
     When the pump driving method of a fifth aspect is employed, a power voltage value is maintained instead the maintaining of the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic. Therefore, held data amount can be made smaller, and operation and effect similar to those of the fourth aspect can be realized. 
     When the pump driving apparatus of a sixth aspect is employed, the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is changed in correspondence with a power voltage by the characteristic changing means when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. Therefore, the motor can be driven to match a value which can be actually output, and the motor capacity can be made the best use of sufficiently. 
     When the pump driving apparatus of a seventh aspect is employed, means for holding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristics corresponding to a plurality of power voltage, respectively, and for selecting a corresponding discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage, is employed as the characteristic changing means. Therefore, performing of the processing rapidly can be realized, and operation and effect similar to those of the sixth aspect can be realized. 
     When the pump driving apparatus of an eighth aspect is employed, means for defining a predetermined pressure, flowing amount, and horse power as characteristic values for a predetermined power voltage, and for changing a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic in correspondence with a detection value in power voltage, is employed as the characteristic changing means. Therefore, a required memory capacity can be made smaller, and operation and effect similar to those of the sixth aspect can be realized. 
     When the pump driving apparatus of a ninth aspect is employed, it is judged whether or not a DC voltage of an inverter for supplying a driving voltage to a motor is a ideal DC voltage value of an alternate current power voltage, a discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is changed for the DC voltage when it is judged that the DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, and the changed discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic is maintained when it is judged that the DC voltage is not the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage and when the just prior DC voltage is the ideal DC voltage value of the alternate current power voltage, by the judgment means, when a motor is driven based upon a command value using discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic and feedback of the discharge pressure is carried out, and a pump is driven using the motor. Therefore, instability in transition condition is dissolved, the motor can be driven to match a value which can be actually output, and the motor capacity can be made the best use of sufficiently. 
     When the pump driving apparatus of a tenth aspect is employed, means for maintaining a power voltage value instead the maintaining of the discharge pressure—discharge flow characteristic, is employed as the judgment means. Therefore, held data amount can be made smaller, and operation and effect similar to those of the ninth aspect can be realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a conventional pump driving apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating P-Q characteristic; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating torque—revolution speed characteristic in correspondence with the P-Q characteristic of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a pump driving apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram useful in understanding generation of P-Q characteristic; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a main portion of the pump driving apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a main portion of a pump driving apparatus of another embodiment according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a main portion of a pump driving apparatus of a further embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, referring to the attached drawings, we explain embodiments of a pump driving method and apparatus thereof according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a pump driving apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a characteristic changing section  18  of  FIG. 4  in more detail. 
     The pump driving apparatus comprises a converter section  1 , an inverter section  2 , a motor  3 , and a pump  4 . 
     The converter section  1  receives an alternate current power source as input and generates a direct current voltage. 
     The inverter section  2  receives the direct current voltage as input and outputs an alternate current voltage. 
     The motor  3  is supplied the alternate current voltage. 
     The pump  4  is connected to an output shaft of the motor  3 . 
     The pump driving apparatus also comprises a characteristic changing section  18 , a horse power command generation section  5 , a subtraction section  6 , a proportional controller  7 , an integral controller  8 , an integrator  9 , an addition section  10 , a speed control section  11 , and a current control section  12 . 
     The characteristic changing section  18  receives a set pressure, a set flowing amount, a set horse power, and a DC voltage of the converter section  1  as input, outputs modified values of pressure, flowing amount, and horse power, and supplies the modified values to the horse power command generation section  5 . 
     The horse power command generation section  5  calculates a horse power command based upon the modified values of pressure, flowing amount, and horse power, and current pressure, and current flowing amount. 
     The subtraction section  6  calculates a difference between the horse power command output from the horse power generation section  5  and a current horse power. 
     The proportional controller  7  receives the horse power difference as input, and carries out the proportional control. 
     The integral controller  8  receives the horse power difference as input, and carries out the integral control. 
     The integrator  9  integrates the integral control result. 
     The addition section  10  adds the proportional control result and the integration result so as to obtain a poroportion-integration control result (speed command). 
     The speed control section  11  receives the speed command as input, carries out the speed control operation, and outputs a current command. 
     The current control section  12  receives the current command and a DC voltage of the converter section  1 , carries out the current control operation so as to generate a duty command, and supplies the duty command to the inverter section  2 . 
     The pump driving apparatus further comprises a speed detection section  14 , a flowing amount detection section  17 , a pressure sensor  15 , and a horse power operation section  16 . 
     The speed detection section  14  receives a pulse output from a pulse generator  13  which is connected to the motor  3 , and calculates a current speed of the motor  3  based upon a pulse interval. 
     The flowing amount detection section  17  receives the current speed as input, and calculates a discharge flow by taking a pump volume and the like into consideration. 
     The pressure sensor  15  detects a current pressure of discharge fluid from the pump  4 . 
     The horse power operation section  16  calculates a current horse power based upon the current flowing amount and the current pressure. 
     The pump driving apparatus further comprises a ratio calculation section  27 , and a multiplication section  28 . 
     The ratio calculation section  27  calculates a ratio between a predetermined power voltage  26  and the DC voltage of the converter section  1 . 
     The multiplication section  28  multiplies the operation result (voltage change ratio) calculated by the ratio calculation section  27  to the set horse power so as to generate the modified horse power. 
     Operation of the pump driving apparatus having the above arrangement is as follows. 
     Operation in a case where the predetermined voltage is equal to the predetermined power voltage is similar to that of the pump driving apparatus in  FIG. 1 , therefore, description for the case is omitted. Only operation in a case where the power voltage is changed, is described. 
     When a power voltage is different from the predetermined power voltage, the DC voltage output from the converter section I changes in correspondence with the changing of the power voltage. 
     The characteristic changing section  18  supplies modified values (pressure, flowing amount, horse power) to the horse power command generation section  5  in correspondence with the DC voltage, even when the set pressure, the set flowing amount, and the set horse power are constant. 
     As a result, the horse power command generation section  5  generates a horse power command based upon the adequate P-Q characteristic, and the pump  4  is driven based upon the generated horse power command. In other words, the motor can be driven to suit a value which can actually be output so that the motor capacity can be utilized sufficiently. 
     It is preferable that the horse power command generation section  5  generates characteristic for every region a, b, and c illustrated in  FIG. 5 , based upon the modified pressure, flowing amount, and horse power. 
     In the above embodiment, P-Q characteristic is changed using the DC voltage. However, it is possible that P-Q characteristic is changed using an AC power voltage. When AC power is three phase power, it is required to detect power voltages for three phases to deal with the unbalanced supply voltage. Therefore, it is preferable that the DC voltage is used in view of simplification in arrangement, and reduction in cost. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a main portion of a characteristic changing section  18  of a pump driving apparatus of another embodiment according to the present invention. 
     The characteristic changing section in  FIG. 7  comprises a low-pass filter  222 , a driving condition stability judgment section  223 , a ratio calculation section  227 , and a multiplication section  228 . 
     The low-pass filter  222  removes high frequency noises and the like included in the input DC voltage. 
     The driving condition stability judgment section  223  judges whether or not driving condition is stable. The ratio calculation section  227  calculates a ratio between the output voltage from the low-pass filter  222  and the predetermined power voltage output from a predetermined power voltage holding section  226 . 
     The multiplication section  228  multiplies the operation result (voltage change ratio) calculated by the ratio calculation section  227  to the set horse power so as to generate a modified horse power. 
     A section for judging that driving condition is stable, for example, when a condition is continuing equal to or more than 500 msec, in the condition the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm and when speed change under the condition is equal to or less than 500 rpm, or when a condition is continuing equal to or more than 500 msec, in the condition the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm and when speed change under the condition exceeds 500 rpm and when the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm after 500 msec has passed, is employed as the driving condition stability judgment section  223 . However, it is possible to employ other conditions. 
     When the arrangement in  FIG. 7  is employed, only when it is judged that driving condition is stable, a switch  224  is turned on so as to sample-hold the corrected set horse power which is the output value of the multiplication section  228 , and to hold the corrected set horse power in a modified horse power holding section  225 . When it is judged that driving condition is not stable, the switch  224  is turned off so as to generate a modified horse power which is held by the modified horse power holding section  225 . 
     Therefore, driving of the pump with more stability is realized. 
     Description is made further. 
     When the power voltage is detected from the DC voltage, for example, power regeneration may be generated due to deceleration of the motor so that the DC voltage may be raised temporally. When P-Q characteristic is changed by taking the DC voltage into consideration as power voltage change directly for such case, the control condition may become unstable. 
     However, when the arrangement of  FIG. 7  is employed, the motor  3  continues power running for some time period depending upon the motor speed and the degree of power voltage change so that the power is consumed, the power corresponding to the raise due to the power regeneration. The correction of P-Q characteristic is carried out only in a case that the DC voltage is supposed to become the ideal DC voltage value of the AC power voltage (AC voltage×2 1/2 ). In transient state, the modified horse power is continuously used, the modified horse power being held by the modified horse power holding section  225  prior to becoming transient state. Consequently, the pump  4  can be controlled stably. 
     By employing a section for judging that driving condition is stable, for example, when a condition is continuing equal to or more than 500 msec, in the condition the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm and when speed change under the condition is equal to or less than 500 rpm, or when a condition is continuing equal to or more than 500 msec, in the condition the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm and when speed change under the condition exceeds 500 rpm and when the motor  3  is driven equal to or less than 2000 rpm after 500 msec has passed, as the driving condition stability judgment section  223 , it is possible that P-Q characteristic is corrected only in dwelling condition. 
     When the AC power voltage is directly detected, the above disadvantages and the like are not generated. Therefore, it is not necessary that the arrangement of  FIG. 7  is employed. 
     By allowing the current voltage holding section  325  to hold the output voltage from the low-pass filter  322  by turning the switch  324  on/off using the output of the driving condition stability judgment section  323 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , operation and effect similar to those of  FIG. 7  can be realized.