Next Generation Pump Systems Enable New Opportunities For Asset Management And Economic Optimization

Abstract

There is growing interest in cost-effective techniques that can detect the earliest stage of degradation or malfunction and predict machinery failure. New diagnostic and prognostic techniques may be effectively coupled with novel control techniques in the context of an intelligent motor-pump-control system. An integrated intelligent system is described for pumping applications that can sense the operating condition and health of the components of a hydraulic system and automatically change the operation of the motor-pump system. The change in control is goal-directed whereby the prescribed operating change is intended to achieve previously defined operating goals or performance objectives. The operation of an intelligent motor-pump system in an integrated, coordinated manner can achieve unprecedented and important capabilities for protecting critical processes, process equipment, operations personnel, and the environment. This system also provides a basis for dynamic optimization of critical operating and financial objectives such as longest mean time between failure, lowest life-cycle cost, or lowest cost per gallon pumped. Future intelligent systems will provide the basis for next generation condition-based monitoring systems, future distributed intelligent systems, and autonomous, agent-based systems.