US 12,473,923 B2
High efficiency circulator with sensors
Steve Thompson, Calgary (CA); Vladislav Milchev Stakev, South Easton, MI (US); Robert F. Birkenstock, Jr., Warwick, RI (US); Douglas Bird, Narragansett,, RI (US); and David E. Sweet, Old Lyme, CT (US)
Assigned to TACO, INC., Cranston, RI (US)
Filed by TACO, INC., Cranston, RI (US)
Filed on Nov. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/520,530.
Application 18/520,530 is a continuation of application No. 17/118,556, filed on Dec. 10, 2020, granted, now 12,313,075.
Application 17/118,556 is a continuation of application No. 14/689,631, filed on Apr. 17, 2015, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/115,050, filed on Feb. 11, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0254992 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F04D 15/00 (2006.01); F04D 13/06 (2006.01); H02K 11/05 (2016.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 15/0066 (2013.01) [F04D 13/064 (2013.01); F04D 13/0686 (2013.01); H02K 11/05 (2016.01); H02K 11/33 (2016.01); F04B 49/065 (2013.01); F24D 19/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stand-alone, wet rotor circulator comprising:
a centrifugal impeller configured to move a hydronic fluid through a recirculating hydronic fluid system;
a variable frequency DC motor operationally connected to the impeller to drive the impeller, the DC motor comprising:
a permanent magnet rotor formed of a ferrite ceramic magnet material, and
a system of stator coils configured to be powered by a sinusoidally variable DC current;
a rectifier system configured to convert an AC current to a non-stepped down DC current, the rectifier system including:
a first electrical circuit connection configured to connect the rectifier system to an AC current source, and
a second electrical circuit connection configured to output the non-stepped down DC current from the rectifier system; and
an electronic motor control system electrically connected to the second electrical circuit connection, the electronic motor control system comprising:
a power module configured to convert the non-stepped down DC current from the rectifier system to an artificial sinusoidally variable frequency DC current output,
an electronic variable frequency drive (VFD) electrically connected to the power module and configured to receive the artificial sinusoidally variable frequency DC current output, the VFD being configured to receive data signals from at least one thermal sensor, and
a third electrical connection electrically connecting the electronic motor control system to the system of stator coils of the DC motor,
wherein the VFD is configured to control a speed of the DC motor by varying the a frequency of the artificial sinusoidally variable frequency DC current output powering the system of stator coils of the DC motor in response to the data signals received from the at least one thermal sensor, and thereby control a speed of the impeller and resulting flow of the hydronic fluid in through the recirculating hydronic fluid system.