I need to start a project where I need to control a water pump that is quite big (driven by a 10A programmable power supply) so I can get a flow of around 10 litres per minute.
At the moment the pump is really inconsistent, with a set current limit the flow rate of the water changes quite a while so I am planning to do a closed-loop PID controller in order to vary the voltage or current of the pump so I can get a more consistent flow rate.
I will be honest, is my first project with Arduino and control so I don't even know if it is achievable with the things I have. The programmable power supply has an rs232 connection so I am thinking to buy a converter from the Arduino to rs232.
Any advice on how to proceed with the control of the system? I will really appreciate it
Definitely the wrong approach for any pumping any liquid. The current needed to accelerate the motor, pump and the fluid from rest to movement is many, many times what is required to maintain the flow.
In addition, pumps are designed to operate at a certain speed and are much less efficient running slower or faster than that speed.
Exactly what control are you attempting to create?
Water pump control is normally done by running the pump at correct speed, but feeding the output back into the input, so you have a loop of water under pressure. Then have a valve to take the water under pressure from the loop to go to wherever you need it.
Then you have consistent flow because the pressure is constant.
Paul