An accumulator for a vacuum drainage system. The accumulator includes a body having a bottom wall, sidewalls and top wall, the bottom wall, sidewalls and top walls all cooperating to define a reservoir within the body. A first inlet port and a first outlet port are provided toward a first end of the body, and a second inlet port and a second outlet port are provided toward a second end of the body. The first and second inlet ports respectively define first and second inlet openings into the reservoir, and the first and second outlet ports respectively define first and second outlet openings from the reservoir.

A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module runs n different subsets of i pumps of a multi-pump system including N pumps during n different configuration cycles at a speed ?.sub.j, wherein N?2, 2?n?2.sup.N?1 and 1?i?N. Each configuration cycle j?{1, . . . , n} is associated with a subset j?{1, . . . , n} and a speed ?.sub.j. The communication interface receives signals indicative of operational parameters from each subset j during the associated configuration cycle j. The processing module determines an approximated pump characteristic ?p=f(q, ?.sub.j) based on the received signals for each subset j and under an assumption that the i pumps of each subset j share the same part q/i of a reference flow q. The storage module stores the approximated pump characteristic ?p=f(q, ?.sub.j) or parameters indicative thereof.

A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module is configured to run a zero flow configuration cycle by either ramping up the speed of at least one pump in addition to a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump starting to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic or power consumption or ramping down the speed of at least one pump of a subset j of i pumps of a multi-pump system until the communication interface receives a signal change indicative of the at least one pump stopping to contribute to the total flow, wherein the processing module is configured to determine an approximated pump characteristic and/or power consumption.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling operational parameters of a CO.sub.2 compression surface facility or pipeline in order to maintain a CO.sub.2 stream having impurities flowing in the pipeline in a liquid or supercritical phase. Sensors may be provided to sense whether the flow is single-phase or two-phase flow, and feedback provided to adjust the pressure and/or temperature at the pipeline inlet. The system is preferably optimized to limit power consumption and/or cost.

Disclosed are an automatic remote water supply system in a low gravity environment, which includes a water supply unit, an environment detection unit and a control unit. The water supply unit includes a water bag, an air inlet pipe, a water pipe and a water pump on the water pipe. The bottom of the water bag has an air inlet and a water outlet. The air inlet pipe is communicated with the water bag through the air inlet. The water pipe is communicated with the water bag through the water outlet. The environment detection unit is configured to detect environmental information in the ecosystem to which the water supply system belongs in the low gravity environment. The control unit is configured to control the starting state of the water pump according to the environmental information, so that water in the water bag flows out through the water pipe.

Disclosed are an automatic remote water supply system in a low gravity environment, which includes a water supply unit, an environment detection unit and a control unit. The water supply unit includes a water bag, an air inlet pipe, a water pipe and a water pump on the water pipe. The bottom of the water bag has an air inlet and a water outlet. The air inlet pipe is communicated with the water bag through the air inlet. The water pipe is communicated with the water bag through the water outlet. The environment detection unit is configured to detect environmental information in the ecosystem to which the water supply system belongs in the low gravity environment. The control unit is configured to control the starting state of the water pump according to the environmental information, so that water in the water bag flows out through the water pipe.

A multiple pump system is disclosed. The multiple pump system may include a fluid tank and a multiple pump vessel connected to the fluid tank. The multiple pump vessel may include at least one first pump and at least one second pump located therein. In addition, the at least one first pump may be configured to dispense a fluid from the fluid tank at a first pressure, and the at least one second pump may be configured to dispense the fluid from the fluid tank at a second pressure. The first pressure may be different from the second pressure, such that the at least one first pump may be configured to dispense liquefied natural gas, and the at least one second pump may be configured to dispense compressed natural gas.

The booster pump system includes a base pump module and one or more expansion pump modules connected to the base pump module. Each pump module has suction and discharge manifolds extending between the pump module sides and at least one pump connected between the manifolds. The expansion pump module suction and discharge manifolds connect to the base pump module manifolds, respectively. The pump modules are bilaterally symmetrical such that either side may be connected to the piping system or to another pump module. A bypass module is connected between the pipes of the piping system. The size of the manifolds is larger than the size of pipes that would normally be used with a pump having the capacity of the pump to which the manifolds are connected. Pump modules are connected to each other and to the piping system by quick release connectors.

The booster pump system includes a base pump module and one or more expansion pump modules connected to the base pump module. Each pump module has suction and discharge manifolds extending between the pump module sides and at least one pump connected between the manifolds. The expansion pump module suction and discharge manifolds connect to the base pump module manifolds, respectively. The pump modules are bilaterally symmetrical such that either side may be connected to the piping system or to another pump module. A bypass module is connected between the pipes of the piping system. The size of the manifolds is larger than the size of pipes that would normally be used with a pump having the capacity of the pump to which the manifolds are connected. Pump modules are connected to each other and to the piping system by quick release connectors.

An inflating module adapted to an inflatable object includes a pressure controlling assembly configured to monitor air pressure in the inflatable object after the inflatable body has been inflated and a supplemental air pressure providing device. The pressure controlling assembly is configured to automatically activate the supplemental air pressure providing device when the air pressure inside the inflatable object decreases below a predetermined threshold after inflation, and to control the supplemental air pressure providing device to provide supplemental air pressure to the inflatable object so as to maintain the air pressure of the inflatable object within a predetermined range.