Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.

Various embodiments concern a pneumatic landfill pump cycle counter comprising a spring located within a housing passage and a shuttle comprising a shuttle magnet, the shuttle located within the passage. The shuttle can be configured to move axially by the spring within the passage in an upstream direction to a home position, move axially by one or both of air pressure differential and airflow within the passage in a downstream direction away from the home position to a hold position. The cycle counter can further comprise a counter comprising an element responsive to a magnetic field of the shuttle magnet, the counter configured to increment a numeric count for each complete cycle of the shuttle moving from the home position to the hold position and then back to the home position.

A waste liquid treatment apparatus, a method, and a sample analyzer are provided. The waste liquid treatment apparatus is used for treating waste liquids in waste liquid pipes, and includes at least two waste liquid chambers, a pressure supply device, and a control device. Each waste liquid chamber communicates with at least one waste liquid pipe, and is used for collecting the waste liquid in the waste liquid pipe connected thereto when the inside of the waste liquid treatment chamber is in a negative pressure state. The pressure supply device is connected to each waste liquid chamber, and the control device is configured for controlling the pressure supply device to supply air pressure to each waste liquid chamber, so that the inside of at least one waste liquid chamber is in a negative pressure state at any time during waste liquid treatment, thereby effectively shortening a waste liquid treatment cycle.

A waste liquid treatment apparatus, a method, and a sample analyzer are provided. The waste liquid treatment apparatus is used for treating waste liquids in waste liquid pipes, and includes at least two waste liquid chambers, a pressure supply device, and a control device. Each waste liquid chamber communicates with at least one waste liquid pipe, and is used for collecting the waste liquid in the waste liquid pipe connected thereto when the inside of the waste liquid treatment chamber is in a negative pressure state. The pressure supply device is connected to each waste liquid chamber, and the control device is configured for controlling the pressure supply device to supply air pressure to each waste liquid chamber, so that the inside of at least one waste liquid chamber is in a negative pressure state at any time during waste liquid treatment, thereby effectively shortening a waste liquid treatment cycle.

Devices and methods for handling liquids are provided. The devices and methods make use of specifically controlled centrifugal forces to drive liquid flow between two cavities connected by a conduit such that as liquid flows into the second cavity, a gas volume is trapped in the second cavity and a pressure of the gas increases, allowing for pneumatic control of liquid flow. The devices and methods facilitate one or more of the mixing, metering and sequencing of liquids, for example on a microfluidic device.

A pumping system for pumping a medium is described. The system comprises: at least one transverse pressure exchange chamber, but preferably multiple pressure exchange chambers. Each pressure exchange chamber has a valve arrangement at each end. The system also includes a pressurised discharge at a delivery end of the system and a filling mechanism operable to fill the pressure exchange chamber with the medium. A positive displacement pump is operable to pump a driving fluid in direct contact with the medium so that the medium is pumped from the pressure exchange chamber to the pressurised discharge. A method of pumping a medium is also described.

A pumping system for pumping a medium is described. The system comprises: at least one transverse pressure exchange chamber, but preferably multiple pressure exchange chambers. Each pressure exchange chamber has a valve arrangement at each end. The system also includes a pressurised discharge at a delivery end of the system and a filling mechanism operable to fill the pressure exchange chamber with the medium. A positive displacement pump is operable to pump a driving fluid in direct contact with the medium so that the medium is pumped from the pressure exchange chamber to the pressurised discharge. A method of pumping a medium is also described.

This invention relates to an energy generating system and method, particularly to a fluid actuated energy generating system and method employing multifarious mechanisms to produce energy. The system comprises first and second tower structures; means operable to displace fluid in the first tower structure, and means operable in response to fluid displaced from the first tower structure for displacing fluid in the second tower structure. The system also comprises means operable in response to fluid displaced from the second tower structure for generating energy; means for collecting fluid displaced from the second tower structure for return to the second tower structure; and means for receiving, in the first and second tower structures, fluid for maintaining a fluid level for operation of the system.

This invention relates to an energy generating system and method, particularly to a fluid actuated energy generating system and method employing multifarious mechanisms to produce energy. The system comprises first and second tower structures; means operable to displace fluid in the first tower structure, and means operable in response to fluid displaced from the first tower structure for displacing fluid in the second tower structure. The system also comprises means operable in response to fluid displaced from the second tower structure for generating energy; means for collecting fluid displaced from the second tower structure for return to the second tower structure; and means for receiving, in the first and second tower structures, fluid for maintaining a fluid level for operation of the system.

This method is used to manage a pressure accumulator (1) as a component of an energy storage system, consisting of a work machine (4), a collecting tank (7), a displacement apparatus (6) and a pressure accumulator (1) for storing a pressurised gaseous medium. The pressure accumulator (1) is partially filled with a liquid medium so as to be able to control the gas storage volume therewith. Feeding compressed gas (3) into the pressure accumulator (1) involves removing liquid (2). Removing compressed gas (3) from the pressure accumulator (1) involves feeding in liquid (2) so that the storage pressure is kept under control as necessary, in particular is kept constant. To this end, one pressurised unit of gas (3) is introduced into the pressure accumulator (1) with the removal of one unit of liquid (2) from the pressure accumulator (1) by means of the displacement apparatus (6) and vice versa. The present method and the present arrangement make it possible to fill the pressure accumulator (1) completely with and to empty the pressured storage unit (1) completely of pressurised gas (3) at a controllable pressure, which leads to improved utilisation of the pressure accumulator volume and thus increases the energy density of the energy storage system. The method further makes it possible to operate the energy storage system at a constant operating point, thus increasing the efficiency of the individual components and of the entire system, and minimising the compression and expansion processes in the pressure accumulator (1).