A system for controlling pressure associated with a volume may comprising a pump and piston/cylinder assembly, both in fluid communication with a volume of a closed fluid system. In addition, the system may comprise an actuator operatively connected to the actuator and pump to control fluid flow and pressurization or depressurization of the volume and/or fluid flow system. The pump is activated to generate a first pressure level of the closed fluid system and when this first pressure level is reached the actuator is activated to drive the piston/cylinder assembly to reach a pressure set point from the first pressure level. The system may be used as a calibrator or a pressure controller for pressure differentials, gauge pressure or absolute pressure.

A platform configured for evaluating metering technologies and generating meter profiles using information derived from a plurality of meters retrieved from a plurality of environments. The platform may include a centralized data storage system in communication with a fluid meter test bench system. A computing device automatically controls fluid meter test bench system to measure the accuracy of fluid meters and transfers meter data to at least one of the centralized data storage system or a local data silo in communication with the centralized data storage system. Exemplary meter data includes meter type data, meter test data and meter environmental data. Meter environmental data may comprise meter install location and at least one of fluid quality data or fluid meter mounting position. The platform is configured to provide a meter profile for each meter tested based at least in part on the meter data and the test system data.

An apparatus that is configured to test operation of a gas meter. The apparatus can include a process control member with operative circuitry that provides all functionality necessary to execute the test and to analyze the resulting data. This functionality includes data processing functions and a web server to allow communication between the apparatus and a remote device via a network. In one embodiment, the operative circuitry includes a first circuitry to regulate operation of a fluid moving unit that provides fluid to a meter-under-test. The operative circuitry can also include a second circuitry to collect data from one or more sensors disposed on the meter-under-test. The operative circuitry can also have a third circuitry to perform various operations necessary to calculate, in one example, a value for an operative characteristic that relates to the accuracy of the meter-under-test.

An apparatus is disclosed that may include a substrate that may have a surface, a channel of a volume that may be defined, at least in part, by the substrate, wherein the channel may have a first end and a second end, a valve may be coupled to the channel at the first end, wherein the valve may be configured to allow a fluid to pass into the channel when the valve is open, and a continuity detector, which may be coupled to the channel at the second end, wherein the continuity detector may be activated when the fluid contacts the continuity detector, wherein the continuity detector may further be configured to provide a signal to close the valve and remove the fluid from the channel. A method for calculating a rate of flow of a fluid collected from a bodily surface into a body-worn device is disclosed.

A mass flow controller comprises: a first flow meter constructed and arranged to measured flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a second flow meter constructed and arranged to measure flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller; a control valve constructed and arranged so as to control the flow rate of mass through the mass flow controller in response to a control signal generated as a function of the flow rate as measured by one of the flow meters; and a system controller constructed and arranged to generate the control signal, and to provide an indication when a difference between the flow rate of mass as measured by the first flow meter and the flow rate of mass as measured by the second flow meter exceeds a threshold.

A mass flow controller and methods of providing for mass flow control are provided. A mass flow controller includes a control valve configured to control flow of a fluid in a flow path. A first flow sensor detects a first set of fluid flow parameters, and a second flow sensor detects a second set of fluid flow parameters. The first and second flow sensors are of distinct flow measurement types. The mass flow controller further includes a controller configured to determine a set of first mass flow rates based on the first set of fluid flow parameters detected by the first flow sensor and calibrate the second flow sensor based on the determined set of mass flow rates of the first mass flow sensor and the second set of fluid flow parameters.

An apparatus that is configured to test operation of a gas meter. The apparatus can include a process control member with operative circuitry that provides all functionality necessary to execute the test and to analyze the resulting data. This functionality includes data processing functions and a web server to allow communication between the apparatus and a remote device via a network. In one embodiment, the operative circuitry includes a first circuitry to regulate operation of a fluid moving unit that provides fluid to a meter-under-test. The operative circuitry can also include a second circuitry to collect data from one or more sensors disposed on the meter-under-test. The operative circuitry can also have a third circuitry to perform various operations necessary to calculate, in one example, a value for an operative characteristic that relates to the accuracy of the meter-under-test.

Methods and apparatus for in-situ calibration of a flow controller are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of flowing a gas includes providing a flow controller configured to provide a first gas at a first value of a flow rate based on a calculated first relationship determined by using a standard gas; determining an actual first relationship between the flow rate and the setpoint for the first gas from a plurality of values of the flow rate of the first gas determined at a corresponding plurality of values of the setpoint of the flow controller, wherein each of the plurality of values of the flow rate is determined from flowing the first gas through the flow controller at corresponding ones of the plurality of values for the setpoint; and flowing the first gas at the first value of the flow rate based on the actual first relationship.

An exemplary method for determining a flow rate of a pump, includes measuring and storing the flow rate (Q.sub.Mean) when the pump is in operation, storing rotational speed (n.sub.Mean) and torque (T.sub.Mean) of the pump during measurement of the flow rate (Q.sub.Mean), determining torque (T.sub.Manufacturer) corresponding to the measured flow rate (Q.sub.Mean), calculating a bias value of the torque (T.sub.Bias) by comparing the torque determined from the characteristic curve (T.sub.Manufacturer) and the stored torque (T.sub.Mean) of the pump, and determining an operating point of the pump based on the bias value of the torque (T.sub.Bias).

A method for operating a measuring apparatus, comprising the steps as follows: ascertaining a flow velocity comparing the ascertained flow velocity with a threshold value, which corresponds to a critical loading, especially to a resonant frequency, of a measuring apparatus immersion body protruding into the flow; and outputting a report, which signals reaching of a critical flow and/or frequency.