A controller for controlling a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator of a process device includes a position feedback signal input for receiving a measured position signal representing a position of the actuator or the process device, an actuator pressure output, and a pressure sensor for measuring the actuator pressure. The controller is configured to operate in a measured position feedback mode and a simulated position feedback mode. In the measured position feedback mode the actuator is controlled dependent on a setpoint position and the measured position, and in the simulated position feedback mode the actuator is controller based on the setpoint position and a simulated position of the actuator or the process device. The simulated position is derived from the measured actuator pressure by a simulation model.

A hydraulic control loop controls a hydraulic adjusting cylinder. The cylinder has a cylindrical housing and a displaceable piston therein. The piston divides the housing interior into a first and a second hydraulic chamber. A first hydraulic valve supplies the first hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic pressure of the first hydraulic chamber is adjustable by controlling the first hydraulic valve. A second hydraulic valve supplies the second hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic pressure of the second hydraulic chamber is adjustable by controlling the second hydraulic valve. A control device controls the two hydraulic valves. In a position control state, the second hydraulic valve is controlled by a position control signal dependent on the working position of the piston and the first hydraulic valve is controlled by an adjusted position control signal, that is generated on the basis of the position control signal.

The invention relates to a method (25) of determining the health status of a hydraulic circuit arrangement comprising at least one hydraulic fluid working machine (2, 3). The health status is determined (29) using at least in part an actual temperature information (12) of the hydraulic circuit arrangement (1) that is compared to an expected temperature information (24) of the hydraulic circuit arrangement (1).

Example implementations relate to a leak mitigation system for a cooling system in a computing infrastructure. The leak mitigation system may include tank that is pre-pressurized, a valve unit fluidly coupled to the tank and a cooling loop, and controller operatively coupled to the valve unit. The cooling loop comprises one or more tubes to facilitate a flow of a coolant to cool one or more computing devices. The controller may detect a leak of the coolant from the cooling loop, and in response to detection of the leak of the coolant, the controller may operate the valve unit to establish a fluid coupling between the tank and the cooling loop to transfer at least a portion of the coolant away from the cooling loop.

The fluid controller includes a fluid control module and an external control module. The fluid control module includes a control valve on a flow channel, a valve driver circuit that drives the control valve, a fluid meter on a flow channel, and a first processor that processes a signal output from the fluid meter. The external control module includes a second processor that processes a signal output from the first processor. The second processor outputs a valve control signal according to the signal of the fluid meter output from the first processor, the valve control signal is directly input to the valve driver circuit without through the first processor, and the valve driver circuit outputs a voltage that drives the control valve according to the valve control signal from the second processor.

A water flow management system (1) including a valve (22), the valve (22) being adapted to communicate with at least one water flow detector (24) and a set of water usage products (40), wherein the water flow detector (24) is for detecting water flow to the set of water usage products (40), wherein the valve includes a processor (205) that is arranged to determine: an operational status of the set of water usage products (40), a water flow status of the water flow detector (24), and whether, on the basis of the operational status and the water flow status, the water flow to the set of water usage products (40) requires alteration, wherein the processor (205) is adapted to operate the valve (40) to effect the required alteration.

Methods and apparatus to detect and/or recover from failures in valve control devices. An apparatus includes an input signal generator to provide a digital input signal to a first converter. The first converter corresponds to one of a supply converter or an exhaust converter. The supply converter controls actuation of a supply relay to deliver pressurized fluid to an actuator operatively coupled to a valve in a process control system. The exhaust converter to control actuation of an exhaust relay to exhaust the pressurized fluid from the actuator. The digital input signal triggers application of a current to the first converter to open the first converter. The apparatus further including a failure detector to: determine a difference in at least one of a pressure in the actuator or a position of a flow control member in the valve; and detect a failure when the difference satisfies a failure threshold.

A valve controller for controlling a valve and a valve comprising the valve controller are disclosed. The valve has an actuator and a flow controlling unit. The valve controller is configured to execute a setup process and comprises a first pilot valve that can energize the actuator by allowing a first pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and de-energizing the actuator by allowing the fluid to leave the actuator. The valve controller further has an input device by which the setup process can be initiated, and a memory unit for storing setup parameter values. The setup process comprises: determining parameter values indicative of the functionality of at least one of the valve controller, the actuator and the flow controlling unit, and storing the parameter values as setup parameter values in the memory unit.

A component mounting machine which deals with a component remaining on a nozzle of a mounting head includes a board conveyance device conveying a board to a predetermined position, a component supply device accommodating multiple components therein, a component mounting device on which a mounting head which picks up and holds a component by vacuum pumping of a suction nozzle is installed and which mounts a component which is taken out from the component supply device onto a board which is conveyed by the board conveyance device, and a control device controlling each of the devices. The component mounting device performs lowering of the component, releasing the component with respect to the suction nozzle of the mounting head, a first lifting of the component to a middle height, a component pickup performed at the height of the first lifting, and a second lifting after the component pickup.

An apparatus is described for controlling fluid flow and in particular fluid flow through a microfluidic multi-port control valve assembly of a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) unit. The flow control apparatus has a localized data repository for storing cumulative wear indications of components of the apparatus. The stored information travels with the apparatus allowing for more reliable predictive failure of components of the apparatus.