A method of optimizing pump performance includes providing a measurement device on a pump equipment assembly, gathering a data reading from the measurement device during operation of the pump equipment assembly, evaluating the data reading, and determining whether remedial action needs to be taken to improve the performance of the pump equipment assembly based on the evaluation.

Several water flow devices are coupled to monitor and control water outlets. The devices are monitored by a water conservation server enforcing water conservation policies independently for each water outlet of a system. The water conservation server can automatically implement changes to a particular water outlet, or just notify a user via email or other mechanisms.

Apparatus for providing variable speed pump control in a hydronic pump system having a system flow and pressure requirement, featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a system characteristic curve, a system flow and pressure requirement for the hydronic pump system, and real time changes by a pump operator to at least one control parameter to adjust the performance of the hydronic pump system; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a design/redesign of at least one pump, system or control curve to adjust the performance of the hydronic pump system to correspond with the system flow and pressure requirement of the hydronic system, based upon the signaling received.

A bed system includes microclimate control capabilities for providing quality sleep experience. The bed system can include a microclimate control subsystem configured to supply conditioned air (e.g., heated or cooled air) to a mattress, or draw ambient air from the mattress, to achieve a desired temperature at the top of the mattress. Utilizing supply of conditioned air to provide air at desired temperature to the mattress system, or utilizing air suction to drain heat away from the mattress system, can provide precise microclimate control at the mattress, thereby permitting conformable sleep.

A controller for controlling a microfluidic device. A first computing device receives commands from a user interface in a relatively high level protocol using a standardized command language, converts the commands from the standardized command language into a relatively mid-level protocol, sends the commands in the relatively mid-level protocol, receiving data, converts the data into the standardized command language, and sends the data to the user interface according to the standardized command language. A second computing device receives the commands from the first computing device in the relatively mid-level protocol, converts the commands from the relatively mid-level protocol to at least one relatively lower level protocol that is understood by a microfluidic device that is connected to the controller, receives data from the microfluidic device, and sends the data to the first computing device.

A method includes, responsive to first input, actuating a first plurality of valves of a solar board to be in an open position to provide cold water via a first manifold mounted to the solar board to first equipment and to receive hot water from the first equipment. The method further includes, responsive to second input, actuating a second plurality of valves of the solar board to be in the open position to provide the cold water via the first manifold and a second manifold mounted to the solar board to second equipment and to receive the hot water from the second equipment.

A case for an electronic cigarette vaporiser, the case including an automatic lifting mechanism that lifts the vaporiser up a few mm from the case to enable a user to easily grasp the vaporiser and withdraw it from the case. The lifting mechanism can be spring- based. The case both re-fills the vaporiser with liquid and also re-charges a battery in the vaporiser.

A method for controlling actuations of an automatic toilet flushing mechanism compares manual flush timestamps, latch open timestamps and latch close timestamps in association with uses of a toilet stall to generate a stall use profile. Automatic toilet flushing may be controlled based on the stall use profile. Stall usage data, toilet usage data and/or water usage data may be collected and provided for improved maintenance and water conservation.

Example computer-implemented methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for implementing split range control using Proportional-Integral (PI) control on a process. In some aspects, a feedback signal from the process is received. A proportional control is performed on the feedback signal to generate a first control output while an integral control is performed on the feedback signal to generate a second control output. A first valve of the process is controlled based on the first control output while a second valve of the process is controlled based on the second control output. The second valve has a valve diameter larger than a valve diameter of the first valve.

A chemical plant or refinery may include process equipment, such as, for example, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, fired heaters, control valves, fractionation columns, and reactors. Performance monitoring equipment may monitor the process equipment for one or more factors, such as temperature, pressure, feed flow, product flow, density, and specific composition. Monitoring to detect and diagnose operational errors or inefficiencies may allow for optimizing product output from a refinery or petrochemical facility.