An actuator of a process control device continuously monitors actuator force and records high force values at each position point by continuously executing a routine in a processor of the actuator. The routine includes receiving from a position sensor a current position value indicating a position of a valve element in the valve, and from a force sensor a current force value indicating a force applied by the actuator. The routine also includes retrieving, from a memory device coupled to the processor, a previous force value measured at the current position, and comparing the current force values for the current position with the previous force value for the current position. If the current force value for the current position exceeds the previous force value for the current position, the routine replaces the previous force value for the current position with the current force value for the current position in memory.

Disclosed is a method, apparatus and storage medium for controlling drainage of equipment. The method includes: determining that the equipment is in a drain state; detecting whether a floor drain connected to a drain pipe of the equipment is at risk of drainage overflow or a drainage overflow occurs; and when it is detected that the floor drain is at risk of drainage overflow or the drainage overflow occurs, reducing an amount of water discharging from the drain pipe per unit time.

A system for controlling a parameter of a plant associated with a substrate processing chamber is disclosed. A measuring module measures a response of the plant associated with the substrate processing chamber when the parameter of the plant is changed. A model generating module determines a delay and a gain of the plant based on the response. The model generating module generates a model of the plant based on the delay, the gain, and a time constant of the plant. A predicting module receives a set point for the parameter and a measurement of the parameter, generates a prediction of a delay-free value of the parameter based on the set point for the parameter and the measurement of the parameter using the model, compares the prediction with the set point to generate a control signal, and controls the parameter of the plant based on the control signal.

A flow meter, and related system and method are provided. The flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, a valve, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve. The one or more processors are configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

Systems and methods for cooling a computer environment are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, one or more neural networks can be used to adjust one or more flow control valves, of a liquid cooling system for a data center, to control a variation in liquid flow rate across the data center.

A water detection apparatus includes a continuity probe, a voltage source that provides a reference voltage, and a control circuit. The control circuit provides the reference voltage to the continuity probe, measures a feedback signal corresponding to the reference voltage at a predetermined location of the fire suppression system, computes a continuity between the continuity probe and the predetermined location based on the feedback signal and the reference voltage, determines whether water is present in a low point of the piping system based on the computed continuity, and predicts whether a valve tripping event is expected to occur based on whether water is present in the low point to provide a detection signal for remedial action to mitigate false trips of the valve based on detecting the water in the low point.

A mass flow controller (10) comprises a fluid inlet (15) and at least one first flow meter (11) to measure a first flow rate (F.sub.1) and to output a first flow signal (FS.sub.1); at least one second flow meter (12) to measure a second flow (F.sub.2) rate and to output a second flow signal (FS.sub.2); a control device (13) connected to said first and second flow meters (11,12) and configured and arranged to generate a control signal (C); and at least one control valve (14) connected to said control device (13) to control a total flow rate (F.sub.out) through the mass flow controller (10) in response to the control signal (C). The control signal (C) is generated as a function of both the first and second flow signals (FS.sub.1,FS.sub.2) such that the mass flow controller's (10) sensitivity to perturbations of said inlet pressure is minimized.

An injector control system for a coiled tubing unit includes a programmable logic controller arranged to receive a signal related to sensed parameters of a coiled tubing injection operation; a traction pressure control hydraulic circuit operable to adjust hydraulic pressure provided to at least one traction cylinder in a coiled tubing injection head; a motor pressure control hydraulic circuit operable to adjust hydraulic pressure provided to at least one motor of the coiled tubing injection head; and at least one of the traction pressure control hydraulic circuit and the motor pressure control hydraulic circuit including a proportional control valve in receipt of a variable electrical signal from the programmable logic controller. The programmable logic controller adjusts the signal delivered to the proportional control valve throughout the coiled tubing injection operation as dictated by the sensed parameters.

A flow meter, and related system and method are provided. The flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, a valve, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve. The one or more processors are configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.