A flow node includes characterized restrictor in series and adjacent with a valve to provide a primary flow restriction with a minimized volume between the two. A conductance of the characterized restrictor is low enough relative to the valve seat to cause a pressure drop that is sufficiently large relative to the pressure drop across the valve seat that a pressure measurement device is located upstream of the valve is used to determine the pressure to the inlet of the restrictor. A vent can be included to reduce bleed time. Multiple flow nodes in parallel increase a dynamic range.

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

A system for monitoring and controlling flow rate of a fluid through a valve, the system including a flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid through the valve, and a controller in communication with the flow rate sensor. The controller is configured to receive the measured flow rate from the flow rate sensor and determine if the measured flow rate is equal to a predetermined flow rate value. In response to determining equality, the controller is configured to determine a minimum valve position threshold (x.sub.min), and determine a minimum flow rate threshold (y.sub.min) corresponding to x.sub.min. The controller is further configured to calculate a corrected flow rate (ŷ.sub.f) using x.sub.min, y.sub.min, and an indication of valve position (v). Additionally, the controller is configured to control a valve operation using the corrected flow rate (ŷ.sub.f).

A water heater system and method of operating such a system are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, the water heater system includes a heat exchanger. a heat source inlet by which heated heating fluid can be provided to the heat exchanger, a heat source outlet by which cooled heating fluid can be communicated from the heat exchanger, a water supply inlet by which supply water can be provided to the heat exchanger, and a water supply outlet by which heated water can be communicated from the heat exchanger. Additionally, the system includes a controller, a water supply outlet temperature sensor, a water supply flowmeter, and an actuator. The controller is configured to generate control signals based at least indirectly upon temperature measurements and flow measurements and to provide the control signals to the actuator to regulate a fluid flow of the heated heating fluid into the heat exchanger.

A novel assay and a suite of devices may isolate nucleic acids from prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and prepare samples for real-time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The assay may employ an aqueous-based non-alcohol approach that yields robust RNA quality. The suite of ready-to-use devices may provide pre-loaded reagents in liquid and lyophilized formats to enable rapid manual operation in a laboratory or remote field environments. The assay and devices may be particularly suitable to analysis in microgravity or deep space environments.

Positioner assemblies may be configured to sense at least one position of at least a portion of a valve assembly that is moved along a first axis of movement. A movable element of the positioner assembly is configured to rotate about a second axis of movement, where the first axis of movement is substantially parallel to the second axis of movement. Valve systems and methods of sensing a position of a component of a valve system may include such a positioner assembly.

An electronic faucet that has a controller module cartridge that is detachably connected to a spout assembly by an adapter.

A flow system includes a flow sensor, a first pipe configured to transport fluid from an upstream fluid source to the flow sensor, and a second pipe configured to transport fluid from the flow sensor to a downstream fluid distributor. Proximate the flow sensor, the first pipe has a first interior diameter and the second pipe has a second interior diameter. The flow system further includes at least one of the following: a flow diversion or flow obstruction positioned between the flow sensor and the upstream fluid source a distance or length from the flow sensor that is less than ten times the first interior diameter of the first pipe and/or a flow diversion or flow obstruction positioned between the flow sensor and the downstream fluid distributor a distance or length from the flow sensor that is less than five times the second interior diameter of the second pipe.

A method for controlling one or more scent delivery units includes maintaining one or more scheduled events, maintaining one or more scheduled anti-events, and generating, based on the one or more scheduled events and the one or more scheduled anti-events, command data to be communicated to the one or more scent delivery units to control their activation and deactivation. Generating the command data includes identifying a conflicting period of time during which control specified by the one or more scheduled events differs from control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events and also includes generating command data that gives priority to control specified by the one or more scheduled anti-events. Control for the one or more scent delivery units during the conflicting period of time is in accordance with control logic of the one or more scheduled anti-events and not the one or more scheduled events.

A scent delivery system includes first and second scent delivery units and a central controller. The central controller is configured to generate command data capable of affecting operation of at least the first and second units based on one or more scenting schedules. The central controller is also configured to determine a relatedness and an order of priority between the units, and determine whether a desired activation time for the first unit overlaps at least partially with a desired activation time for the second unit. Based upon a determination that the first unit is related to the second unit and that a desired activation time for the first unit overlaps at least partially with a desired activation time for the second unit, the central controller is further configured to coordinate activity level of each of the first and second delivery units during the overlapping activation time according to the order of priority.