Automated fluid handling system comprising a housing and two or more fluid handling units arranged as interchangeable modular components with an external fluidics section and an internal non fluidics section, and wherein the housing comprises a liquid handling panel with two or more of component positions for receiving said interchangeable modular components such that the external fluidics section is separated from the non fluidics section by the liquid handling panel.

The present invention provides a system for heating a compressor assembly of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The system comprises a heat source for transferring thermal energy to a plurality of compressor units. A controller varies the thermal energy transferred to the compressor units, between at least two substantially non-zero rates of transfer of thermal energy, in a plurality of modes of operation of the HVAC system.

Aspects of a flow balanced frac tank farm are described herein. In one embodiment, the flow balanced frac tank farm includes at least one battery of frac tanks comprising a plurality of frac tank trailers, a header pipe arrangement, and at least one valve between one or more of the frac tank trailers and the header system. The header pipe arrangement may include a header supply pipe to supply water to individual ones of the plurality of frac tank trailers and a header discharge pipe to discharge water from individual ones of the plurality of frac tank trailers. The header pipe arrangement may be relied upon to help balance the flow of heated fluids among the frac tank trailers in frac tank farm.

A liquid transport apparatus includes: a U-shaped vessel for storing the liquid; an inverse conically shaped body which is hollow and has an opening part of an upper end and an opening part of a lower end; and a rotating disk driving motor part for rotating the inverse conically shaped body on an axis extending along a substantially vertical direction. The opening part of the lower end of the inverse conically shaped body is immersed in the liquid stored in the U-shaped vessel. In the liquid transport apparatus, an overflow opening part for keeping constant a distance between the opening part of the lower end of the inverse conically shaped body and a surface of the liquid stored in the U-shaped vessel is formed.

A device for use in the preparation of beverages, for managing the draw-off of water from a source of hot water comprises a chamber having a base, a cylindrical wall mounted on the base and a top section. An inlet and a return outlet are mounted in the base, and both the inlet and the return outlet are connectable to a source of hot water. Three draw-off outlets are also mounted in the base. The return outlet consists of a hollow tube section, which passes through the base to form a stand pipe. In use, hot water is introduced into the chamber through inlet and the chamber is orientated such that return outlet is positioned above the inlet. The inlet flow rate is equal to or greater than the draw-off flow rate, and any excess volume of hot water in the chamber is returnable, to the source of hot water, through the return outlet, thereby creating a constant head of water above the draw-off outlets.

A bulk adhesive transfer system for transferring adhesive particulate to a melter includes a bulk supply and a transfer device, which may define a hopper of the melter, a mobile bin, and/or a buffer unit. The transfer device is configured to receive unmelted adhesive particulate from the bulk supply and then be selectively docked with the melter to transfer the adhesive particulate to the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system may also include a knife gate valve device, which includes a plurality of ports that sequentially open and close to control flow of the adhesive particulate towards the melter. The bulk adhesive transfer system simplifies refilling operations for a melter while enabling continuous operation of the melter, even when the transfer device is undocked for removal from the melter.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a water management system for use on board a passenger transport vehicle. The water management system may be used to address and manage excess humidity, water leaks, or any other instance when water or other liquid may collect at a certain location. The disclosure provides a system for managing excess water and for optionally delivering the water to another location. The removal location may be a disposal outlet or it may be a beneficial use of the collected water on-board the vehicle.

A system is provided that allows relatively low temperature water to be withdrawn from a pipeline, heated and then returned to the pipeline. At least one embodiment includes a device for adjusting the rate of flow through a primary pipe so that desired temperatures are maintained during the heating process.

A pressure controller for use in operating parallel reactors, the pressure controller including a reference pressure controller, the reference pressure controller including: a first restrictor channel, a second restrictor channel, a fluid passage, which fluid passage extends between the outlet of the first restrictor channel and the inlet of the second restrictor channel, a pressure control fluid source being adapted to provide a flow of pressure control fluid, having an entrance pressure at the inlet of the first restrictor channel and an exit pressure at the outlet of the second restrictor channel, the flow of pressure control fluid experiencing a first pressure drop 1 over the first restrictor channel and a second pressure drop 2 over the second restrictor channel, a connector connecting the fluid passage to the control chamber, the pressure control fluid at the connector having an intermediate pressure, the intermediate pressure being determined by the ratio between the first pressure drop 1 and the second pressure drop 2, a controllable thermal device, the thermal device being adapted to heat and/or cool the first restrictor channel and/or the second restrictor channel, therewith influencing the ratio between the first pressure drop 1 and the second pressure drop 2.

Provided is a fluid control apparatus in which a pipe heating member may be mounted or removed with flexibility (i.e., without affecting other components) while one line, composed of the plurality of fluid control devices arranged in series, as a unit may be added or modified readily. The apparatus includes: a plate-shaped support member 5 to which a plurality of passage blocks 22 are detachably mounted; a hollow metal mounting member 6 having an upper surface to which the support member 5 is secured and being detachably mounted to a base member; and a pipe heating member 7 fitted into the mounting member 6. The pipe heating member 7, including a bottom wall 29 and a pair of side walls 30, accommodates a pipe 24 between the side walls 30 and is fitted into the mounting member 6 with the pipe heating member 7 abutting the mounting member 6.