An aircraft water supply system supplies water to a water discharge port in an aircraft. A cold water flow path supplies cold water to the water discharge port. A hot water flow path supplies hot water to the water discharge port. A first control valve adjusts the flow rate of cold water flowing through the cold water flow path. A second control valve adjusts the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water flow path. A flow sensor detects the flow rate of water at any point up to the water discharge port. A flow control unit controls the opening/closing state of the first control valve and the second control valve based on the water temperature detected by the flow sensor so that the amount of the water discharged from the water discharge port reaches a predetermined target flow rate.

A CO2 low-pressure shut-off system is described. The low-pressure shut-off system may include a low-pressure shut-off valve including a first valve inlet, a second valve inlet and at least one valve outlet, a solenoid valve including a valve inlet, a first valve outlet, and a second valve outlet. The solenoid may be configured to direct a flow of a pressurized gas from the valve inlet into at least one of the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. The CO2 low-pressure shut-off system further includes a gas monitor electrically coupled to the solenoid valve. The gas monitor may be configured to transmit one of a first signal and a second signal to the solenoid valve to control the flow of the pressurized gas through the solenoid valve.

Mass flow controllers and methods for controlling mass flow controllers are disclosed. A method includes providing a gas through a thermal mass flow sensor of the mass flow controller and processing a sensor signal from the thermal mass flow sensor to produce a flow signal. A total nonlinearity characteristic function is determined based on nonlinearity effects on the flow signal and includes a first and second nonlinearity component function based on a first and second source of nonlinearity respectively. The total nonlinearity characteristic function is calibrated, and the first nonlinearity component function is adjusted responsive to changes in the first source of nonlinearity, after which the total nonlinearity characteristic function is updated. The flow signal is corrected to produce a corrected flow signal using the total nonlinearity characteristic function. A valve of the mass flow controller is controlled using the corrected flow signal and a setpoint signal.

A flow rate control apparatus calculates a resistance flow rate, which is a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid resistor, based on a first pressure measured by a first pressure sensor and a second pressure measured by a second pressure sensor, converts the resistance flow rate to a first valve flow rate, which is the flow rate of the fluid passing through a first valve, based on the first pressure, converts the resistance flow rate to a second valve flow rate, which is the flow rate of the fluid passing through a second valve, based on the second pressure, controls the first valve so that the deviation between a first set flow rate and the first valve flow rate becomes small, and controls the second valve so that the deviation between a second set flow rate and the second valve flow rate becomes small.

A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a differential pressure across the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the differential pressure sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and the differential pressure measurement, determine an estimated flow rate based on the differential pressure measurement, determine an actuator position setpoint using the flow rate setpoint and the estimated flow rate, and operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint.

The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.

An aircraft water supply system supplies water to a water discharge port in an aircraft. A cold water flow path supplies cold water to the water discharge port. A hot water flow path supplies hot water to the water discharge port. A first control valve adjusts the flow rate of cold water flowing through the cold water flow path. A second control valve adjusts the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water flow path. A flow sensor detects the flow rate of water at any point up to the water discharge port. A flow control unit controls the opening/closing state of the first control valve and the second control valve based on the water temperature detected by the flow sensor so that the amount of the water discharged from the water discharge port reaches a predetermined target flow rate.

A flow controller includes a valve unit for influencing the flow of a fluid through a fluid channel, a flow sensor for detecting the flow of the fluid through the fluid channel, a pressure sensor arrangement for detecting a fluid pressure of the fluid, and a control unit which is adapted to, in response to the flow being within a measurement range of the flow sensor, assume a first operating mode, and, in the first operating mode, to perform a first closed-loop flow control on the basis of the flow detected by the flow sensor, and, in response to the flow being outside the measurement range of the flow sensor, assume a second operating mode, and, in the second operating mode, to perform an open-loop flow control on the basis of the detected fluid pressure and/or to perform a second closed-loop flow control on the basis of the detected fluid pressure.

A fluid control device includes an electric motor mechanically connected to a fluid valve and a sensor coupled to a fluid pipe section. The sensor may be a temperature, pressure or flow rate sensor. A control device processor is configured to enter into a pre-occupancy mode when powered and never previously wirelessly connected to a remotely disposed fluid monitoring and control system. The pre-occupancy mode may close the fluid valve if at least one of the following occurs: exceeding a first preset threshold for a pressure decay test; exceeding a second preset threshold for a maximum flow rate; exceeding a third preset threshold for a maximum flow duration; exceeding a fourth preset threshold for a maximum flow volume; exceeding below a fifth preset threshold for a low temperature; exceeding above a sixth preset threshold for a high temperature; and/or exceeding above a seventh preset threshold for a high pressure.

A flow rate control apparatus calculates a resistance flow rate, which is a flow rate of a fluid flowing through the fluid resistor, based on a first pressure measured by a first pressure sensor and a second pressure measured by a second pressure sensor, converts the resistance flow rate to a first valve flow rate, which is the flow rate of the fluid passing through a first valve, based on the first pressure, converts the resistance flow rate to a second valve flow rate, which is the flow rate of the fluid passing through a second valve, based on the second pressure, controls the first valve so that the deviation between a first set flow rate and the first valve flow rate becomes small, and controls the second valve so that the deviation between a second set flow rate and the second valve flow rate becomes small.