A chemical solution supply system including: a first tank that stores a first chemical solution; a first pipe that is connected to the first tank and conveys the first chemical solution; a first filter unit that is connected to the first pipe and has a first filter through which the first chemical solution is filtered; a first valve that is provided in the first pipe between the first tank and the first filter unit; a second tank that stores a second chemical solution; and a second pipe that is connected to the second tank and the first pipe between the first filter unit and the first valve.

A multi-bank cooking system includes multiple discrete cooking systems sharing common plumbing and integrated safety features. The multi-bank cooking system may include two or more rack-fryer systems, each with discrete frypots, operating mechanisms and cooking controllers. Each of the discrete cooking systems, may share a common plumbing system with integrated valves and controls receiving coordinated safety signals to facilitate safe and efficient operation of the system.

Systems and methods related to communication with and control of network-enabled water devices and sensors of various water systems are disclosed. Such water systems may include water filtration systems, water reclamation systems, sump pump systems, pool or spa systems, water softening systems, and plumbing systems. Such water devices may include chemical controllers, smart valves, pool pumps, sump pumps, water softeners, residential appliances, and manifolds. Such sensor devices may include flow meters, splash detectors, motion sensors, moisture sensors, humidity sensors, chemical sensors, water level sensors, pressure sensors, and cameras. Data received from network-enabled water devices and sensors may be processed at a remote server or a local controller, which may cause corresponding alerts or maintenance requests to be sent to one or more user devices or service providers or may automatically control one or more of the water devices and sensors based on analysis of the data.

Systems and methods related to communication with and control of network-enabled water devices and sensors of various water systems are disclosed. Such water systems may include water filtration systems, water reclamation systems, sump pump systems, pool or spa systems, water softening systems, and plumbing systems. Such water devices may include chemical controllers, smart valves, pool pumps, sump pumps, water softeners, residential appliances, and manifolds. Such sensor devices may include flow meters, splash detectors, motion sensors, moisture sensors, humidity sensors, chemical sensors, water level sensors, pressure sensors, and cameras. Data received from network-enabled water devices and sensors may be processed at a remote server or a local controller, which may cause corresponding alerts or maintenance requests to be sent to one or more user devices or service providers or may automatically control one or more of the water devices and sensors based on analysis of the data.

A sensor system to provide data for use to control manufacture of an optical fiber in microgravity including a diameter sensor to monitor a diameter of a fiber drawn from a preform material, a tension sensor to monitor tension of the fiber as the fiber is pulled from the preform material to a storage device and a controller in communication with at least one of the diameter sensor and the tension sensor to evaluate sensor data to determine at least one of a speed and rate at which the fiber is pulled from the preform material.

A sensor system to provide data for use to control manufacture of an optical fiber in microgravity including a diameter sensor to monitor a diameter of a fiber drawn from a preform material, a tension sensor to monitor tension of the fiber as the fiber is pulled from the preform material to a storage device and a controller in communication with at least one of the diameter sensor and the tension sensor to evaluate sensor data to determine at least one of a speed and rate at which the fiber is pulled from the preform material.

A method of filtering a liquid feed is described, comprising passing a liquid feed through a single pass tangential flow filtration (SPTFF) system and recovering the retentate and permeate from the system in separate containers. A method of filtering a liquid feed is also described comprising passing a liquid feed through a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system, recovering permeate and a portion of the retentate from the system in separate containers without recirculation through the TFF system, and recirculating the remainder of the retentate through the TFF system at least once. The methods of the invention can be performed using an SPTFF or a TFF system that comprises manifold segments to serialize the flow path of the feed and retentate without requiring diverter plates.

A system for drawing optical fiber in microgravity including a sealed housing to prevent infiltration of at least humidity and filled with a dry environment, a preform holder located within the sealed housing to hold preform material, a furnace located within the sealed housing to receive the preform material from the preform holder and to heat the preform material from which the optical fiber is pulled, a feed system to move the preform material from the preform holder to the furnace, a drawing mechanism located within the sealed housing to pull the optical fiber from the preform material within the furnace, a diameter monitor located within the sealed housing to measure a diameter of the optical fiber and a fiber collection mechanism located within the sealed housing to gather and store the optical fiber.

A system for drawing optical fiber in microgravity including a sealed housing to prevent infiltration of at least humidity and filled with a dry environment, a preform holder located within the sealed housing to hold preform material, a furnace located within the sealed housing to receive the preform material from the preform holder and to heat the preform material from which the optical fiber is pulled, a feed system to move the preform material from the preform holder to the furnace, a drawing mechanism located within the sealed housing to pull the optical fiber from the preform material within the furnace, a diameter monitor located within the sealed housing to measure a diameter of the optical fiber and a fiber collection mechanism located within the sealed housing to gather and store the optical fiber.

A filter element is provided and includes a filter medium having an axial channel, end plates each sealingly covering one axial end of the filter medium, one end plate having an opening in fluid communication with the channel, a hole arranged on the liquid path, not on the filter medium, and a closing member which is arranged in the hole and which is configured: to prevent liquid from flowing through the hole when the liquid pressure upstream the closing member is below a predetermined threshold to open at the threshold, to allow liquid to flow through the hole, and, after it has been opened, to remain open. A method is provided for checking the suitability of a filter element, at first use after a filter element change. The method includes monitoring the liquid pressure at a point of the liquid circuit located outside of and near a port of a filter housing receiving the filter element, when an electrical pump of the liquid circuit is restarted for the first time, comparing the evolution of the monitored liquid pressure over time with a predetermined evolution over time of the liquid pressure at the point for a new reference filter element.