A liquid chromatography monitoring system comprises a computer or electronic controller comprising computer-readable instructions operable to: (a) draw a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configure a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through a fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) cause the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determine a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) compare the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) provide a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

A portable water conditioning system is provided that includes a water conditioner, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The water conditioner has a plurality of conditioning stages that condition water. The plurality of conditioning stages include, in a direction of flow of the water through the water conditioner, a reverse osmosis stage and a deionizing stage. The first sensor detects a first condition of the water before the reverse osmosis stage. The second sensor detects a second condition of the water after the reverse osmosis stage. The controller is in communication with the first and second sensors and determines a health status of the reverse osmosis stage based the first and second conditions. The first and second conditions each include a level of total dissolved solids of the water.

An fluid monitoring system can include a filter having an upstream face and a downstream face and defining a form factor, a sensor package arranged within the form factor of the filter to detect at least one quality factor of a surrounding medium, a transmitter electronically coupled to the sensor package and including an antenna for autonomous wireless transmission of the detected fluid quality information, and a power subsystem coupled to the sensor package and the transmitter to provide access to continuous electrical power thereto.

Various systems and methods are provided for a lubricant filter. In one example, a method for a lubricant filter comprises indicating a condition of the filter based on a difference between a measured pressure differential and an expected pressure differential during select conditions in which all lubricant pumped by a pump upstream of the filter flows into the filter.

A filtering device for removing solids from water. Within the filtering device, water, under the force of gravity, flows through successive porous members. Plates are used to distribute the water prior to the water flowing through the porous members. Rotating brushes are used to removed retained solids from the porous members. The brushes are preferably returned to a home position when not being utilized to remove solids in which they are maintained out of contact with the porous members.

A portable water conditioning system is provided that includes an incoming water inlet; a reverse osmosis stage in fluid communication with the incoming water inlet, the reverse osmosis stage having a permeate outlet and a concentrate outlet; a diversion device having a diversion valve, the diversion valve placing the concentrate outlet in fluid communication with a waste water outlet; a deionizing stage in fluid communication with a pure water outlet; a bypass valve configured to selectively place the permeate outlet in fluid communication with one or more of the waste water outlet, the deionizing stage, and the pure water outlet; and a controller configured to control the diversion device and the bypass valve to provide water at the pure water outlet of a desired condition.

Systems and methods determine a filter efficiency of a fluid filter. A characteristic of fluid flow of a fluid is monitored at a first point and at a second point on a flow path of a fluid filter. A particle absorption level of the fluid filter is determined that is a difference in the characteristic of the fluid flow at the first point and the second point. The particle absorption level of the fluid filter is at a particle absorption saturation level based on the difference in the characteristic of the fluid flow at the first point and the second point. The particle absorption saturation level is an indicator that the particles retained by the fluid filter is decreased and replacement of the fluid filter is required to increase the particles retained by the fluid filter to be above the particle absorption saturation level.

A method for monitoring a fluidic system of a liquid chromatography system is characterized by: (a) drawing a fluid into a syringe pump; (b) configuring a valve so as to fluidically couple the pump to either a fluidic pathway through the fluidic system or to a plug that prevents fluid flow; (c) causing the syringe pump to progressively compress the fluid therein or expel the fluid to the fluidic pathway, while measuring a pressure of the fluid; (d) determining a profile of the variation of the measured pressure; (e) comparing the determined profile to an expected profile that depends upon the fluid; and (f) providing a notification of a sub-optimal operating condition or malfunction if the determined profile varies from the expected profile by greater than a predetermined tolerance.

An authentication system for authenticating a water filter cartridge at an appliance is provided. The water filter cartridge comprises a connection assembly having one or more connection devices that are structured for engaging an electrical connector of an appliance water filter manifold assembly of an appliance, to establish an electrical connection between the connection assembly and a controller of the appliance. A method of use of the water filter cartridge at the appliance comprises inserting the water filter cartridge into a receptacle of an appliance water filter manifold assembly. A method of authentication of the water filter cartridge comprises establishing an electrical communication link between a memory device of a water filter cartridge and an appliance water filter manifold assembly of the appliance, and retrieving, via the electrical communication link, a unique identifier associated with the water filter cartridge from the memory device.

A standing water alert system comprises two conductive wires or a float extending into a drain and connected to an audible or visual alarm that is triggered when standing water is present. A drain alert system and method comprises a plurality of sensors, such as pressure or acoustic/vibration sensors, at various locations within a plumbing or fluid filtration system to measure pressure or an acoustic profile at that location and a control system to compare the measured parameters to a threshold value or range and/or to other measured parameters from nearby sensor locations. A signal is sent to a remote user or computer or an alarm is triggered when the comparison shows a potential blockage, a leak, or indicating that a filter needs to be replaced or cleaned. An approximate location of the blockage, leak, or fouled filter is determined by comparing measured parameters at nearby sensor locations.