A liquid treatment system comprising a main flow path, a bypass flow path fluidly coupled to a main flow path, and a liquid conditioning module fluidly coupled with the bypass flow path with a reservoir holding treatment components added to liquid entering the reservoir from the bypass flow path to form a treatment solution. A flow rate of liquid in the main flow path is controlled independently of a flow rate of treatment solution flowing into the main flow path. A dispensing component fluidly coupled to the liquid conditioning module controls flow rates or pressures of treatment solution flowing out of the bypass flow path and into the main flow path independently of flow rate of liquid flowing in the main flow path. The liquid treatment system comprises a drop tube system suspended in treatment solution having the highest treatment concentration.

A liquid treatment system comprising a main flow path, a bypass flow path fluidly coupled to a main flow path, and a liquid conditioning module fluidly coupled with the bypass flow path with a reservoir holding treatment components added to liquid entering the reservoir from the bypass flow path to form a treatment solution. A flow rate of liquid in the main flow path is controlled independently of a flow rate of treatment solution flowing into the main flow path. A dispensing component fluidly coupled to the liquid conditioning module controls flow rates or pressures of treatment solution flowing out of the bypass flow path and into the main flow path independently of flow rate of liquid flowing in the main flow path. The liquid treatment system comprises a drop tube system suspended in treatment solution having the highest treatment concentration.

A test method and apparatus employs a microfluidic device to characterize properties of a fluid. The microfluidic device has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a microchannel as part of a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port. While a fluid is introduced into the microchannel, the fluid temperature is maintained while the fluid pressure in the microchannel is varied to characterize the properties of the fluid in the microchannel. The properties of the fluid can relate to a scale onset condition of the fluid at the pressure of the flow through the microchannel. In one aspect, fluid pressure in the microchannel is maintained while the fluid temperature is varied to characterize the properties of the fluid. In another aspect, flow rate of the fluid through the microchannel is varied while the fluid temperature is maintained to characterize the properties of the fluid in the microchannel.

A test method and apparatus employs a microfluidic device to characterize properties of a fluid. The microfluidic device has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a microchannel as part of a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port. While a fluid is introduced into the microchannel, the fluid temperature is maintained while the fluid pressure in the microchannel is varied to characterize the properties of the fluid in the microchannel. The properties of the fluid can relate to a scale onset condition of the fluid at the pressure of the flow through the microchannel. In one aspect, fluid pressure in the microchannel is maintained while the fluid temperature is varied to characterize the properties of the fluid. In another aspect, flow rate of the fluid through the microchannel is varied while the fluid temperature is maintained to characterize the properties of the fluid in the microchannel.

A water heating and treatment system with UV lamp and anti-scale water treatment sanitation for suppression of pathogens and undesired bacterial content in a domestic hot water system includes an anti-scale device, and a UV sanitation lamp. A single or multiple mixing station supplies heated water to one or multiple temperature zones. A water heater sanitation loop includes a sanitation loop pump to circulate hot water within the water heater. A three-way return water diverter valve allows for safe sanitation of a domestic hot water system by diverting over temperature re-circulated water away from the mixing valve to a drain, as needed. A method for treating hot water to suppress pathogens and undesired bacterial content in a domestic hot water system is also described.

A water savings system and method for reducing the amount of water needed for adiabatic cooling including the use of a softener and a reverse osmosis device, in which tap water, softened if necessary, is delivered to a reverse osmosis device and softened water alone, reverse osmosis reject water, or softened water combined with reverse osmosis reject water is delivered to spray nozzles for cooling, and reverse osmosis pure water is stored and used periodically to flush the coils to inhibit and/or prevent corrosion from dissolved salts and other solids in the spray water.

A water quality management device is provided with a water quality index value acquisition unit which acquires water quality index values including a makeup water quality index value indicating water quality of makeup water and a circulating water quality index value indicating water quality of circulating water, and a determining unit which determines an amount of concentration control associated with a concentration rate of a circulating water system based on the water quality index values acquired by the water quality index value acquisition unit.

A water quality management device is provided with a water quality index value acquisition unit which acquires water quality index values including a makeup water quality index value indicating water quality of makeup water and a circulating water quality index value indicating water quality of circulating water, and a determining unit which determines an amount of concentration control associated with a concentration rate of a circulating water system based on the water quality index values acquired by the water quality index value acquisition unit.

An apparatus for controlling the taste of coffee, a method of controlling the taste of coffee and a coffee maker including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a control unit, configured to determine a target pH value of water corresponding to a desired coffee taste, and a corresponding adjustment control signal; and a pH adjustment unit, configured to adjust, in response to the adjustment control signal applied to the pH adjustment unit, the pH value of water to be fed into a brewing unit of a coffee maker to the target pH value. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the pH value of water to be fed to a brewing unit of a coffee maker may be adjusted for a desired coffee taste.

An apparatus for controlling the taste of coffee, a method of controlling the taste of coffee and a coffee maker including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a control unit, configured to determine a target pH value of water corresponding to a desired coffee taste, and a corresponding adjustment control signal; and a pH adjustment unit, configured to adjust, in response to the adjustment control signal applied to the pH adjustment unit, the pH value of water to be fed into a brewing unit of a coffee maker to the target pH value. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the pH value of water to be fed to a brewing unit of a coffee maker may be adjusted for a desired coffee taste.