Systems and methods for predicting, detecting, and/or mitigating a pipe freeze are provided. A system for analyzing water in a plumbing system includes a sensor that is configured to measure pressure within a pipe in the plumbing system as a function of time, and a processor that is configured to determine a state of water within the pipe by analyzing the pressure within the pipe as a function of time. The state of the water includes a prediction that the water within the pipe will freeze and/or a determination that the water within the pipe has frozen. The sensor is arranged at a first location within the plumbing system that is remote from a second location within the plumbing system that corresponds to the state of the water.

A water control system including a showerhead and a tub faucet. The faucet has a valve configured to automatically restrict fluid flow through the faucet and direct fluid to the showerhead as a function of a parameter, such as a predetermined water temperature. The faucet has many modes of operation, including a Reset Mode, an Auto-Divert Mode, a Bypass Mode, and a Cold Mode. A flow control device generates minimal back-pressure when in the Reset Mode such that water does not undesirably back flow to a shower head.

A method for acoustic leakage detection in a fluid pipe network (1) uses at least one ultrasonic flow meter (13) installed at a pipe (15, 17). The pipe connects a consumer site (3) to the fluid pipe network. The method includes detecting at least one sound wave traveling along the pipe and/or along fluid within the pipe from a sound source to the at least one ultrasonic flow meter, determining the traveling direction of at least one of the at least one sound wave, interpreting a sound wave of the at least one sound wave as a leakage sound candidate if the determined traveling direction of said sound wave is towards the consumer site, and interpreting a sound wave of the at least one sound wave as a background noise if the determined traveling direction of said sound wave is away from the consumer site.

A fluid pressure reducing valve apparatus includes a pressure reducing valve. The valve has: a body containing a fluid-flow chamber, a liquid supply orifice into the chamber, a liquid outlet from the chamber, a regulation plate opposed to the orifice, a spring acting to urge the plate towards the orifice, and a diaphragm between the plate and the body to close the chamber between them. A controllable motor drive acts between the body and an end of the spring remote from the plate. A flow meter is positioned downstream of the outlet. A controller is arranged to receive flow data from the flow meter and to control the motor drive for withdrawal of the remote end of the spring in accordance with flow rate measured by the flow meter. For an increase in demand flow, the plate is partially withdrawn to maintain downstream pressure on such increase and vice versa.

An isolation device and method are provided for isolating a plumbing system of a premises from a potable water source if permissible input water pressure parameters are violated. After the plumbing system has achieved a desired input water pressure, the isolation device places the plumbing system in an isolated state and only removes the plumbing system from the isolated state if the isolation device detects a demand for water from the plumbing system and if the isolation device determines that permissible input water pressure parameters are not being violated. Once the demand no longer exists, the isolation device returns the plumbing system to the isolated state.

The present disclosure provides a water supply system. The system comprises a central water supply, a plurality of water taps, at least one operation device located at one water tap, a piping system connecting the central water supply and the plurality of water taps, the piping system comprising a separate flow path from the central water supply to each water tap, and a controller for individually controlling a flow of water from the central water supply to the plurality of water taps and individually controlling an outlet temperature of the flow of water at an outlet of the central water supply. The controller is located at the central water supply, and the controller is operable via the operation device at the water tap.

The invention relates to a flow separation device (100), which may be provided in a beverage preparation device (1). The flow separation device (100) in particular effects an easier separation (redirection) of a flow. The flow separation device (100) comprises a first delivery line (30) to drain water from a buffer tank (2), a branching section (29) provided downstream the first delivery line (30), wherein the branching section (29) branches the first delivery line (30) into a second delivery line (28) and a third delivery line (23), each of the second and third delivery line (28, 23) leading to a respective discharge outlet (22; 24), and a flow rate control device (26) for delivering water through the flow separation device (100) and for adjusting the flow rate of the water. Each of the second delivery line (28) and third delivery line (23) comprises a respective section (281; 231), wherein said sections (281, 231) are arranged such that if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate below a defined threshold value the water is delivered beyond the section (281) of the second delivery line (28) but not beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water via the discharge outlet (22) of the second delivery line (28), and if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate at or above the defined threshold value the water is at least partially delivered beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water at least partially via the discharge outlet (24) of the third delivery line (23).

A backflow preventer for preventing a reverse flow of water in a plumbing system including a body having an inlet and an outlet. The body forms an intermediate zone between the inlet and outlet. An inlet check valve prevents the reverse flow of water from the intermediate zone through the inlet. An outlet check valve prevents the flow of water from the outlet into the intermediate zone. An inlet pressure sensor, an intermediate pressure sensor and an outlet pressure sensor provide readings for the respective zones. A controller monitors a pressure differential between the outlet pressure zone and the intermediate pressure zone to compare the pressure differential to a pre-set range. The controller generates a warning/error message when the pressure differential is outside the pre-set range. The controller can also monitor an inlet pressure in the inlet zone to generate a message if the inlet pressure varies inappropriately.

Device (1) for detecting a liquid leakage, wherein a leakage detection function of the device (1) is lockable so that the leakage detection function is protectable against unauthorized use.

A pipeline pressure test that accounts for measurement uncertainties includes a method for performing a pressure test of a pipe section of a pipeline including receiving a desired pressure to be applied to the pipe section and a duration of time the desired pressure is to be applied to the pipe section, receiving a pressure measurement of a fluid, a temperature measurement of the fluid, a volume measurement of the fluid, and a pipe section strain measurement, determining a change in fluid pressure and a volume change, determining a pressure change uncertainty and a volume change uncertainty, checking that the pressure change uncertainty is within a pressure uncertainty threshold and that the volume change uncertainty is within a volume uncertainty threshold, determining whether the desired pressure has been applied to the inner surface of the pipe section for the duration of time; and outputting a result of the testing.