A fluid distribution manifold may receive a first required flow rate for a first flow of fluid that flows to a fluid handling device or a reservoir. A first operation state may be determined for a first valve assembly that regulates the first flow, the manifold may operate the first valve assembly based on the first operation state, and a first position tracker may be incremented based on the first operation. Based on a value of a cycle tracker, the manifold may identify a second valve assembly in an operation cycle and access a second control input that includes a second required flow rate for a second flow of fluid regulated by the second valve assembly. The manifold may cause the second valve assembly to operate based on at least one of a second operation state and a change in the second actual flow rate resulting from the first operation.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system for active flow control includes one or more flow control devices configured to control flow between a fluid source and a fluid destination, and a control module configured to control a flow area of each of the one or more flow control devices with fluid provided from the fluid source flowing to the fluid destination through the one or more flow control devices.

A flow meter, and related system and method are provided. The flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, a valve, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve. The one or more processors are configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

A gas supply system includes a first flow channel connected to a first gas source of a first gas, formed inside a ceiling or a sidewall of the treatment container, and communicating with the treatment space through a plurality of first gas discharge holes, a second flow channel connected to a second gas source of a second gas, formed inside the ceiling or the sidewall of the treatment container, and communicating with the treatment space through a plurality of second gas discharge holes, and a plurality of first diaphragm valves, wherein each of the first diaphragm valves is provided between the first flow channel and the first gas discharge hole to correspond to the first gas discharge hole.

A housing assembly for a manifold includes a first housing with an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a second housing, and a valve retainer engaged with the first and second housings. The valve retainer includes a retention plate defined between first and second surfaces, a plurality of slot walls extending from the first surface, and a protruding edge that extends from a flanged lip and surrounds the plurality of slot walls. The retention plate defines a plurality of slots corresponding to the plurality of slot walls. The first housing may define a groove that receives the protruding edge, and the second housing may include a rim that engages the flanged lip of the valve retainer. Valve housings including first and second mating structures separated by wall segments may be positioned in outlets of the first housing and corresponding slots of the valve retainer.

A system and method for dividing a single mass flow into secondary flows of desired ratios to total flow. Each secondary flow line includes a pressure drop element, an absolute pressure sensor and a differential pressure sensor. The nonlinear relationship between flow and pressures can be transformed into a function of the absolute and differential pressures that has a linear relationship with the flow.

A flow control device is configured to control fluid flow in an HVAC system. The flow control device includes a valve, an actuator configured to open and close the valve, and one or more sensors. The flow control device further includes a fault detection and correction agent configured to receive data from the one or more sensors, analyze the data according to a set of rules, and detect whether one or more faults have occurred. In response to detecting a fault, the fault detection and correction agent is configured to either operate the actuator to open or close the valve or initiate a corrective action to be taken by another device in the HVAC system.

A control system controls a fluid distribution system that includes consumer branches arranged in parallel. Each consumer branch includes a consumer element (31) consuming fluid and/or thermal energy, a regulating device (9) receiving a control value regulating a flow of fluid and/or thermal energy through the consumer branch, and a sensor (11) providing a measured value of the consumer branch. The control system includes a saturation calculation module (21) providing a saturation value, for each operational consumer branch, indicative of the saturation degree of the associated consumer branch, and a saturation compensation module (23) receiving the saturation values and altering a reference value. The altered reference value is based on an initial reference value and the saturation values from all consumer branches. The consumer branch regulating device, of each operational consumer branch, is controllable based on the altered reference value and the measured value of the associated consumer branch.

In one embodiment, a method for optimizing downstream processes for a plurality of flow controllers includes determining a water budget for the plurality of flow controllers based on utility information and a water amount used by the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers; determining, by a processing element, a run time water amount used by the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers during a watering run time of the flow devices; modifying, by the processing element, watering schedules for the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers when the water amount used deviates from the water budget; and transmitting, by the processing element, the modified watering schedules to the plurality of flow controllers to vary the operation of the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers.

A system that controls the flow rates of a plurality of split channels provided parallel to each other to a certain flow split ratio includes: a flow split ratio calculation unit that, in order to be able to diagnose whether a system abnormality that affects the flow split ratio is occurring, calculates a ratio of output values of flow rate sensors obtained by allowing, while fluid control valves of different split channels are closed, fluids to flow in these split channels as an actual flow split ratio; a reference flow split ratio storage unit that stores a reference flow split ratio serving as a reference for the actual flow split ratio; and an abnormality diagnosis unit that compares the actual flow split ratio and the reference flow split ratio, and diagnoses a system abnormality.