Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for operation and control of gravity-fed fluid flows in water and wastewater related systems. The disclosed flow control system uses gravity to provide a flow of a fluid from a fluid source and a motorized flow control device fluidically coupled to the fluid source to control a defined flow rate of the flow by changing a position of an internal volume of the flow control device through which the fluid flows relative to a fixed level of the fluid in the fluid source. The disclosed devices, systems and methods can be used in a wide variety of systems for environmental and low-energy demand applications such as, for example, a wastewater treatment system to control a flow of wastewater in the system.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for operation and control of gravity-fed fluid flows in water and wastewater related systems. The disclosed flow control system uses gravity to provide a flow of a fluid from a fluid source and a motorized flow control device fluidically coupled to the fluid source to control a defined flow rate of the flow by changing a position of an internal volume of the flow control device through which the fluid flows relative to a fixed level of the fluid in the fluid source. The disclosed devices, systems and methods can be used in a wide variety of systems for environmental and low-energy demand applications such as, for example, a wastewater treatment system to control a flow of wastewater in the system.

A sweating simulator has a foundation panel (14), a panel (1) and a temperature control panel (2), a fixture for fixing a specimen, a container (7) for holding simulated sweat, a container (15) for collecting the simulated sweat, and a plurality of weighing scales for measuring masses of the simulated sweat supplied, evaporated and dripped from the specimen, respectively. The panel (1) and temperature control panel (2) constitute a simulated sweating plane for simulating wetting properties and temperature of skin. An upper middle position of the temperature control panel (2) has a sweating zone (3), which has a plurality of sweating pores (4). The temperature control panel (2) has a temperature sensor (8) and a heating element to control the temperature of the temperature control panel (2) around 33-35° C. to simulate the temperature of the human skin surface. The sweating rate of the sweating zone (3) is in the range of about 1 to 624 ml/h or about 0.004 to 2.5 L/h-m.sup.2 to simulate various sweating intensities.

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for operation and control of gravity-fed fluid flows in water and wastewater related systems. The disclosed flow control system uses gravity to provide a flow of a fluid from a fluid source and a motorized flow control device fluidically coupled to the fluid source to control a defined flow rate of the flow by changing a position of an internal volume of the flow control device through which the fluid flows relative to a fixed level of the fluid in the fluid source. The disclosed devices, systems and methods can be used in a wide variety of systems for environmental and low-energy demand applications such as, for example, a wastewater treatment system to control a flow of wastewater in the system.

A method for use with a pumping system includes receiving a pump command signal for starting a pump; initiating a valve command signal for opening a valve, in response to the receiving the pump command signal; receiving a valve sensor signal indicating that the valve is open; and initiating a pump start command signal, in response to the received valve sensor signal.

Disclosed is a control system for a water network. The control system includes a plurality of remotely-located monitoring and or monitoring and automatic control stations each including an automation controller for local control and automation, and each in communication via a dual-ring communication topology for system or wide-area control. The dual-ring facilitates redundant peer-to-peer data exchange to provide upstream and downstream water flow and water quality information. Systems described herein may calculate flow differential based on water flow data from each of the monitoring stations, and control flow based on the calculated flow differential.

The invention provides a method of demand management for fluid networks. The method includes the steps of providing a computer controlled fluid network for delivery of fluid to at least one customer (14), maintaining a real time database (16) within the computer controlled fluid network of predetermined parameters, requesting a flow rate and time of delivery of said fluid from the fluid network through a user interface (22) to a customer (20), determining, using predetermined parameters from the real time database (16), the availability (24) of providing delivery of fluid from the fluid network to the customer (14) based on hydraulic capacity of the fluid network, and, if the hydraulic capacity is available, calculating parameters (38) using the real time database (16) to deliver fluid to the customer (14) through the computer controlled fluid network.

Disclosed is a control system for a water network. The control system includes a plurality of remotely-located monitoring and or monitoring and automatic control stations each including an automation controller for local control and automation, and each in communication via a dual-ring communication topology for system or wide-area control. The dual-ring facilitates redundant peer-to-peer data exchange to provide upstream and downstream water flow and water quality information. Systems described herein may calculate flow differential based on water flow data from each of the monitoring stations, and control flow based on the calculated flow differential.

A method for use with a pumping system includes receiving a pump command signal for starting a pump; initiating a valve command signal for opening a valve, in response to the receiving the pump command signal; receiving a valve sensor signal indicating that the valve is open; and initiating a pump start command signal, in response to the received valve sensor signal.

The invention provides a method of demand management for fluid networks. The method includes the steps of providing a computer controlled fluid network for delivery of fluid to at least one customer (14), maintaining a real time database (16) within the computer controlled fluid network of predetermined parameters, requesting a flow rate and time of delivery of said fluid from the fluid network through a user interface (22) to a customer (20), determining, using predetermined parameters from the real time database (16), the availability (24) of providing delivery of fluid from the fluid network to the customer (14) based on hydraulic capacity of the fluid network, and, if the hydraulic capacity is available, calculating parameters (38) using the real time database (16) to deliver fluid to the customer (14) through the computer controlled fluid network.