Fluid control system

Abstract

A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid within a pipe system is provided and includes a flow actuation device, wherein the flow actuation device is disposed within the flow path of the pipe system and wherein the flow actuation device is configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, an actuator control device, wherein the actuator control device is associated with the flow actuation device and a processing device, the processing device disposed to be associated with the actuator control device to cause the flow actuation device to be configured between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

1 . A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid within a pipe system, the flow actuation device comprising: 
 a flow actuation device, wherein said flow actuation device is disposed within the flow path of the pipe system and wherein said flow actuation device is configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration;    an actuator control device, wherein said actuator control device is associated with said flow actuation device; and    a processing device, wherein said processing device is communicated with said actuator control device to cause said flow actuation device to be configured between said open configuration and said closed configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a sensing device associated with the pipe system to sense at least one characteristic of the fluid.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one characteristic includes temperature of the fluid.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one characteristic includes rate of flow of the fluid through the pipe system.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said processing is communicated with said actuator control device via at least one of a wireless connection and a hardwired connection.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said processing device is communicated with a remote device via an Internet connection to allow said flow actuation device to be controlled remotely.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said flow actuation device includes a first flow device and a second flow device and wherein said open configuration includes at least one of said first flow device and said second flow device being configured to allow fluid flow past said at least one of said first flow device and said second flow device.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said closed configuration includes at least one of said first flow device and said second flow device being configured to block fluid flow past said at least one of said first flow device and said second flow device.  
   
   
       9 . A method for controlling the flow of fluid within a pipe system using a flow actuation device, the method comprising: 
 monitoring a pipe system for at least one desired characteristic, wherein the pipe system is supplied by at least one fluid source;    controlling the flow actuation device responsive to said at least one desired characteristic such that a predetermined section of the pipe system is fluidically isolated from said at least one fluid source; and    draining said predetermined section of the pipe system of fluid by controlling said flow actuation device.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one desired characteristic includes fluid temperature of the fluid flowing within the pipe system.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one desired characteristic includes fluid rate of flow within the pipe system.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said controlling includes controlling the flow actuation device via a processing device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said processing device is communicated with the flow actuation device via at least one of a wireless connection and a hard wired connection.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said processing device is communicated with the flow actuation device via at least one of an Internet connection and an Intranet connection.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said draining includes controlling the flow actuation device to cause fluid contained within said predetermined section to flow out of said predetermined section.  
   
   
       16 . A machine-readable computer program code, wherein the program code includes instructions for causing a controller to implement a method for controlling the flow of fluid within a pipe system using a flow actuation device, wherein the method comprises: 
 monitoring a pipe system for at least one desired characteristic, wherein the pipe system is supplied by at least one fluid source;    controlling the flow actuation device responsive to said at least one desired characteristic such that a predetermined section of the pipe system is fluidically isolated from said at least one fluid source; and    draining said predetermined section of the pipe system of fluid by controlling said flow actuation device.    
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable computer program code of  claim 16 , wherein the machine-readable computer program code is encoded onto a storage medium.