Test system with recirculating fluid reactor

A test system comprising:

• a reactor, the reactor comprising
• a fluid circuit,
• a test zone for at least one item under test, said test zone being included in said fluid circuit to expose said at least one item to fluid flowing in said circuit during use,
• at least one control zone included in said fluid circuit at a respective different location, said at least one control zone including at least one control device for controlling at least one parameter of said fluid in accordance with control information;
• and
• a control system for controlling the operation of the reactor, the control system being in communication with said control zones to provide said control zones with said control information,
• wherein said fluid circuit includes a fluid outlet, the reactor including an evacuation control zone having an evacuation control device that is operable to open or close said fluid outlet, and
• wherein said control system is configured operate said evacuation control device with said control information to control evacuation of fluid from said fluid circuit.

A test system comprising:

• a reactor, the reactor comprising
• a fluid circuit,
• a test zone for at least one item under test, said test zone being included in said fluid circuit to expose said at least one item to fluid flowing in said circuit during use,
• a plurality of control zones included in said fluid circuit at a respective different location, each control zone including at least one control device for controlling at least one parameter of said fluid in accordance with control information;
• and
• a control system for controlling the operation of the reactor, the control system being in communication with said control zones to provide said control zones with said control information,
• and wherein said control system is configured to:
• receive input data specifying at least one test value for said at least one parameter;
• predict the behaviour, in respect of said at least one fluid parameter, of said fluid using said input data and a mathematical model of the reactor, wherein said control system is configured to mathematically model said reactor using either one or both of:
• model predictive control (MPC) and at least one artificial neural network (ANN);
• calculate said control information based on the predicted fluid behaviour;
• and
• communicate said control information to at least one of said control zones,
• wherein said fluid circuit includes a fluid outlet, the reactor including an evacuation control zone having an evacuation control device that is operable to open or close said fluid outlet, and wherein said control system is configured operate said evacuation control device with said control information to control evacuation of fluid from said fluid circuit.