Unitary fluid flow production and control system

A fluid flow control system comprising

• a variable speed pump defining a fluid flow path therethrough and a fluid flow path outlet for operating at a speed determined by an input speed control signal to pump fluid along the fluid flow path and out the outlet at a rate which increases with the increase in speed of the pump and vice-versa, and at a pressure which increases with the increase in speed of the pump and vice-versa,
• pressure sensor means for detecting the pressure of fluid at the outlet,
• flow rate sensor means for detecting the flow rate of fluid at the outlet,
• means coupled to the pump for varying one or more dimensional parameters of the flow path in response to a parameter control signal, to thereby vary the flow rate and pressure of fluid in the flow path, and
• control means coupled to the pressure sensor means and flow rate sensor means and responsive to the detected pressures and flow rates for supplying an input speed control signal to the pump and a parameter control signal to the varying means to thereby independently produce a selected flow rate and fluid pressure at the outlet.

A method of independently controlling the flow rate and output pressure of a variable speed fluid pump having a fluid flow path defined therein, said method comprising

• (a) detecting the fluid flow rate of the pump,
• (b) detecting the output fluid pressure of the pump,
• (c) selectively varying the speed of the pump to thereby change the flow rate and output pressure of the pump, and
• (d) selectively varying one or more configurational parameters of the fluid flow path of the pump, in conjunction with step (c), to thereby develop a certain flow rate and output pressure for the pump.