Patent ID: 7621290

Claim:
A system for dividing a single mass flow into two or more secondary flows comprising: (A) an inlet adapted to receive the single mass flow; (B) at least two secondary flow lines connected to the inlet and connected to carry corresponding ones of the secondary flows, each flow line including: (1) a flow meter connected to measure flow through the corresponding flow line and providing a signal representative of the measured flow through that flow line; (2) a valve connected to control flow through the corresponding flow line based upon a control signal; (C) a controller connected to the flow meters and the valves for controlling the ratio of the secondary flows; wherein the controller is configured to provide antisymmetric optimal control of the mass flow in the secondary flow lines so as to maintain the ratio of the secondary flows at a preselected value; and a SISO controller connected so as to generate a first control signal as a function of the difference between the ratio as preselected and the ratio as measured, and a pair of linear saturators, one for each of the secondary flow lines, configured so as to provide valve control signals in response to the first control signal so as to control each of the valves.