Abstract: Systems and methods analyze energy consumption of a servo motor driven system during a conceptual design phase thereof. By breaking up loss of the servo motor driven system to its loss constituents, a designer tool is provided, which readily informs a user regarding losses that are created from a particular design.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids through a sample channel comprises: a reservoir having a reservoir inlet, the reservoir inlet being for connection to a source of a first fluid; a sample channel having a sample channel inlet, the sample channel inlet being for connection to a source of a second fluid; a syphon connected between the reservoir and the sample channel; means for trapping fluid in at least part of the sample channel; wherein the apparatus is configured such that in use air can be allowed into the syphon to create an air gap in the syphon, the air gap preventing first fluid in the reservoir from contacting trapped fluid in the sample channel; the apparatus further comprising pump means for pumping fluid out of the sample channel and for pumping air out of the syphon such that fluid in the reservoir can flow through the syphon and into the sample channel.