Abstract: A system for at least partially decontaminating personnel in response to detection of an agent harmful to human life such as a chemical or biological agent. The system can provide a sprinkler head above a walkway such as a hallway through which personnel are expected to walk. The sprinkler can provide a spray of decontamination fluid such as gas or liquid over personnel passing underneath, removing or neutralizing at least some of the harmful agent and reducing the transport of the agent from one area to another. Preferably, the system includes a sprinkler or shower head coupled to an existing fire isle control sprinkler supply pipe, wherein the sprinkler head may include a valve that is remotely controlled and can be opened in response to detection of a chemical or biological agent.

Abstract: A system for sealing a building air duct in response to a chemical or biological attack to prevent the building HVAC system from delivering the chemical or biological agent throughout the building. The system can include an inflatable bladder for disposition within an air duct, a source of gas for expanding the bladder, an initiator for initiating the gas expansion, and a detector for detecting the agent. One bladder is formed of a resilient material suitable for extending into duct corners. Another bladder is larger than the duct to be sealed and is formed of a non-resilient material capable of inflating and bunching into duct corners. One source of gas is a gas canister while another source of gas is a chemical composition capable of reacting and forming the gas. One bladder includes a foaming agent which can expand and solidify within the bladder. One initiator utilizes an electronic signal to initiate the gas expansion. Another initiator includes use of an RF signal to initiate the gas expansion.

Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled gas appliance basically comprising three components: (1) a computer processor with a sensor interface, (2) a valve assembly, and (3) a human interface. The sensor interface is capable of passing the input from a series of sensors through the processor for subsequent use in controlling the operation of a burner valve in the valve assembly. Appropriate sensors are provided for connection to the sensor interface to measure, among other things, flame temperature, gas flow, carbon monoxide, combustibles, occupancy by an individual in the presence of the gas appliance, and gas composition. The valve controls the flow of natural gas through a line from a source of gas to a burner found in the appliance. The valve is controlled through a valve operator that responds to signals obtained from the computer processor via valve interface electronics.

Abstract: Impurity compensation for compensating the analysis of the calorific content for fuel having an unknown amount of a known additional constituent of interest (impurity) is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment oxygen is the impurity. In that embodiment, the fuel containing the impurity is combusted to achieve substantially stoichiometric combustion by varying the air/fuel ratio supplied to a combustion means by a rotary speed controlled in response to the sensing of oxygen in the combustion products. A first measurement of the calorific content is made using a normal operation of the analyzer and a second measurement is made using a known amount of air added to the combustible gas stream. The true air/fuel ratio and the calorific content is then computed using a predetermined relationship among the system variables.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the heating value of gaseous fuels is disclosed which include the novel means for establishing a mixture of air and the gaseous fuel of interest in known volumetric proportions. An electrochemical sensor is provided to sense the products of combustion of the precise volumetric mixture and the output of the sensor is indicative of the relation of the mixture to a stoichiometric mixture of fuel and air. This system is provided for adjusting the proportions of fuel and air in the mixture of interest in response to the output of the electrochemical sensor until the sensor indicates that the mixture of known proportions is substantially stoichiometric. The system is provided for determining the heating value of the fuel from a known relationship between the heating value of the constituents of the fuel and the amount of oxygen required for stoichiometric combustion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the heating value of gaseous fuels is disclosed which include the novel means for establishing a mixture of air and the gaseous fuel of interest in known volumetric proportions. An electrochemical sensor is provided to sense the products of combustion of the precise volumetric mixture and the output of the sensor is indicative of the relation of the mixture to a stoichiometric mixture of fuel and air. This system is provided for adjusting the proportions of fuel and air in the mixture of interest in response to the output of the electrochemical sensor until the sensor indicates that the mixture of known proportions is substantially stoichiometric. The system is provided for determining the heating value of the fuel from a known relationship between the heating value of the constituents of the fuel and the amount of oxygen required for stoichiometric combustion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the Wobbe Index of gaseous fuels is disclosed in which a mixture of sample fuel, the flow of which is monitored by pressure differential across a flowmeter, and a substantially constant amount of air is burned in the presence of an electrochemical sensor which exhibits a rapid change in output signal about a certain combustion product composition. The fuel content of the mixture is adjusted in response to the sensor output signal until the certain combustion product composition is attained and the Wobbe Index determined from a known relationship between the heating value of the fuel constituents and the amount of oxygen required for the combustion thereof at said certain combustion product composition and the pressure differential across the fuel flowmeter. Calibration of the system may be accomplished with standard gases.

Abstract: A system for in situ testing of fluid meters is disclosed in which two 4-way valves utilized in combination with a by-pass line such that with the valves in a first position, all the supplied fluid flows through the meter and, in the alternate position, the entire flow of fluid is through the by-pass system completely isolating the meter. In addition, one port of each valve leads to a test connection which is in line with the meter when the valves are in the alternate or by-pass position. This effectively removes the meter from the line and allows test equipment to be connected across the meter for calibration, verification, or other tests to be performed. The valves are preferably designed to operate in unison and such that during position switching, flow is initiated in accordance with the position to which the valve is being switched before flow in accordance with the original position is terminated.