Abstract: Method including providing a substrate having a non-metallic surface with particles on the surface; depositing a layer of metal on the surface and the particles, so that each particle and an area of the surface without particles has a layer of metal, wherein, each particle has a gap between metal on that particle and metal on the surface; illuminating metal with electromagnetic rays, so that rays are scattered by metal on particles to produce scattered rays; or rays are absorbed by metal on particles and another portion of rays are reflected by metal on the surface to produce reflected rays; receiving scattered or reflected rays at an array of photodiodes; forming an image as pixels corresponding to photodiodes, wherein the colour of each pixel corresponds to the intensity and/or frequency of the rays received at that pixel; processing the image to determine the size of the particles.

Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of particles in a fluid sample and/or a contamination characteristic of the fluid sample includes: (a) depositing a metallic film on a surface of a substrate; (b) bringing the fluid sample into contact with the metallic surface; (c) removing the fluid sample from the metallic surface; (d) depositing a layer of metal on the metallic surface and the particles which remained on the metallic surface; (e) illuminating the layers of metal on the particles and metallic surface with electromagnetic rays; or illuminating the layers of metal with electromagnetic rays; (f) receiving the scattered electromagnetic rays at an array of photodiodes; or receiving the reflected electromagnetic rays at an array of photodiodes; (g) forming an image which includes pixels; and (h) processing the formed image to determine a characteristic of the particles and/or a contamination characteristic of the fluid sample.

Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of particles in a fluid sample and/or a contamination characteristic of the fluid sample includes: (a) depositing a metallic film on a surface of a substrate; (b) bringing the fluid sample into contact with the metallic surface; (c) removing the fluid sample from the metallic surface; (d) depositing a layer of metal on the metallic surface and the particles which remained on the metallic surface; (e) illuminating the layers of metal on the particles and metallic surface with electromagnetic rays; or illuminating the layers of metal with electromagnetic rays; (f) receiving the scattered electromagnetic rays at an array of photodiodes; or receiving the reflected electromagnetic rays at an array of photodiodes; (g) forming an image which includes pixels; and (h) processing the formed image to determine a characteristic of the particles and/or a contamination characteristic of the fluid sample.

Abstract: A bioprocessing filtration experiment system for filtering a liquid test medium as part of a filtration experiment in a filtration experiment section of the filtration experiment system, which filtration experiment section runs from a receptacle for holding the test medium to be filtered to a fluid outlet for the filtered test medium, wherein the filtration experiment system is designed to ascertain, as part of the filtration experiment, sensor data as experiment data for at least one filter, said experiment data being able to be taken as a basis for selecting and/or dimensioning the filter of a target system according to predetermined scaling criteria. It is proposed that the filtration experiment system can be preassembled on an at least partially programming-related and/or circuit-related, at least partially fluidics-related and/or at least partially sensor-related basis.

Abstract: A purification device for water has a housing with a longitudinal axis, an upper and a lower end and a substantially round cross section. The device includes a first receptacle, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a first purification medium, and a second receptacle, which is also arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a second purification medium. The receptacle for the second purification medium is arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electro-deionization (EDI) module produces purified water using a power supply controller to provide more efficient and accurate operation.

Abstract: A purification device for water has a housing with a longitudinal axis, an upper and a lower end and a substantially round cross section. The device includes a first receptacle, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a first purification medium, and a second receptacle, which is also arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, for a second purification medium. The receptacle for the second purification medium is arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: A device for degassing aqueous media has a first container containing medium to be degassed. A first line connects the first container to a degassing module and a second line connects the degassing module to a second container for receiving the degassed medium. A first non-return valve in the first line prevents backflow from the degassing module to the first container. A hydrophilic membrane in the second line prevents the passage of gas, and a branch between the degassing module and the hydrophilic membrane has a hydrophobic degassing filter for letting out gas. A third line is connected to the first line between the first container and the first non-return valve and to the second line between the second container and the hydrophilic membrane. A second non-return valve in the third line between the first non-return valve and the hydrophilic membrane prevents a flow towards the second container.

Abstract: A device for degassing aqueous media has a first container containing medium to be degassed. A first line connects the first container to a degassing module and a second line connects the degassing module to a second container for receiving the degassed medium. A first non-return valve in the first line prevents backflow from the degassing module to the first container. A hydrophilic membrane in the second line prevents the passage of gas, and a branch between the degassing module and the hydrophilic membrane has a hydrophobic degassing filter for letting out gas. A third line is connected to the first line between the first container and the first non-return valve and to the second line between the second container and the hydrophilic membrane. A second non-return valve in the third line between the first non-return valve and the hydrophilic membrane prevents a flow towards the second container.

Abstract: A weighing system that operates according to the principle of electromagnetic force compensation, having two connecting rods (2, 3) which are fashioned as a parallel guide and connect a load receiver (4) to a base area (1) fixed to the housing, and having an angle lever (5) mounted on the base area. The force due to weight that is transmitted by the load receiver acts upon the short lever arm (5?) of the angle lever via a coupling element, and a coil projecting into the air gap of a permanent magnet system (7) is fastened to the long lever arm (5?). The weighing system occupies only a small area since the long lever arm takes the form of a vertical lever arm and extends, at least in part, in the area underneath the connecting rods of the parallel guide. The permanent magnet system is likewise arranged underneath the connecting rods of the parallel guide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel-cell stack with an external media supply, comprising a plurality of stacked fuel-cell elements, each containing a proton-conductive polymer membrane, which is located between a flat anode electrode and a flat cathode electrode, each electrode being in contact with a separator plate containing canal structures for supplying a reaction gas, evacuating superfluous reaction gas and water that has been produced and/or for distributing a heat transfer medium. At least one collection/distribution container, which is connected to the canal structures of a plurality of separator plates, distributes the reaction gas or the heat transfer medium or collects superfluous reaction gas and water that has been produced or the heat transfer medium. The collection/distribution container is configured as a hood that covers a plurality of fuel-cell elements, the edge of said hood being sealed in relation to the covered elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an insulating element for a fuel cell stack, which is composed of a thermally insulating plastic or plastic composite material. The insulating element is connected to the end plate and the bipolar end plate of the stack and achieves virtually uniform distribution of temperature and flow density along the fuel cell stack in the cell operating mode. As a result, the condensation of product water is prevented.

Abstract: A weighing system that operates according to the principle of electromagnetic force compensation, having two connecting rods (2, 3) which are fashioned as a parallel guide and connect a load receiver (4) to a base area (1) fixed to the housing, and having an angle lever (5) mounted on the base area. The force due to weight that is transmitted by the load receiver acts upon the short lever arm (5?) of the angle lever via a coupling element, and a coil projecting into the air gap of a permanent magnet system (7) is fastened to the long lever arm (5?). The weighing system occupies only a small area since the long lever arm takes the form of a vertical lever arm and extends, at least in part, in the area underneath the connecting rods of the parallel guide and that the permanent magnet system is likewise arranged underneath the connecting rods of the parallel guide.