Abstract: A fluid application device comprising a holder; a tube connected to the holder; and a porous fluid applicator contained within the holder wherein the holder contacts at least a portion of a bottom surface of the porous fluid applicator. The device allows the dispensing of fluid onto a target area without contacting a non-target area.

Abstract: A well pressure and temperature measurement system and method are provided. In a described embodiment, a sensor system includes multiple strain sensors attached to a structure which changes dimensionally in response to well pressure and temperature changes. The strain sensors may be fiber optic sensors. The structure may be tubular and the strain sensors may detect axial and hoop strains in the structure.

Abstract: A congestion control mechanism for use with a receiver in a telecommunications network using the Service Specific Connection Oriented Protocol (SSCOP). The receiver is disposed in an access network portion of the telecommunications network such that it receives messages from an aggregate portion of the network over an Access Network Interface (ANI) and from a plurality of users over User-Network Interfaces (UNIs) in a distribution network portion. Credit windows granted by the receiver to the transmitters for transmission of message frames are managed by the receiver when it experiences congestion. The congestion control method monitors buffer usage for ANI-based traffic and UNI-based traffic in the receiver by setting appropriate buffer use counters and timers. When the number of available buffers reaches certain predetermined threshold values, the receiver sends an indication to the transmitter to restrict its message transmit window, thereby throttling the message flow therefrom.

Abstract: A well pressure and temperature measurement system and method are provided. In a described embodiment, a sensor system includes multiple strain sensors attached to a structure which changes dimensionally in response to well pressure and temperature changes. The strain sensors may be fiber optic sensors. The structure may be tubular and the strain sensors may detect axial and hoop strains in the structure.

Abstract: A new optical sensing device containing fiber Bragg gratings, a scanning bandpass filter, an interferometer and multiple photodetectors is disclosed. The present invention also describes a new system and method for fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation and multiplexing. The new system combines a scanning Fabry-Perot (SFP) bandpass filter used to wavelength-multiplex multiple gratings in a single fiber, and an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder fibre interferometer made with a 3×3 coupler to detect strain-induced wavelength shifts. A passive technique for interferometer drift compensation using non-sensing FBGs is included in the system. A complete prototype system interrogates four gratings in a single fiber at a Nyquist sampling rate up to 10 kHz, with a noise floor measured near 4 n&egr; Hz−1/2 above 0.1 Hz. The inclusion of the interferometer drift compensation technique is shown to make quasi-static measurements feasible.

Abstract: A new optical sensing device containing fiber Bragg gratings, a scanning bandpass filter, an interferometer and multiple photodetectors is disclosed. The present invention also describes a new system and method for fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogation and multiplexing. The new system combines a scanning Fabry-Perot (SFP) bandpass filter used to wavelength-multiplex multiple gratings in a single fiber, and an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder fibre interferometer made with a 3×3 coupler to detect strain-induced wavelength shifts. A passive technique for interferometer drift compensation using non-sensing FBGs is included in the system. A complete prototype system interrogates four gratings in a single fiber at a Nyquist sampling rate up to 10 kHz, with a noise floor measured near 4 n&egr; Hz−½ above 0.1 Hz. The inclusion of the interferometer drift compensation technique is shown to make quasi-static measurements feasible.

Abstract: Operation of an intra-channel clarifier within a circulating sewage stream can be enhanced by flow adjusting vanes positioned within the sewage stream between the clarifier and channel wall, proximate to the clarifier sludge ports. In a preferred embodiment, the vanes are aligned perpendicular to the flow of the stream, on a vertical axis. The vanes are divided into an independently adjustable upper and lower portion which can be used to direct the sewage flow and alter the cross sectional area of the sewage stream in the vicinity of the clarifier. The rate at which sludge is removed from the clarifier is affected by the velocity of the sewage stream beneath the sludge ports as well as any turbulence or eddy currents which are produced.

Abstract: A process for treating wastewater to biologically remove phosphorous as well as lowering ammonia, TSS and BOD levels is provided. The process employs a plurality of basins which may be individually controlled to achieve anaerobic, anoxic or aerobic conditions. The basins are reconfigurable in that the flow of influent to a basin, transfer of mixed liquor between basins and effluent discharge from a basin can be varied to create a treatment cycle which has features of both continuous and batch processes while minimizing recycle rates and hydraulic level changes.