Abstract: There is provided a control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer, the nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulised, an actuator, and a nebulizing element comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to nebulize the liquid upon operation of the actuator; wherein the control unit is configured to obtain an indication of the size of the nozzles in the nebulizing element; and control the operation of the actuator based on the obtained indication to provide nebulised liquid at a required output rate and/or with droplets of a required size.

Abstract: There is provided a method of improving the yield of a nozzle plate fabrication process, the method comprising determining a variation in the size of nozzles in a nozzle plate from a predetermined size or range of sizes for the nozzles, the nozzles in the nozzle plate having been fabricated using a plurality of mandrels, each mandrel defining a respective nozzle in the nozzle plate and determining modifications to the size of one or more mandrels in the plurality of mandrels to compensate for the determined variation in the size of nozzles in the nozzle plate.

Abstract: An aerosol generation system has a light source arrangement which provides signals at first and second wavelengths, and the detected light signals are recorded. The detected signals are processed to derive at least a measure of the aerosol particle size. This can be used in combination with the other parameters which are conventionally measured, namely the aerosol density and flow velocity. Thus, optical measurement (possibly in combination with an air flow measurement) can be used to estimate the aerosol output rate as well as the particle size.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).

Abstract: There is provided a control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer, the nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulised, an actuator, and a nebulizing element comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to nebulize the liquid upon operation of the actuator; wherein the control unit is configured to obtain an indication of the size of the nozzles in the nebulizing element; and control the operation of the actuator based on the obtained indication to provide nebulised liquid at a required output rate and/or with droplets of a required size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material (17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR

Abstract: The invention relates to an a sensor system (100) for quantitatively detecting at least one compound in a fluid mixture, said fluid mixture comprising the compound to be detected, wherein the sensor system (100) comprises a sorbent material (102) being capable of sorbing the at least one compound to be detected, wherein the sorbent material (102) undergoes a temperature change when sorbing the at least one compound; at least a first temperature sensor (104) for measuring the temperature of the sorbent material (102); and a control unit (110) being adapted for quantitatively determining the at least one compound to be detected based on the temperature change of the sorbent material (102). Such a sensor system (100) provides an improved measurement especially in the field of oxygen concentrators. The invention further relates to an oxygen concentrator (10) for generating oxygen enriched gas as well as to a method of quantitatively detecting at least one compound in a fluid mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separator (10), comprising at least one oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) for separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, wherein the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (24, 28) at a primary side being connected to an inlet conduct (20) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (34, 36) at a secondary side being connected to an outlet conduct (30, 32) for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), wherein the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is further connected to a source of purging gas for guiding purging gas through the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and wherein the primary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) is connected to an exhaust conduct (70, 72) for guiding exhaust gas out of the oxygen separator (10), wherein the oxygen separator (10) further com

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation system (10), comprising a support (12) for accommodating a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14), wherein the support (12) comprises a plurality of fastening positions having fastening means for receiving an oxygen separation unit (14); and a plurality of autonomous oxygen separation units (14) being attached to said support (12), each oxygen separation unit (14) comprising at least one oxygen separation device (28) with an oxygen separation sorbent (30) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a gas conveying device (44) for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas through the oxygen separation device (28). Such an oxygen separation system (10) may have significant improvements against the systems of the prior art, particularly referring to space, weight, energy consumption, variability, flexibility and maintenance behavior.

Abstract: A solid fuel, portable stove reduces smoke emissions and provides for a high temperature of combustion in a compact and easily manufacturable design. A main housing (11) comprises a combustion chamber (12) for containing fuel for combustion and a fan (50) configured to force air into the combustion chamber. A rechargeable electrical power source (40) is used for driving the fan (50) and a thermoelectric element (31) provides power to the fan and to the rechargeable power source. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric element also provides excess output power to a connected device (D) such as a low voltage white light emitting diode, thereby providing a self illuminating, rechargeable stove which is suitable for sunset or early evening cooking.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an oxygen separation device (12, 14) for a pressure swing adsorption system. In order to provide at least one of improved maintenance behavior, longer lifetime and improved energy consumption, the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprises a gas inlet (18, 22) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and a gas outlet (28, 30) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), an oxygen separation membrane (78) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen, and a support structure (80) for supporting the oxygen separation membrane (78), wherein the support structure (80) comprises a plurality of support bars (82) being fixed to the oxygen separation membrane (78).

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material(17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR o

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating device. In order to allow heating essentially without any latency period and with low costs, the heating device comprises: at least one container (12) having an inlet opening (14) and an outlet opening (16) and comprising an adsorbent agent (18) being provided between said inlet opening (14) and outlet opening (16) and being capable of adsorbing an adsorbate thereby releasing adsorption energy; and a gas conveying device (21) for conveying an adsorbate comprising gas through the interior of the container (12); wherein a gas conduit (22) is provided being connected to the outlet opening (16) of the container (12) for guiding the gas heated by adsorption energy inside the container (12) to a location to be heated with elevated temperature. The present invention further relates to a heating method.

Abstract: An aerosol generation system has a light source arrangement which provides signals at first and second wavelengths, and the detected light signals are recorded. The detected signals are processed to derive at least a measure of the aerosol particle size. This can be used in combination with the other parameters which are conventionally measured, namely the aerosol density and flow velocity. Thus, optical measurement (possibly in combination with an air flow measurement) can be used to estimate the aerosol output rate as well as the particle size.

Abstract: There is provided a control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer, the nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulised, an actuator, and a nebulizing element comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to nebulize the liquid upon operation of the actuator; wherein the control unit is configured to obtain an indication of the size of the nozzles in the nebulizing element; and control the operation of the actuator based on the obtained indication to provide nebulised liquid at a required output rate and/or with droplets of a required size.

Abstract: There is provided a method of improving the yield of a nozzle plate fabrication process, the method comprising determining a variation in the size of nozzles in a nozzle plate from a predetermined size or range of sizes for the nozzles, the nozzles in the nozzle plate having been fabricated using a plurality of mandrels, each mandrel defining a respective nozzle in the nozzle plate and determining modifications to the size of one or more mandrels in the plurality of mandrels to compensate for the determined variation in the size of nozzles in the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A One Time Programmable (OTP) memory cell (10) comprising a first, metallic layer (12) coated with a second, conductive stable transition compound (14) with an insulating layer (16) there-between. The first and second layers (12, 14) are selected according to the difference in Gibbs Free Energy between them, which dictates the chemical energy that will be generated as a result of an exothermic chemical reaction between the two materials. The materials of the first and second layers (12, 14) are highly thermally stable in themselves but, when a voltage is applied to the cell (10), a localized breakdown of the insulative layer (16) results which creates a hotspot (18) that sets off an exothermic chemical reaction between the first and second layers (12, 14). The exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat (20) to create a short circuit across the cell and therefore reduce the resistance thereof.

Abstract: Skin monitoring device for application near the skin, comprising a processing circuit connecting means and at least one photosensor configured to detect at least one approximate wavelength of light reflected and/or emitted by the skin, wherein a signal receiving circuit is provided for receiving signals from the at least one photosensor.