Abstract: A disinfection light source comprises one or more disinfection light emitters and electronics conducting electric power to the disinfection light emitters to drive them to emit light. The electronics include a safety interlock circuit that includes: an ammeter measuring electric current flowing through the one or more disinfection light emitters; an analysis circuit analyzing the electric current measured by the ammeter; a timer circuit configured to run while the analysis circuit detects a high irradiation condition; and a switch to interrupt the conduction of the electric power to the one or more disinfection light emitters in response to the timer circuit running and reaching a delay interval of the timer circuit. The analysis circuit may comprise a comparator comparing the electric current measured by the ammeter with an electrical reference value, and the timer circuit then runs while the comparator indicates the electric current exceeds the electrical reference value.

Abstract: A disinfection system includes one or more light sources configured to emit ultraviolet light effective for inactivating pathogens in an environment for human occupancy, and one or more occupancy sensors configured to acquire data indicative of occupancy of the environment for human occupancy. Intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted by the one or more light sources is controlled based on the data indicative of occupancy of the environment acquired by the one or more occupancy sensors. In another embodiment, a light source for disinfection includes an intensity setting input disposed on the light source. The intensity setting input is operative to set an intensity of light emitted by light emitting elements of the light source. The light source has no other control besides the intensity setting input.

Abstract: A multispectral light source for disinfection is disclosed, including a plurality of light sources with different disinfection peak wavelengths and electronics. Each disinfection peak wavelength is effective for disinfection, and the electronics are configured to drive the plurality of light sources to emit light at the different disinfection peak wavelengths. In a specific embodiment, multispectral light source includes one or more UV-C light sources emitting ultraviolet light in a UV-C range, and one or more UV-A light sources emitting ultraviolet light in a UV-A range. The multispectral light source optionally may further include one or more white light sources emitting white light providing illumination. In a disinfection method, light in the UV-C range is emitted into an occupied space, and light outside of the UV-C range that is effective for inactivating at least one target pathogen is also emitted, optionally simultaneously, into the occupied space.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a capacitance diaphragm gauge that includes a self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system sensor for measuring pressure. The self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system has at least one integrated heater component and at least one membrane on the self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include an integrated multi-headed atomizer and vaporization system and method. The disclosed embodiments provide an innovative approach for generating vapors. As an example, the disclosed embodiments include an apparatus operable to receive one or more liquids in combination with one or more gases simultaneously to generating a vapor of a desired ratio between the liquids and the gases. Additionally, the disclosed embodiments include a system that includes a single set of electronics operable to control all aspects of a vaporization system. Other embodiments, advantages, and novel features are set forth in the detailed description.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed and taught herein are further directed to a solenoid valve configured for operation at minimum power levers comprising: a casing; a magnetic coil within the casing adapted for inducing a magnetic flux when energized; a plunger selectively actuated by the magnetic coil to operate the solenoid valve; and at least one energy storage device within the casing adapted to store energy and selectively energize the magnetic coil by applying the energy to the magnetic coil.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for measuring and controlling gas and/or liquid flow. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide advanced feed-forward valve-control for a mass flow controller for placing a proportional control valve in its expected position in response to a change in customer set point and/or an inlet pressures. In addition, the disclosed embodiments also provide independent ‘corroboration’ of the measured flow by a thermal mass flow sensor.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a capacitance diaphragm gauge that includes a self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system sensor for measuring pressure. The self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system has at least one integrated heater component and at least one membrane on the self-heated micro-electro-mechanical-system.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include an apparatus and a method for controlling fluid flow. In accordance with certain of the disclosed embodiments, a valve is disclosed that comprises a yoke that encases a coil. The yoke has a gap adjacent to a central aperture of the yoke. A core tube is placed in the central aperture. The core tube has a core slidingly disposed within an interior chamber for controlling a fluid flow rate from a flow inlet to a flow outlet. A current is provided to the coil. Magnetic flux, generated by the coil in response to the current, is directed through the gap to cause the core to move proportionally based on the amount of current provided to the coil for changing the fluid flow rate from the flow inlet to the flow outlet.

Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment, a system for calculating an average phase difference in a Coriolis flow meter includes a conduit for transferring a fluid. The conduit is caused to vibrate when the fluid flows through the conduit. The system also includes a first and a second detector operable to detect vibrations at first and second portions of the conduit, respectively. The first and second detectors measure the phase of the first and second vibrations, respectively. The system may also include a timer operable to measure a phase difference between the phases of the first and second vibrations, and a memory operable to store one or more values associated with a plurality of phase differences. The plurality of phase differences may include the phase difference measured by the timer. The system may also include a processor operable to calculate an average phase difference using the one or more values.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include an apparatus and a method for controlling fluid flow. In accordance with certain of the disclosed embodiments, a valve is disclosed that comprises a yoke that encases a coil. The yoke has a gap adjacent to a central aperture of the yoke. A core tube is placed in the central aperture. The core tube has a core slidingly disposed within an interior chamber for controlling a fluid flow rate from a flow inlet to a flow outlet. A current is provided to the coil. Magnetic flux, generated by the coil in response to the current, is directed through the gap to cause the core to move proportionally based on the amount of current provided to the coil for changing the fluid flow rate from the flow inlet to the flow outlet.

Abstract: The inventions disclosed and taught herein are further directed to a solenoid valve comprising: a casing; a magnetic coil encapsulated in the casing adapted for inducing a magnetic flux when supplied with electrical current; a plunger supported for linear displacement positioned within the coil, adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve; at least one capacitor adapted to energize the magnetic coil; and a piston pneumatically connected to the solenoid valve adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A flowmeter (M) measures fluid flow in a system and produces a train (Si) of digital pulses representing the measured flowrate. The frequency of the pulses is intended to be proportional to the flowrate. A preamplifier (10) controls generation of output pulses (Fn, Fq) of an output digital pulse train (So). The preamplifier first decodes the digital pulse train using a phase discriminator (14). Output pulses from the discriminator are counted (at 24 and 46) to count the number of pulses and their frequency of occurrence. A frequency multiplier (40) is responsive to the pulses and their occurrence to generate each pulse of the output pulse train. Generation of these pulses involves use of a scaling factor (Vcf) by which meter performance factors, drift, and the fluid flow environment are taken into account.

Abstract: In analog multiplexers using solid state multiplexing relays and having a shunt capacitor circuit across each input channel as part of a filter for normal mode noise, common mode noise is rejected by opening the shunt capacitor circuit in at least the selected channel and preferably all channels during the switching cycle of each channel for a full cycle of the a.c. line frequency, the opening spanning the deselection time for the selected channel and the selection time for the next channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out the control of a process using a distributed process controller wherein each controller receives during consecutive time slots of a scan cycle inputs from the process representing measured values of process variables to be controlled by the control loops of the system. Control is provided by the use of a preselected algorithm in each of the slots with the output of that algorithm being used to control certain of the loops or to provide input to another slot or to a control program. Control programs which can be written by the user are run sequentially in the background to provide additional loops of control or inputs to the slots so that the number of algorithms which can be used is increased without drastically increasing the equipment required.

Abstract: An electronic system for operating a nuclear steam turbine power plant including a cycle steam reheater controller to control the heat transfer operation in a cycle steam reheater according to the steam and metal temperatures measured in one or more low pressure turbine sections, is disclosed. The steam and metal temperatures are closed-loop controlled as a function of the low pressure turbine design operational limitations. The reheater controller controls dual reheaters, each employing one or more heating sections which reheat cycle steam flowing therethrough to one or more low pressure turbine sections with split side entry steam inlet ports.

Abstract: A system for protecting a turbine-generator power plant governed by signals representative of turbine mechanical power and generator electrical power to reduce at times the turbine mechanical power, with an electronic filter included therein for the purposes of filtering a periodic time varying component of the electrical power signal having a response time within adequate protective limits, is disclosed. More specifically, the electronic filter generates a train of fixed time durations wherein during each fixed time duration the maximum and minimum amplitudes of the electrical power signal are selected. A signal is sampled at the end of each fixed time duration and held constant for each next fixed time duration, said signal being representative of the average of the maximum and minimum amplitudes selected during each fixed time duration.