Abstract: A system and method for distillation of a liquid sample at atmospheric pressure for the improved prediction of the heating necessary before the initial boiling point (IBP) of the sample is detected regardless of sample composition to ensure the IBP is observed within certain time constraints. A plurality of infrared (IR) sensors provides real-time temperature control in addition to a conventional measurement of vapor temperature. One IR-sensor monitors the liquid sample temperature in the distillation flask to obtain a corrected IBP time independent of the sample properties. Another IR-sensor monitors the temperature of the rising vapor column as the vapor rises up the neck of the distillation flask. Alternatively, an IR matrix may monitor the temperature of the rising vapor column. The system and method expand the scope of samples analyzed with improved signal, reproducibility, and test accuracy and still remain within the prescribed limits of a selected standard.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the vanishing temperature of petroleum product crystals, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: introducing the sample to be analyzed in a measuring cell (4), arranged in a cryostatic chamber (1); connecting a laser emitter (6) and an associated optical receiver (7) to pass an optical beam through the sample to be analyzed and recording the light intensity received by the receiver (7); gradually lowering the temperature of the cryostatic chamber (1) then increasing it again gradually while recording the curve representing the variations in the light intensity received by the receiver (7) based on the temperature; and determining the vanishing temperature of the crystals from said curve.

Abstract: “Process for determining the distillation characteristics of liquid petroleum products by express mini-distillation and apparatus permitting implementation of this process” Apparatus characterized by the fact that it includes: a distillation flask dimensioned to receive 5 to 15 ml of a sample to be analysed, organs for heating the distillation flask, with an adjustable constant heating intensity, two inertialess temperature sensors permitting continuous measurement on the one hand of the true value of the temperature of a sample in the course of distillation in the liquid phase and the true value of the temperature of this sample in the vapor phase, a device for continuous measurement of the pressure in the vapor phase of a sample in the course of distillation which includes a pressure detector and a capillary tube, and organs for reception and exploitation of signals transmitted by the temperature sensors and the pressure detector.

Abstract: Acoustic valve capable of selective and non-linear filtering of sound and placeable in a perforated ear plug. The acoustic valve consists of a tube enclosing two rigid disks axially spaced opposite each other, each of the disks containing at least one perforation. The total perforated surface of at least one disk is between 0.03 and 0.5 mm.sup.2.