Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the steam quality is presented. The apparatus comprises a tube (1) with an open end (5) and a closed end. The open end has a fluid connection with the sterilizer chamber. At the closed end a heat sink (6) with a thermometer (7) is connected of which the temperature can be controlled. In the axial direction along the tube several thermometers (8) are attached to monitor the temperature profile along the tube. Apart from or instead of this, the device may comprise a thermal resistance (11) between the closed end of the tube and the heat sink. At different axial positions on this thermal resistance thermometers (10) may be attached to monitor the cooling power required to keep the heat sink at a predetermined temperature. Both the temperature profile and the cooling power are directly related to the fraction of non-condensable gases present in the sterilizer chamber.

Abstract: A device for detecting a non-condensable gas including a tube having an open end and a closed end, the tube and the closed end being closed with respect to a fluid, the open end open to allow the fluid to move into and out of the tube, and the tube configured to allow a condensed portion of the fluid to be removed from the tube by gravitation. The device includes a heat sink configured to extract heat from the tube at the closed end. The device further includes a heat source configured to supply heat to the open end of the tube and at least one thermometer configured to measure a temperature at a specific portion of the device or the fluid inside the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the steam quality is presented. The apparatus comprises a tube (1) with an open end (5) and a closed end. The open end has a fluid connection with the sterilizer chamber. At the closed end a heat sink (6) with a thermometer (7) is connected of which the temperature can be controlled. In the axial direction along the tube several thermometers (8) are attached to monitor the temperature profile along the tube. Apart from or instead of this, the device may comprise a thermal resistance (11) between the closed end of the tube and the heat sink. At different axial positions on this thermal resistance thermometers (10) may be attached to monitor the cooling power required to keep the heat sink at a predetermined temperature. Both the temperature profile and the cooling power are directly related to the fraction of non-condensable gases present in the sterilizer chamber.