Abstract: A device is provided for the sequestration and concentration of polar chemicals from water. The device includes a microporous hydrophilic membrane enclosure formed by a tube or facing membranes. A mixed sequestration media, contained within the enclosure, transforms dissolved polar organic chemicals into non-mobile species. The sequestration media is a triphasic admixture of a hyper-crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene resin, and a carbonaceous sorbent dispersed on a size exclusion styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer.

Abstract: A submersible system is provided for isolating a volume of water located above an underwater substrate and for analyzing the volume of water. The system includes a tent having a shape enclosing an area of underwater substrate and a volume of water immediately above the substrate. A support frame formed by frame members each including plural detachable sections for maintaining the shape of the tent. A securing assembly, comprising a peripheral flap held down by weights in the form of sandbags or a heavy chain serves to secure the tent to the substrate. A circulation system, located at least partially within the tent, provides circulation of the volume of water within the tent so as to maintain a circulating flow pattern within the tent. A flow through analytical system is provided for removing a portion of water from the enclosed volume of water and for analyzing at least one property of the portion of water.

Abstract: A flexible probe is provided for detecting time-varying magnetic fields produced in an electric generator. The flexible probe is adapted to be disposed within an air gap formed between an iron stator and a rotatable rotor. An electrostatic shield layer is formed on a front face of the probe and a printed circuit forming at least one coil is printed on the back face. When the flexible probe is used for detecting time-varying magnetic fields, a voltage is induced in the coil when the coil is exposed to a time-varying magnetic field.

Abstract: A groundwater decontamination system includes a decontamination unit adapted to be lowered down through a non-pumping well into an aquifer containing contaminated water. The unit can also be raised up and out of the non-pumping well for cleaning, servicing or replacement. The decontamination unit includes a porous outer tube with a plurality of holes through which contaminated water flows, and a porous inner tube with a plurality of holes through which flows in-flowing contaminated water flowing through outer tube. A contaminant removing reactive barrier material is disposed within the inner tube for removing on contact contaminants from the in flowing water. A flow directing arrangement, preferably in the form of flow directing fins, directs in-flowing water from the holes in the outer tube to the holes in the inner tube (i.e., provider of the channeling of the ground water into the reactive barrier material). The system can monitor the contaminant removal, as well as other conditions of the groundwater.

Abstract: An air-core current transducer measurement system is provided for measuring current flow in a high voltage transmission line. The system includes a high voltage end including an electrically conductive case for the circuitry at that end and an isolated low voltage end which is coupled by a fiber optic cable to the high voltage end and which provides a scaled output signal. A current transducer located at the high voltage end includes a coil for sensing current flow in the transmission line and for producing a time derivative output signal. An electrostatic shield connected to the electrically conductive case provides electrostatic shielding of the coil.

Abstract: A permeable barrier for decontaminating groundwater having two distinct components for increasing contaminant removal. Preferably, the barrier material is a mixture or distinct layers of bone-char phosphate material and iron oxide pellets. The barrier material can be incorporated as part of a shallow trenching decontamination system, or incorporated in a non-pumping well, or array of non-pumping wells, as part of a deep underground decontamination system. The system can be used for removing, among other things, a radionuclide, such as uranium, from water.

Abstract: An automated turnout system is provided for controlling water flow through a turnout gate. The system determines the water flow parameters of the open channel and adjusts the size of the gate opening accordingly. The turnout system includes a flow measurement structure such as weir or flume, a water level sensor for measuring the water level at the flow measurement structure, a flow control gate, an actuator for adjusting the gate and a position sensor for determining the gate setting. A controller determines the proper gate setting based on inputs from the water level sensor and position sensor. The system provides a low cost, practical way to control outflow under varying canal water levels so as to improve irrigation operations.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for detecting a void in backfill material such as soil surrounding a buried conduit such as a pipeline. The void is detected by monitoring an acoustic response from the conduit in response to acoustic excitation of the interior of the conduit. An analysis of changes in the acoustic response is then related to the presence or absence of a void in the backfill material.

Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of mineral power crystals having a uniform mean size. The method includes forming a solution which is highly supersaturated with respect to the crystals. The crystals of the solution are Ostwald ripened at a level of supersaturation that produces an Ostwald steady state crystal size distribution shape wherein the crystals are of a uniform size. After Ostwald ripening ceases, the crystals further grow by supply controlled growth which uniformly increases the size thereof. This enables the supply controlled growth to be terminated at a selected, controlled point so as to produce a desired mean crystal size.

Abstract: A surface effect drilling craft or hovercraft is provided for taking continuous core samples in normally inaccessible environmentally sensitive regions such as wetlands. The hovercraft includes an inner hull including an inner hull floor and a bottom hull disposed beneath the inner hull and a base mounting plate secured to the inner hull floor. A drill tube extends through the base mounting plate, inner hull floor and bottom hull. A drill rig including a multi-sonic drill is mounted on the base mounting plate adjacent to the drill tube. The drill rig includes a fixed lower section, and a pivotable upper section movable between an erected, operative position for drilling and a collapsed, inoperative position during maneuvering of the hovercraft. A drill cap is used to close off the drill tube during this maneuvering.

Abstract: A device is provided for capturing ionic metal species (e.g., Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) dissolved in water. The device includes a nonporous polymeric tube for capturing the dissolved ionic metal species. The tube is formed from a membrane having transient cavities therein having an average pore size greater than 10 Å. A sequestration medium, contained within the tube, transforms the ionic metal species captured by the tube into a complexed, non-mobile metal species. The sequestration medium is capable of diffusing through the nonporous polymeric membrane at a controlled rate to form the complexed, non-mobile species and can comprise a mixture and metal complexing agent (e.g., a quinoline) and a long chain organic acid (e.g., oleic acid).

Abstract: A diet for mass rearing of insects that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, e.g., beetles including weevils that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, comprises a homogeneous mixture of first portion which is subjected to sterilization in an autoclave comprising water, agar and salt mix and optionally also yeast extract, casein and a sugar, and of a second portion which is not subjected to sterilization in an autoclave which comprises host plant part fed on by insect larvae, vitamin mix, and antimicrobial agent(s). A method for mass rearing of insects that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, e.g., weevils, e.g., Hylobius transversovittatus or Cyphocleonos achates Fahraeus, comprises placing first instar insect larvae on an artificial diet comprising ground host plant part, incubating the larvae on the diet in darkness at a temperature ranging from 15 to 30° C. and a relative humidity ranging from 50 to 90%, and retrieving adults as they emerge.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting minerals and metal-containing materials which are located in sediment deposits on the sea floor and which exhibit an induced polarization response. A streamer cable, which, in use, is towed in the sea behind a ship, includes a series of transmitters and receivers at the free end thereof. The cable is towed such that the free end is in contact with to the sea floor and the transmitters are used to transmit a square wave electrical current into the sediment there. The receivers are used to detect any secondary signals produced by an induced polarization source located on or beneath the sea floor in response to electrical current. Pre-amplifiers connected to the receivers provide noise rejection. On-board electronics process the secondary signals to determine measurement parameters characteristic of the source thereof so as to identify the source.

Abstract: A collapsible bag sampler comprises a top section; a bottom section connected to the top section; a tail section having fins, which tail section is fitted onto the top section; a nose section with tray, which tray supports a flexible bag; a nozzle holder; a nozzle holder insert in the top section to hold the nozzle; and a flexible bag attached to the outside of the rear of the nozzle holder. Because the bag container is flexible and contains substantially no air, there are no limitations due to air compressibility, meaning the depth to which the sampler could be used would be limited only by the size of the intake nozzle and the volume of the bag. The transit rate is limited only by the apparent approach angle of the nozzle facing into the stream velocity as it makes its vertical descent and ascent (0.4 times the stream velocity). The sampler has a useful range of from 2.0 ft/sec to approximately 10 ft/sec stream velocities.

Abstract: A method of degassing a volume of supersaturated liquid is provided which comprises introducing a plurality of microbubbles of gas substantially near the bottom of the volume of supersaturated liquid so that the microbubbles percolate up through the volume of supersaturated liquid to thereby effect removal of dissolved gas in the volume of the supersaturated liquid at the top of the volume. In one embodiment, the step of introducing microbubbles comprises introducing the microbubbles by recirculating deionized water through a hollow fiber microfiltration membrane. In another embodiment, the step of introducing microbubbles comprises introducing the microbubbles through a pipe from the turbine of a dam. In most applications, the volume of supersaturated liquid is water and the microbubbles of gas comprise air. The volume of supersaturated water advantageously comprises a volume of a river, lake or stream which is near a dam with a turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a process of evaluating well bore flow of water and for sampling of water within a well. A hose is inserted into the well to a known depth. To evaluate the water, a tracer fluid is introduced into the hose until the pressure within the hose exceeds the hydrostatic pressure at the known depth by a preset amount. The tracer fluid is then rapidly released into the well. The tracer fluid is detected in water pumped from the well, and the elapsed time between release of the tracer fluid into the well and detection of the tracer fluid in the water pumped from the well is determined. The process is repeated at a second known depth, and the tracer fluid travel time between the two depths is determined. From this and the cross-sectional area of the well, the incremental volumetric well bore inflow to the well between the two depths is calculated. The process can be repeated at several depths within the well to permit construction of a velocity profile of water movement within the well.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a process of evaluating well bore flow of water and for sampling of water within a well. A hose is inserted into the well to a known depth. To evaluate the water, a tracer fluid is introduced into the hose until the pressure within the hose exceeds the hydrostatic pressure at the known depth by a preset amount. The tracer fluid is then rapidly released into the well. The tracer fluid is detected in water pumped from the well, and the elapsed time between release of the tracer fluid into the well and detection of the tracer fluid in the water pumped from the well is determined. The process is repeated at a second known depth, and the tracer fluid travel time between the two depths is determined. From this and the cross-sectional area of the well, the incremental volumetric well bore inflow to the well between the two depths is calculated. The process can be repeated at several depths within the well to permit construction of a velocity profile of water movement within the well.

Abstract: A device is provided for removing and concentrating neutral mercury species from air and water. The device includes a nonporous polymeric membrane, preferably in the form of a flattened tube, for capturing and removing the neutral mercury species from the environment and a sequestration medium contained within the tube for transforming the neutral mercury species captured by the tube into a stabilized mercury species. The sequestration medium can comprise an acidic oxidant for transforming the neutral mercury species into a ionic soluble mercury species or a complexing agent for transforming the mercury species into a complexed soluble mercury species. The nonporous membrane can be made of a number of different synthetic polymers including polyethylene. The device is ideally suited for the passive integrative sequestration of neutral mercury species from a wide variety of environments.

Abstract: An acoustic travel time tomography system enables determining of physical properties of a dam, or a like concrete mass. The system includes a plurality of acoustic sensors, positioned on the dam at a plurality of spaced sensor locations which are known relative to each other, for producing output data responsive to the detection thereby of acoustic waves generated in the dam. An impact source produces an impact at an impact location which is known relative to the sensor locations so as to generate acoustic waves in the dam for detection by the sensors. A data processing unit acquires output data from the sensors produced responsive to acoustic waves generated by the impact source and analyzes this output data, together with data related to the relative locations of the sensors and the impact source, to determine physical properties of the dam.

Abstract: An electrodialysis system for desalting water is powered from a direct current power source. The system includes solenoid activated reversing controls and incorporates features which enable the system to operate unattended for continuous (24 hours per day) periods while still using minimal power. A microcontroller unit and a field circuit board control all reversing functions and fail-safe modes. The flow control portion of the system provides for flushing the system electrodes with product water so that chlorine gas generated during the electrodialysis process is picked up by the product water stream.