Abstract: In various embodiments, rapid, sensitive detection of molecular hydrogen is achieved by chemically converting hydrogen to water vapor and then detecting the water vapor as a surrogate for the hydrogen. Detection may be enhanced by dampening variation in ambient water vapor and rapidly actively modulating a hydrogen-derived water vapor component. For example, the detector may receive sample gas that includes ambient water vapor and hydrogen, dry the sample gas to dampen variation in the ambient water vapor, divide the sample gas into a chemical conversion flow and a bypass flow, chemically convert hydrogen in the chemical conversion flow to water vapor, alternate between measuring water vapor in the converted chemical conversion flow or the bypass flow to produce a water vapor signal, separate the water vapor signal in the time domain to extract a hydrogen-derived water vapor signal, and output a hydrogen signal based on the hydrogen-derived water vapor signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water sampling immersion probe (50) for continuously filtering a water sample from wastewater (14). The water sampling immersion probe (50) includes a distal coarse filter (60) with a porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, a proximal fine filter (70) arranged downstream of the coarse filter (60) and having a porosity of less than 5.0 ?m, and a sample suction opening (74) arranged downstream of the fine filter (70). The coarse filter (60) is arranged to not contact the fine filter (70).

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor includes an elastic body, a piezoelectric element which is disposed at a position where the piezoelectric element has contact with the elastic body, and which is configured to output a voltage signal when deforming in accordance with a deformation of the elastic body, and a detector configured to detect the voltage signal output from the piezoelectric element, wherein the detector detects kinetic frictional force generated between the object and the elastic body based on a variation in the voltage signal due to the relative movement of the object to the elastic body.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a first electrode, a gas detecting layer disposed on the first electrode, and an electric-conduction enhanced electrode unit being electrically connected to the first electrode and the gas detecting layer. The electric-conduction enhanced electrode unit includes an electric-conduction enhancing layer and a second electrode electrically connected to the electric-conduction enhancing layer. The electric-conduction enhancing layer is electrically connected to the gas detecting layer and is made of an electrically conductive organic material.

Abstract: A method for detecting a material flow comprises: generating a THz beam with a THz sensor, guiding the THz beam through a material flow along at least one first optical axis, reflecting the THz beam with at least one reflector mirror detecting the reflected THz reflection beam and generating a signal amplitude, determining a reflector peak in the signal amplitude corresponding to the reflector mirror, evaluating the reflector peak in an evaluating step and determining material properties of the material flow depending on the evaluating step. A calibration measurement of a guiding device may first be carried out without any material flow, while storing the signal amplitude and/or a determined reflector peak of the signal amplitude, and guiding the material flow through the guiding device and acquiring the signal amplitude, to determine differences of the signal amplitude of the calibration measurement and the subsequent measurement with the material flow.

Abstract: A sensor-enabled geogrid system for and method of monitoring the health, condition, and/or status of rail track infrastructure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the sensor-enabled geogrid system includes a sensor-enabled geogrid that further includes a geogrid holding an arrangement of one or more sensors. The sensor-enabled geogrid system further includes a communication means or network for collecting information and/or data from the sensor enabled geogrid about the health, condition, and/or status of rail track infrastructure. Further, a method of using the presently disclosed sensor-enabled geogrid system for monitoring the health, condition, and/or status of rail track infrastructure is provided.

Abstract: A method for verifying a density and/or viscosity measuring device in a measuring station of a process installation during ongoing operation, in which a medium flows through a main channel of the process installation, comprising steps: providing a side channel, which is connected as a bypass of the main channel, wherein the side channel is fluidically connected to the main channel via two regions of the main channel with mutually differing diameters; providing a MEMS-based master or control density measuring device in the side channel such that the MEMS-based master or control density measuring device is flowed through by the medium; performing at least one verification measurement with the MEMS-based master or control density measuring device; and verifying the density and/or viscosity measuring device based on the at least one verification measurement performed by the MEMS-based master or control density measuring device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a processing system includes a chamber, a supplier, a detector, and a controller. The chamber is configured to store a processing object inside. The supplier is configured to supply a plurality of particles and a gas inside the chamber. The detector is configured to detect a state of air flow in a vicinity of the processing object. The controller is configured to control the supplier based on a detection value from the detector. The controller determines generation of a vortex based on data regarding a steady state of the air flow and the detection value from the detector, and controls the supplier to stop supply of the plurality of particles when the generation of the vortex is determined.

Abstract: A microfluidic viscometer measures the viscosity of a microliter-volume fluid sample using a microfluidic chip having a microchannel with a high aspect ratio (˜10), allowing the microflow therein to be approximated as a rectangular slit flow. The microfluidic chip is fabricated by stacking rigid sheet materials that can be laser cut to specified shapes and sizes. The microchannel, rendered smooth and hydrophobic by a repellant coating, provides a straight flow path for the sample to approach flow equilibrium as it moves through. By applying corrections related to the visual bias from the camera and the capillary pressure difference at the air-liquid interface, the viscosity of the fluid sample can be calculated based on differential pressure data, sample length, velocity, volumetric flow rate, and contact angle from captured video, and the channel dimension, given that the sample has reached a flow equilibrium condition.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for diagnosing failure in a pressure gauge of a hydrogen filling system includes filling a fuel cell vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel with the hydrogen fuel from an accumulator, in which the hydrogen fuel is accumulated, via a dispenser; and acquiring pressure values measured by a plurality of pressure gauges disposed at different positions in a flow passage of the hydrogen fuel between the accumulator and an outlet of the dispenser at timing when a flow rate of the hydrogen fuel to be filled at a stage close to an end of the filling becomes a threshold value or less, determining whether or not a deviation between the pressure values is within a threshold value on the basis of acquired pressure values, and outputting a determination result.

Abstract: A method of operating a gas sensor for a gas analyte including a sensing component includes, in a first mode, interrogating the sensor by periodically applying an electrical signal to the sensing component of the sensor, measuring sensor response to the electrical signal which is indicative of a sensitivity of the sensor each time the electrical signal is applied to the sensing component, determining whether one or more thresholds have been exceeded based upon the sensor response determined each time the electrical signal is applied to the sensing component, and entering a second mode, different from the first mode in analysis of the sensor response to the periodically applied electrical signals, if one or more thresholds are exceeded.

Abstract: An in-situ observation device for gas hydrates includes a reactor, which includes a visual tube, a pulling rod, a temperature-controlled seed crystal rod and a spiral adjuster. An upper end and a lower end of the visual tube are respectively equipped with an upper end cap and a lower end cap. The upper end cap defines an air inlet, and the lower end cap defines a liquid inlet. An upper end of the temperature-controlled seed crystal rod is connected to an adjusting flange. The adjusting flange is connected to the spiral adjuster. A lower end of the temperature-controlled seed crystal rod hermetically passes through the upper end cap and is located in the visual tube. The temperature-controlled seed crystal rod defines a cooling liquid channel, and a cooling liquid inlet and a cooling liquid outlet, a seed crystal rod liquid inlet and a seed crystal rod outlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of landslide hazard model tests, and in particular to a landslide model test method and device for realizing multi-variable synchronous monitoring. In the test device, a soil slope simulation unit is configured to pile up a soil slope and simulate different inclinations of the slope. A rainfall simulation unit is configured to simulate rainfall of different intensities and induce a landslide. A runoff-seepage separation unit is configured to realize separation of runoff from seepage of the slope under the effect of rainfall. A monitoring module is configured to monitor runoff and seepage flow rates of the slope, changes in water content and pore water pressure within the slope, and a morphological change of the slope under the effect of rainfall, to obtain a mechanism of rainfall-induced landslide deformation and damage based on changes in the flow rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing fluid and sensing volume are described. In some embodiments, a system may include a container having an internal volume that is configured to change as fluid enters or exits the container, a first loop disposed on a first side of the container, and a second loop disposed on a second side of the container. A first current traveling through one of the first loop and the second loop may induce a second current in the other of the first loop and the second loop, and a magnitude of the second current may vary based on changes in the internal volume of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a test body (30) for mechanically destructively testing a materially bonded joining connection, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing an areal fiber composite substrate formed from a fiber composite material which has a fiber material and matrix material in which the fiber material is embedded, applying at least one test fabric and an adhesive to a substrate surface of the areal fiber composite substrate, and curing the adhesive, and therefore a materially bonded joining connection is produced between the test fabric and the substrate surface by way of the cured adhesive, wherein a Dutch-weave fabric and/or a square-mesh fabric is provided as the test fabric.

Abstract: A sensor system is disclosed that includes a plurality of sensors, a deployment system for deploying the sensors, a control and charging system for receiving sensor data and optionally charging the batteries within the sensors, and one or more algorithms employed by the sensor system for processing, analyzing, and otherwise using data received by the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: An air monitoring system with a controller in a computer system that operates to control a pump system to move air from a collection port for a cavity as diverted air to a tube connected to the collection port, move the diverted air into an input port of an air interface connected to the tube, through a chamber in the air interface, and out of a pump port of the air interface without increasing a pressure of the diverted air greater than a pressure level for a gas analyzer system to analyze an air sample collected from the diverted air. The controller operates to control the gas analyzer system connected to a sampling port in the air interface by a probe to obtain the air sample from the diverted air moving through the air interface and analyze the air sample to determine a set of components in the air sample.

Abstract: An exemplary portable automated device is developed for in vitro testing of blood vascular occlusion as a result of sickle cell disease. The portable automated device may be controlled by a computer (e.g., smartphone) application. Calibration of the portable device may be performed using a component of known impedance value. With the developed portable automated device, analysis may be performed on sickle cell samples on a microfluidic platform that mimics the structure of human capillaries. Significant differences in cell impedance signals may be observed between sickle cells and normal cells, as well as between sickle cells under hypoxia and normoxia conditions.

Abstract: A method for evaluating Dry Eye Disease (“DED”) in a human or animal subject is provided. Thread thinning dynamics of a tear sample of the subject are determined using an acoustically-driven microfluidic extensional rheometry instrument. At least one physical parameter value of the tear sample is calculated based at least in part on the determined thread thinning dynamics. DED is evaluated based at least in part on the at least one calculated physical parameter value of the tear sample. A device for evaluating Dry Eye Disease (DED) in a human or animal subject is also provided. The device includes an acoustically-driven microfluidic extensional rheometry instrument and a processing device configured to evaluate DED based at least in part on the calculated at least one physical parameter value of the tear sample.

Abstract: A device and method for field in-situ multi-plot synchronous monitoring of greenhouse gas fluxes, wherein a transparent plexiglass chamber is fixed to a stainless steel base, and the plexiglass chamber is provided with two movable square plexiglass plates; the square plexiglass plates are connected to the plexiglass chamber through push rods, and the push rods are configured to close or open the square plexiglass plates, so to seal or communicate the plexiglass chamber; sampling tubes are arranged on side walls of the plexiglass chamber; one ends of sampling pumps are connected to the sampling tubes; one end of each sucking pump is connected to each sampling tube through a solenoid valve, and the other end of each sucking pump is connected to a gas analyzer through a switch; and the gas analyzer is connected to a computer host, configured to measure concentration data of gas in the sampling tubes.