Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the absorption and displacement of a fluid by a material. The apparatus comprises a container having graduated marks for measuring the volume, and change in volume, of a fluid (such as, but not limited to, a liquid) and a section for holding the material to be evaluated.

Abstract: A continuously operating pre-concentrator for trace gas analysis includes a flow channel, a pumping chamber, and a separation membrane between the flow channel and the pumping chamber. The flow channel has a width that decreases from the inlet to the outlet in such a way that the trace gas and the carrier gas maintain a substantially constant flow speed through the flow channel. The separation membrane is configured to allow preferential removal of molecules of the carrier gas from the flow channel, as the gas sample flows from the inlet to the outlet, thereby increasing concentration of the trace gas in the gas sample. The separation membrane includes a substantially non-adsorbing material that allows the gas sample to flow substantially continuously through the flow channel, so that a variation in concentration of the trace gas can be detected in substantial real time.

Abstract: The radiation emitted by the various components in a sample of a fluid wherein the radiation emitted by activated molecules within the sample of the fluid is used to determine the nature of and quantities of materials present in the fluid and a fluid analyser system comprising a receptacle(s) and an analysis apparatus containing a consistent light condition compartment containing temperature detection device(s) into which the receptacle containing the fluid sample may be placed and means are provided for activating the molecules within the sample so that the radiation emitted by the sample may be detected and amplified.

Abstract: A concentration sensor for detecting a concentration of a liquid reducing agent through heat transfer characteristics between separate two points is provided in a storage tank for storing a liquid supplied to an NOx reduction catalyst. When the concentration read from the concentration sensor is 0% or less, the liquid is discriminated to be water, that is, it is utilized that when water is converted to the concentration of a liquid reducing agent, it is 0%, and it is also 0% even when the concentration is reduced by convection. When the concentration is greater than a predetermined value, it is discriminated that no liquid is present, since it is considered that the output of the sensor is abnormal because of the absence of a liquid in the tank. On the other hand, when the concentration is greater than 0% and less than a predetermined value, the liquid is discriminated to be the liquid reducing agent, provided that the concentration value may include an error.

Abstract: A sheet form membrane probe, an apparatus and method, wherein the probe includes a probe body, a sheet-form membrane secured to the probe body and including an open surface exposed to the exterior of the probe; a channel formed between the probe body and the membrane through which a collector fluid can flow; an inlet port opening to the channel to conduct collector fluid to the channel; and an outlet port spaced from the inlet port such that the collector fluid passes through the channel from the inlet port to the outlet port in a flow direction substantially parallel to the membrane. The channel may be formed to provide broad surface contact of the collector fluid with the membrane. The membrane open surface may include an active area open to a sample fluid and open on an opposite side for contact with collector fluid flow in the channel. The active area may be large relative to the total membrane area to provide for an effective use of the expensive membrane material.

Abstract: A method of producing a gas sensor is provided. The method includes a disposition step of preparing an elastic seal member having a main body portion and a smaller diameter portion that is smaller in outer diameter than the main body portion, disposing the entire main body portion and a part of the smaller diameter portion inside a tubular metallic member and allowing a remaining part of the smaller diameter portion to protrude outward from a rear end of the tubular metallic member, and a crimping step of crimping at least a portion of the tubular metallic member radially inward and thereby compressively deforming the elastic seal member. A gas sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A variety of methods for operating a chromatography system are presented. Specifically, methods for operating a pumping system within a chromatography system are presented. The methods presented are directed to pumping apparatus in which very small amounts of fluid are pumped through the system. A number of techniques for detecting and compensating for leaks are presented as well as a number of techniques for operating the pumping system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring gases permeation through a material (M), comprising the steps of: Forming a mixture of isotopic gases in a mixing enclosure (14), each isotopic gas corresponding to a target gas for which permeation through the material (M) is sought, the isotopic gas having a mass number different from that of the corresponding target gas; Filling with the mixture of isotopic gases a first chamber (11) of a permeation enclosure (10) comprising first (11) and second (12) chambers, the first chamber (11) being separated from the second chamber (12) by the material (M); Simultaneously analyzing the isotopic gases having permeated through the material (M) and being present in the second chamber (12), in order to simultaneously calculate permeation through the material (M) of each of the corresponding target gases. The invention further relates to a device for implementing such a method, and a method for using this device.

Abstract: A rheometer can be used to measure yield stress and viscosity of a cement-based material with excellent results. It mainly includes a drum and at least one adaptive vane assembly. The adaptive vane assembly is replaceably connected to a shaft. The shaft rotates relative to the drum. The ratio of radius (r1) of the adaptive vane assembly to radius (r0) of the drum is between 0.1˜0.6. The shaft is rotated with a minimum rotational speed more than 0.001 rad/s, and then can measure its torque at constant speed. Accordingly, the rheometer can greatly reduce the disturbance of vanes of the adaptive vane assembly upon the cement-based materials and reduce the slippage among particles and the vanes. Moreover, the minimum shear stress is defined as a yield stress.

Abstract: An instrument for detecting leaks in a hermetically sealed package. The instrument includes (i) a hollow needle, (ii) a mass flow rate sensor in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle, and (iii) a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the needle for evacuating gas from the hermetically sealed package, and in fluid communication with the mass flow rate sensor for directing mass flow from the evacuated package into operable contact with the mass flow rate sensor so as to permit sensing of any continuing mass flow from the evacuated package. The instrument may further include an oxygen sensor in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle for analyzing the oxygen concentration of the gas within the hermetically sealed package.

Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring and testing the integrity of structural elements is disclosed. A frangible membrane including a thin breakable conductor sense loop is bonded to a structural element to be tested. A fracture in the bonded structural element induces a disruption in the both the frangible membrane and the thin breakable conductor sense loop. Measured electrical property change of the disrupted conductor sense loop reveals the fracture in the structural element. Connection to the sensor device may be through a connector or using a wireless reader which remotely energizes the sensor device. The sensor may also be implemented as a gasket and/or employ weep holes to the breakable conductor to reveal possible corrosion as well.

Abstract: In a method or system for function testing of a safety valve in engineering plant, it is tested whether the safety valve travels from a normal position to a predetermined final position in a certain operating situation of the plant. A bypass the valve bypasses the safety valve and assumes an idle position in a normal operation of the plant and a predetermined test position for function testing of the safety valve. The test position of the bypass valve is established such that a predetermined fluid flow through the bypass valve is permitted.

Abstract: A method for determining absolute density of a slurry that typically contains entrained air, such as cement slurry, in a continuous mixing operation such those used in cementing a gas or oil well. The method obtains density measurements of a slurry at two different pressures and then uses the two density measurements and the two pressure measurements to compute absolute density of the slurry employing the following formula at isothermal conditions: Dabs=D1/(1?((D1/D2?1)/(P1/P2?1))), where Dabs=absolute density, D1=first density, D2=second density, P1=absolute pressure at which the first density was measured, and P2=absolute pressure at which the second density was measured.

Abstract: A knock sensor includes: a base made up of a flange portion, and a tube portion; a sensor main body including a piezoelectric element that is fitted over an outer peripheral portion of the tube portion; and a stopper ring that is fitted over the outer peripheral portion of the tube portion and cooperates with the flange portion to clamp the sensor main body, a groove being formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion, and the knock sensor being fixed by driving a pressing jig into an outer peripheral surface of the stopper ring to plastically deform the stopper ring and press a protruding portion into the groove, wherein: an axial length of a recess portion that is formed simultaneously on the outer peripheral surface of the stopper ring when the protruding portion is formed is longer than an axial length of the groove.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting specific quality characteristics and/or properties of pipes (1) by means of a pressure test, especially for steel pipes of pipe conduits for combustible media. According to said method, in addition to the water volume required for the pressure test according to DIN EN 10208 part 2, an additional water volume (12) is filled into every single pipe (1) with the proviso that the pipe material is slightly subjected to plastic stress.

Abstract: The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the investigation of particle characteristics, particularly to a device for measuring the apparent density distribution of a set of particles composed of several subsets of particles with different apparent densities and able to implement a flotation process to measure this distribution and comprising a flotation container, a stirrer and a system for measuring the density of the liquids, characterized in that the inside wall of the container has at least a first part in the shape of an inverted cone with axis Y whose height is 1.5 to 3 times its maximum diameter, and in that it has means for extracting liquid communicating with said first part at the vertex of the inverted cone, said means having a tube communicating with said first part at the tip of the inverted cone of which the first axis makes an angle of between ?/2 and 3?/2 radians with the second axis.

Abstract: A container for holding liquids. The container has a body having an interior for holding a liquid, an exterior surface, and an upper portion defining a central opening and a spout. A handle is attached to the body at a first predetermined location. A liquid level indicator is attached to the body at a second predetermined location that is a predetermined distance from the first predetermined location. The liquid level indicator has a liquid passageway therethrough which is in fluid communication with the interior of the body. The liquid level indicator has a first end attached to the body, a second end attached to the body, and a substantially transparent portion between the first and second ends. The substantially transparent portion is spaced apart from the exterior surface of the body by a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, the body has a generally circular shape and the liquid level indicator is about 90° from the handle.

Abstract: Capacitive liquid condition sensing apparatus includes a pair of a 1-1 electrode and a 1-2 electrode arranged to form a first capacitance; a pair of a 2-1 electrode and a 2-2 electrode arranged to form a second capacitance; a circuit board formed with a sensing circuit to sense the liquid condition such as a liquid level in accordance with the first and second capacitances; and 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 conductive paths connecting the 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 electrodes, respectively, to the sensing circuit, and including 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 conductive segments, respectively. The 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 conductive segments are arranged in a row, and extend side by side. The 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 conductive segments are arranged so that a first parasitic capacitance formed between the 1-1 conductive segment and the 1-2 conductive segment is equal to a second parasitic capacitance formed between the 2-1 conductive segment and the 2-2 conductive segment.

Abstract: A method for determining absolute density of a slurry that typically contains entrained air, such as cement slurry, in a continuous mixing operation such those used in cementing a gas or oil well. The method obtains density measurements of a slurry at two different pressures and then uses the two density measurements and the two pressure measurements to compute absolute density of the slurry employing the following formula at isothermal conditions: Dabs=D1/(1?((D1/D2?1)/(P1/P2?1))), where Dabs=absolute density, D1=first density, D2=second density, P1=absolute pressure at which the first density was measured, and P2=absolute pressure at which the second density was measured.