Abstract: A system for detecting fugitive emissions including emissions from valves and bolted flange connections. The system may include: (1) enclosures, for example, for valves and pipe flange connections, and (2) a detector in communication with said enclosures.

Abstract: An oil detecting system for detecting a leakage oil by optical fluorescence measurement means even in the presence of external fluorescent light, for example, from parts and equipments of a vehicle and a plant comprises an irradiation apparatus for irradiating a light including an absorption wavelength of an oil to be detected and exciting molecules of the oil to make the oil fluoresce, a wavelength selection apparatus operatively connected to the irradiation apparatus and adapted to select a fluorescence wavelength of the leakage oil fluoresced by the irradiation apparatus, and an observation apparatus for detecting the fluorescence of the leakage oil and selecting only a period of observing fluorescing of the leakage oil over substantially the same time period that the leakage oil fluoresces light. A processing apparatus may be further provided so as to be operatively connected to the observation apparatus and adapted to process an image or a signal from the observation apparatus.

Abstract: The mass of particulate of an effluent gas flowing in a stack is directly measured with a mass measurement assembly supported within the stack. The mass measurement assembly preferably includes an inertial mass measurement transducer which provides near real-time mass readings. The mass measurement assembly also includes a particulate collector which can be equilibrated in situ. A conditioned gas line supplies clean, dry, heated conditioned gas to the collector for equilibration. The flow rate of the conditioned gas prevents effluent gas from reaching the collector during equilibration. The collector can be equilibrated in the stack before and after sampling and between intermittent sampling periods.

Abstract: A lead wire for a sensor has a conductor unit including at least stainless steel wires and copper wires. By setting the cross-sectional percentage of the stainless steel wires in the conductor unit within the range of 30 to 70%, it is possible to obtain a lead wire having low electrical resistance, and high flexibility, tensile strength and elasticity. There are preferred values in hardness and heat treatment of the stainless steel wires. The copper wires are preferably coated with an antioxidant film. The lead wire may include hybrid wires stranded together and obtained by integrally molding or forming stainless steel and copper. It is preferable that the lead wire is coated with an insulating coating material such as a Teflon type resin.

Abstract: A method of measuring a parameter in a well, under isobaric conditions, including such parameters as hydraulic gradient, pressure, water level, soil moisture content and/or aquifer properties the method as presented comprising providing a casing having first and second opposite ends, and a length between the ends, the casing supporting a transducer having a reference port; placing the casing lengthwise into the well, second end first, with the reference port vented above the water table in the well; and sealing the first end. A system is presented for measuring a parameter in a well, the system comprising a casing having first and second opposite ends, and a length between the ends and being configured to be placed lengthwise into a well second end first; a transducer, the transducer having a reference port, the reference port being vented in the well above the water table, the casing being screened across and above the water table; and a sealing member sealing the first end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytic layer system on a resistive gas sensor, especially on a resistive gas sensor layer on a titanate base, with at least one first layer and a second layer lying over the first layer, where, according to the invention, the first layer exhibits a catalytically active substance whose volume percentage in the layer ranges from 20 to 80%. In addition, the first layer contains a titanate that corresponds to at least one titanate of the underlying gas sensor layer. This attribute guarantees favorable adhesion between the layers. Furthermore, an oxide mixture that contributes to the improved mechanical stability of the layer system is provided in the second layer instead of the catalytically active substance. To manufacture the catalytic layer system, the individual layers are applied to the sensor in a screen printing process, which allows for a rational method of production and the precise dosing and distribution of the individual layer components.

Abstract: An improved technique to more accurately calculate pore pressure of sedimentary rock due to subsurface fluid expansion. The technique is built upon a combination of known force balanced in situ loading limb mineralogical stress/strain relationships with locally variable unloading stress/strain relationships. In stress/strain space, the material properties governed loading limb is an upper limit for the many possible unloading limbs. A method for relating these different natural stress/strain paths and applying the correct path to calculate pore fluid pressure from in situ force balance is disclosed. This method preferably calibrated with in situ stress/strain data which allows for a lithologic sealing caprock to be identified and the locally prevailing in situ unloading limb stress/strain relationship to be estimated. The forced balance loading and unloading calibrations are applied to more accurately determine well casing depths using either wireline or real-time measured while drilling petrophysical data.

Abstract: An NO.sub.x sensor is produced by sintering a plurality of columnar crystals of .beta.-type Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The average value M of aspect ratios b/a (wherein a represents a width and b represents a length) in the columnar crystals is set in a range of 2.11<M.ltoreq.5. The NO.sub.x sensor has a high sensitivity to NO.sub.x via an enhancement attained by control of crystal type and structure.

Abstract: A system for on-line quantitative monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) includes pressure reduction means for carrying a gaseous sample from a first location to a measuring input location maintained at a low pressure, the system utilizing active feedback to keep both the vapor flow and pressure to a chemical ionization mode mass spectrometer constant. A multiple input manifold for VOC and gas distribution permits a combination of calibration gases or samples to be applied to the spectrometer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the measurement and prediction of waxy crude characteristics is disclosed. The method is for treating oil samples having at least some wax, by the steps of isolating a sample of crude to be tested, testing the sample by subjecting the sample to known amounts of at least one of pressure, shear rate and temperature, and evaluating the wax in the tested sample. In another embodiment the apparatus includes at least one of a pressure chamber to hold an oil sample, a pressure control to control pressure of the sample, a temperature control to control the oil temperature, a shear rate control to control shear rates in the sample and a sensor and data acquisition system to measure particle characteristics of said sample, to simulate field conditions which waxy crudes may be subjected to.

Abstract: Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprise first and second conductive elements (e.g. electrical leads) electrically coupled to and separated by a chemically sensitive resistor which provides an electrical path between the conductive elements. The resistor comprises a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive organic polymer) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material) transverse to the electrical path. The resistor provides a difference in resistance between the conductive elements when contacted with a fluid comprising a chemical analyte at a first concentration, than when contacted with a fluid comprising the chemical analyte at a second different concentration. Arrays of such sensors are constructed with at least two sensors having different chemically sensitive resistors providing dissimilar such differences in resistance.

Abstract: A fluid property sensor includes a substrate having a first electrode thereon, and a flexible member adjacent the substrate and the first electrode wherein the flexible member includes a second electrode. A signal generator generates a predetermined electrical signal across the first and second electrodes so that an electrostatic force is generated between the first and second electrodes and so that said flexible member deflects a predetermined distance. A measuring circuit measures an interval of time between the generation of the predetermined electrical signal and the deflection of the flexible member to the predetermined distance and determines a property of a fluid adjacent the flexible member based on the interval of time. For example, the sensor can be used to determine a viscosity of the fluid. Alternately, the fluid can be a compressible gas, and the sensor can be used to determine a pressure of the gas. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A fuel cap tester kit containing a plurality of fuel cap adapters, wherein each adapter has a mouth opening, outer rim, cap receiving chamber, air supply passageway and a fuel cap connection opening and with each fuel cap opening being configured to engage and retain a different and specifically configured fuel cap, and wherein each adapter is also provided with a threaded base connection that cooperates with a complimentary threaded connection on a test base that is fluidly connected to a pressure source and tester apparatus and wherein the base connectors of each adapter are configured alike so that each adapter can be connected to the single threaded connector in the test base to permit testing of different size fuel caps dependent on the adapter threaded into the test base, where the tester kit is used to decide upon quality of fuel caps under test by determining a leakage rate of pressurized air from the cap-receiving chamber through the mouth opening.

Abstract: A system is designed to measure concrete rheological properties which includes a concrete plant, a measuring unit and a mix changing unit. The measuring unit includes a surface in contact with a part of a mass of the concrete mix, a shearing unit for effecting shear deformation in the mass and at least one sensor which senses a measure of the force which is transferred to the surface by the concrete mass as a result of the shear deformation. The rheological profile is produced by: a) sensing at least one measure of the force which is transferred to the surface under at least two different stress states, b) determining i) the sensitivity of each of the at least one measure to a change in stress state and ii) the workability of the mix and c) creating the rheological profile from at least the sensitivity and workability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor comprising a sensor element for measuring a predetermined gas component contained in an introduced measurement gas, and a protective cover arranged to surround a forward end of the sensor element; the gas sensor including the sensor element having a gas-introducing port which is disposed at a forward end surface thereof for introducing the measurement gas thereinto; and the protective cover comprising an inner protective cover and an outer protective cover. The inner protective cover is provided with an opening section which makes communication with the gas-introducing port. An inner protective cover space, which is formed between the inner protective cover and the sensor element, is isolated from a communication passage which makes communication from the opening section of the inner protective cover to the gas-introducing port of the sensor element so that the measurement gas principally diffuses and flows from the opening section into the gas-introducing port of the sensor element.

Abstract: A means for detecting carbon monoxide which utilizes an un-heated catalytic material to oxidize carbon monoxide at ambient temperatures. Because this reaction is exothermic, a thermistor in contact with the catalytic material is used as a sensing element to detect the heat evolved as carbon monoxide is oxidized to carbon dioxide at the catalyst surface, without any heaters or external heating elements for the ambient air or catalytic element material. Upon comparison to a reference thermistor, relative increases in the temperature of the sensing thermistor correspond positively with an increased concentration of carbon monoxide in the ambient medium and are thus used as an indicator of the presence of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: The invention is a sensing method and an oxygen sensor for detecting a change of oxygen partial pressure in an ambient atmosphere through a change of a measurable physical property of a sensing material. The sensor includes a sensing material selected from metal or its oxides which, when at an elevated temperature and exposed to a gas containing a changing partial pressures of oxygen, is capable of changing from one metal or metal oxide phase to another such oxide phase and vice versa. Associated with such phase change is a change in a measurable physical property of the material. The sensor also includes heating means, connectable to a power source, maintaining a temperature gradient across the sensing material since it is critical that the sensing material exist in at least two phases during active sensing. An output signal is furnished in response to the change in a physical property, like electrical resistance, of a portion of or of the entire material in response to change in oxygen partial pressure.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting combustible gases in a test gas. The core of this sensor is comprised of a sensitive layer based on a semiconducting metal oxide that is deposited on a ceramic substrate and for which the electrical resistance provides information on the concentration of combustible gases in a test gas. The sensitive layer (3) is comprised of a compound (12) of sintered-together grains (15) of the semiconducting metal oxide, the surface of which is coated with gold and/or a gold alloy. The semiconducting metal oxide in this case is stannic oxide (SnO.sub.2), indium oxide (In.sub.2 O.sub.3), titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) or another n-semiconducting metal oxide or metal mix oxide. The gold alloy, for example, is composed of 66 mol % gold and 33 mol % palladium (Pd).

Abstract: Screening an unknown sample for a plurality of known or "target" analytes may be accomplished by creating and searching a retention time-locked spectral database for the entire chromatographic output of a locked GC system locked to such spectral database. Identification of target analytes having for example, known significant mass spectral ions and mass ion ratios corresponding to known analytes of interest believed to be found within a pre-defined retention time window is improved by direct comparison of significant mass spectral ions and the mass ion ratios within a specified retention time window.

Abstract: A leak detection system determines whether a container has a leak or an aperture by attempting to draw a vacuum in the container and determining whether a vacuum has been created in the container. If a vacuum can be created in a container, this indicates that the container has a leak. Conversely if a vacuum cannot be created in the container, this indicates that the container does not have a leak. The leak detection system preferably includes a conveyor system for moving a container and a sensor for sensing the pressure in the interior of the container through an opening in the top of the container. While the sensor is sensing the pressure in the interior of the container, a vacuum pump pulls air from the region around the exterior of the container. If the container has an aperture, a vacuum will be created in the container and will be noted by the sensor.