Abstract: An method and an apparatus for measuring the partial pressure of gases dissolved in liquids in plants for carrying out biotechnological and food technological processes includes a measuring space which is separated by a gas-permeable diaphragm which is permeable for the gas to be determined. A light emission source produces a light ray with a wavelength which is absorbed by the gas to be determined. The light ray is directed into the measuring space. A measuring device is provided for determining the light ray leaving the measuring space. The measuring space, the light emission and the measuring device are arranged in a rod-shaped probe. The probe is capable of being sterilized. The measuring space is filled with a fluid which does not chemically react with the gas to be determined.

Abstract: Characterization of organic contaminants in subsurface formation is performed by methods for detecting the presence of nonaqueous phase liquid in a subsurface formation, and for determining the composition and for determining the volume of nonaqueous phase liquids. Generally the methods comprise introducing one or more partitioning tracers and one or more non-partitioning tracers at one or more injection points located in the subsurface formation and measuring separation between the one or more partitioning tracers and the one or more non-partitioning tracers from one or more sampling points located in the subsurface formation to determine presence, composition and/or volume of nonaqueous phase liquid in the subsurface formation. In addition, the methods can be used to assess the performance of an attempted remediation.

Abstract: A method of analysis of an impurity in a gas is characterized in that an impurity gas in a sample gas is quantified by ionizing the sample gas, and measuring by a mass spectrometer 6 the intensity of cluster ions which are formed from a main component gas and an impurity gas in the sample gas. In addition, a device for analysis of an impurity in a gas is characterized by comprising a mass spectrometer 6 having a means for ionizing a gas which is introduced thereinto, an analysis line 4 which introduces a sample gas into the aforesaid mass spectrometer 6, and a calibration line 10 which adjusts a concentration of an impurity in the sample gas and thereafter introduces the gas into the aforesaid mass spectrometer 6.

Abstract: A method of predicting rupture failure for corroded transmission pipelines uses a model that accounts for the effects of residual and thermal stresses, and settlement of the pipe following installation. The pressure required for failure under a fixed bending moment is different from the pressure required wherein the same bending moment is produced by the settlement of the pipe because the bending compliance increases with plastic straining. The failure criterion depends upon whether or not the hoop strain exceeds the difference between the ultimate hoop strain limit of the material and the remaining hoop strain capacity needed for the material to shed the axial stresses due to bending.

Abstract: A leakage diagnostic system for making a judgement of leakage of a fuel purge system, which has in order from the side of a fuel tank a control valve, a canister and a purge valve disposed in a purge passage and a relief valve isolating the canister from the atmosphere, based on a rising rate of pressure in the purge passage between the fuel tank and the intake system isolated from the atmosphere after lowering and keeping the interior of the purge passage below specified negative pressure level for a specified period of time. When the interior of the fuel tank increases above a threshold level after a specified period of time, the leakage diagnostic system delivers a judgement of leakage of the purge system.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based apparatus is provided for determining odor levels in gas streams. The apparatus includes a mixing chamber for mixing gas from a gas supply to be tested with air to form a gas-air mixture. The mixing chamber includes a gas inlet port through which the gas is received, an air intake port through which the air is received, and an outlet port through which the gas-air mixture leaves the mixing chamber. The apparatus includes a flow control valve that can be connected to the gas supply to enable a user to selectively adjust the flow rate of the gas from the gas supply to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a mass flow sensor positioned between the flow control valve and the gas inlet port of the mixing chamber for measuring the mass flow rate of the gas flowing into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: The concentration of a component, e.g., moisture, in a sample fluid, such as a chemically reactive gas or liquid, is determined by the creation of an identical concentration in a chemically inert fluid. Sample and inert fluids are brought into contact with each other through a membrane that allows the exchange of the component. The inert fluid's component concentration is varied until it is detected to remain constant after passing the membrane. When the concentration generated in the inert fluid is known, the invention will constitute a quantitative analytical device that does not require the generation of a calibration curve. This means there is no need to generate multiple known component concentrations in the sample material. Alternatively, operating as an alarm device, the detection of a change in concentration in the inert fluid after membrane contact means that the sample's component level is different than that of the inert fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to an on-line instrument that is able to sample the contents of a dense paste-like material, isolate the material, measure the material's rheological properties by extruding it under pressure and perform a self-cleaning operation. Such structures of this type, generally, provide precise measurements of the material's rheological properties (deformation and flow under pressure) such as yield stress, yield pressure, viscosity or Bingham number.

Abstract: A leak test adapter system and method for using same are provided for leak esting a container. A test port is defined in the container to have a cylindrical portion accessible from within the container and a slot accessible from the cylindrical portion and the exterior of the container. A housing fitted over the test port from the exterior of the container defines a chamber in line with the test port. A plug has a first portion sealable within the cylindrical portion of the test port, a second portion extending axially from the first portion for engagement in the slot when the first portion of the plug is sealed in the cylindrical portion, and a third portion extending axially from the second portion. A control rod is attachable to the third portion of the plug.

Abstract: A system and a method for analyzing impurities in compressed gas, a method for controlling the particle growth in the monitored gas and a method for determining the optimum monitoring temperature for an individual gas are disclosed.

Abstract: Pipes provided with each switching valve in intermediate portions thereof for feeding sample solutions to a separation mechanism are joined by a multi-way joint, to reach the separation mechanism through a pump. When all valves are closed while driving the pump and thereafter one valve is opened, all bubbles etc. downstream the opened valve are swept and eliminated due to abrupt flow of a liquid since a portion downstream the valve has been decompressed. In switching of a sample in sample measurement, a valve of a pipe for a completely measured sample is left open while a valve of a pipe for a next sample is opened, and then the valve of the pipe for the previously completely measured sample is closed after a while. Thus, pressure fluctuation following sample switching is avoided.

Abstract: A device and a method for leakage detection and leakage location in an installation, in particular in a pipeline, include a collecting line which is permeable to a substance and is connected to a pump and to a sensor for the substance. A metal wire is disposed outside and along the collecting line and is connected to a negative pole of a direct current source. When a solution, for example salt water, emerges from a leak in a pipeline, a gas, in particular hydrogen, is obtained by electrolysis at the metal wire. A concentration maximum of the gas in the collecting line is then detected and located.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring at least one atmospheric gas in an upper-air region using a plurality of sensors. The step of the method include measuring a temperature of the air using one of a plurality of sensors, which is not affected by gases contained in the air; measuring a temperature of the air using some of the plurality of sensors, each of the sensors being affected by at least one gas contained in the air; and calculating an amount of that atmospheric gas based on measured values obtained from each of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A modular chromatography column heating and temperature control system includes a heater base module with a compartment for the chromatography column that includes a heater plate. A set of heater blocks is provided in pairs, each heater block having opposite main faces in which are formed channels that match chromatography columns of different diameters. The heater blocks are mounted in pairs on the heater plate with the chromatography column held between them in matching channels on the two adjacent main faces of the heater blocks. An appropriate number of pairs of heater blocks are mounted to the heater plate so that the pairs of heater blocks cover as much of the length of the chromatography column as desired. The set of available pairs of heater blocks may include heater blocks of different lengths, so that appropriate selections of pairs of heater blocks can be made to best match the length of the chromatography column.

Abstract: An apparatus (2) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (4) for, when inflated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflator (10) is provided having a housing (12) defining a chamber (30). A mixture of gases (32) is stored in the chamber for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint (4). A diode (60) is supported by the housing (12) and is exposed to the stored mixture of gases (32) in the chamber (30). An electrical property of the diode (60) is dependent upon the concentration of at least one of the gases in the mixture of gases (32) in the chamber (30). In a preferred embodiment, sensor means (70) is provided for sensing the electrical property of the diode (60). The sensor means (70) provides an output signal when the electrical property of the diode reaches a predetermined threshold indicating a reduction in the concentration of the one gas in the mixture of gases (32). Means responsive to the output signal (74) is provided for affecting vehicle occupant safety.

Abstract: A pressure testing apparatus can pressure test separately a first object having a width and a height and a second object having a width and a height. The first object can be, for example, a fiber optic repeater; the second object can be, for example, a fiber optic branch unit. The pressure testing apparatus has a testing vessel and an adaptor. The testing vessel has a chamber with an inner width corresponding to the width of the first object and a first gap. The adaptor can be selectably insertable into the chamber of the testing vessel and has an inner width and an outer width. The outer width of the adaptor corresponds to the inner width of the chamber of the testing vessel and a second gap. The inner width of the adaptor corresponds to the width of the second object and a third gap.

Abstract: A system for providing process control information, such as viscosity, concerning a polymer melt comprises a means containing a polymer melt under pressure; means for diverting a stream of the polymer melt directly from said containing means to and through an orifice of predetermined geometrical shape wherein the flow of said diverted portion to and through said orifice is unobstructed and directly dependent on the pressure of said main polymer melt wherein the cross sectional area is sized to permit the flow of said diverted melt polymer therethrough absence additional independent means acting on said diverted melt polymer for increasing flow through said orifice; temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant temperature signal; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant pressure signal, said pressure signal being directly dependent on the pressure of polymer in said main polymer melt

Abstract: Particles such as bacteria may be enumerated from a liquid in an accurate and efficient manner through use of an apparatus including a filter sheet which is oriented transverse to the surface of the liquid being filtered. The filter sheet is so arranged so that, as the liquid is filtered, an increasing portion of the filter is above the surface of the liquid. As a result of the surface of the liquid dropping across the filter, a smaller fraction of the total volume of the liquid passes through the upper portion of the filter than through the lower portion of the filter. Since the number of bacteria trapped per unit area of the filter depends on the volume filtered through the area, a monotonically increasing gradient of density of filtered bacteria occurs from the top to the bottom of the filter.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor comprising a substrate made of a metal oxide and electrodes on the surface of the substrate coming into contact with a reference gas and the surface coming into contact with a measured gas, wherein the electrode on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate comprises a laminate structure of a primary particle formed by metallizing a precious metal onto the surface of the metal oxide particle. According to this construction, the porosity of the electrodes can be increased and the size of the interface with the gas can be. Further, deterioration of the electrodes can be prevented even under conditions which generate thermal sintering. In other words, the response as the well as the durability can be improved.

Abstract: A measuring device which maximizes the surface area of a blade transducer, which is swingably coupled to a probe member, and utilizes the force of the medium, such as a slurry, flowing in an in-service pipeline to swingably align the blade transducer in a desired measuring position. The swingable coupling of the blade transducer to the probe member provides for the retraction from and insertion into the medium flowing in the in-service pipeline for repairs, replacement, or sanitization or other maintenance or servicing of such blade transducer, without shutting down the pipeline and related processes, without compromising the integrity of or disturbing the connection (sealed, flanged, welded or otherwise) between the measuring device and the transducer port in such pipeline and significantly minimizing the environmental exposure of the medium.