Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for peak identification of sample peaks in a chromatogram, wherein at least one group of standard peaks in standard peak series is matched to at least one group of sample peaks in a sample peak series so as to perform proper identification of the sample peaks in the sample peak group. In a preferred method, a succession of retention time windows are determined according to the characteristic retention times of the standard peaks and according to steps for determining shift, stretch, and distort parameters. The retention time windows are located with respect to the sample peak series and in accordance with the shift, stretch, and distort parameters so as to capture only certain ones of the sample peaks in the sample peak series. The shift, stretch, and distort parameters are used to position the retention time windows for improved matching of the standard peaks in the standard peak group to the captured sample peaks.

Abstract: A test gas leakage detection assembly (1) includes an inlet (2), a detector (3) in the form of a mass spectrometer, a first friction pump stage (5) which is driven in counter-flow, a second friction pump stage (7). The assembly further includes an intermediate connection (6) between the first and second friction pump stages, a pre-vacuum pump (8), a first connection line (13) which can be shut off between the leakage detector inlet (2) and the inlet side (9) of the pre-vacuum pump (8), and a second connection line (15) which can be shut off between the leakage detector inlet (2) and the intermediate connection (6). In order to detect leaks without using oil, the pre-vacuum pump (8) is a diaphragm pump. In order to shorten the response time, it is advantageous if the conductance of the second connection line (15) between the inlet (2) of the leakage detection assembly (1) and the intermediate inlet (6) is adjustable.

Abstract: The present invention enables siloxanes which have a detrimental effect on the quality of products during semiconductor production to be efficiently removed from silicon compound gases, and enables minute amounts of siloxanes in these gases to be accurately measured to a few ppb, thus allowing for improvements in quality control by offering silicon compound gases of high purity. Diatomaceous earth M filled into a removal column 2 is heated by heating means provided on the removal column 2, while an inert gas such as nitrogen or helium is fed from an inert gas delivery pipe 13 via a pressure regulator 5 and an entry valve 6 into the removal column 2, and is allowed to flow out through an outlet valve 8 in order to thermally activate the diatomaceous earth M. After activation, the removal column is cooled to a temperature of 60-0.degree. C.

Abstract: A standard gas introduction passage and an air inlet port are provided on positions downstream and upstream a dehumidifier respectively. A zero gas and a span gas are measured in dry states, a value of the atmosphere introduced from the air inlet port which is measured in the same moisture concentration as the sample gas is subtracted as a moisture interference value from the measured value of the sample gas for correcting moisture interference, and calibration curve data are applied to a result of measurement after the correction. Calibration can be finished in a short period, whereby the capacities of standard gas cylinders can be reduced and the overall device can be miniaturized.

Abstract: A biosensor (10) for measuring changes in viscosity, density and/or mass in a fluid to be examined, for example a blood coagulation sensor or immunoassay system. According to the invention, the reagents necessary for the test are contained in a support (13) which is put onto the measurement surface (18) of a piezoelectric element (8). As a blood coagulation sensor, the measurement surface (18) may according to the invention itself have a coagulation activator action or else be coated with coagulation activators.

Abstract: A micromachined integrated opto-thermal sensor having a rapidly intensity varying or pulsing light source, an interference filter, shadow masking or reflective blocking of light from thermal sensors, or differential operation, a gas cavity into which the detected gas can flow into via a channel or filter, and a thermal detector elements to sense the heating of the gas caused by the absorption of light at a particular wavelength by the specific gas to be detected. Another version of the sensor is one with a dual cavity. One cavity contains the gas to be detected and the other cavity is sealed from the ambient environment and contains no gas. Signals from the detectors from the cavities are subtracted from each other resulting in the elimination of a fixed signal due to radiation impinging the detectors.

Abstract: The method comprising measuring the rate at which working fluid is expelled from a cavity through a central tubing to a well head under atmospheric pressure at the well head; determining the shape of a zone of the well selected for positioning an interface between a test fluid and the working fluid; performing temperature measurements and pressure measurements over the full height of a cavity under atmospheric pressure at the well head; injecting additional working fluid into the central tubing or into the annular space until a predetermined test pressure is reached; measuring the compressibility of a cavity during the preceding step; injecting test fluid into the annular; measuring the depth of the interface between the test fluid and the working fluid for a first time at the end of injecting test fluid; measuring the test fluid and the working fluid pressures at the well head; measuring the level of the interface between the test fluid and the working fluid for a second time; and evaluating the real leakage

Abstract: Device for connecting a first duct of a very small diameter, such as for instance a needle or a capillary column, to a second duct, wherein the device comprises a receiving part and a sealing element, wherein the receiving part is provided with a duct bore in which the first duct is slidably receivable, wherein the receiving part is also provided with a sealing-element bore which intersects the duct bore and in which the sealing element is slidably received, wherein the sealing element is provided with a recess, wherein the sealing element is adapted to assume a sealing position in which the duct bore is sealed, and is adapted to assume a connecting position in which the two duct bore parts on either side of the sealing-element bore are in fluid connection with each other via the recess, wherein the sealing element is biased in the sealing position by a spring under spring action.

Abstract: A portable instrument for locating leaks through the wall of a chamber uses a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) type detector. The instrument includes a gas sampling probe into which a continuous sample of gas is drawn by a small suction pump. The sample is conducted from the probe through a flexible conduit and through a gas sample chamber. The gas sample chamber contains a source of light or infrared radiation and a detector. A narrow pass band filter is interposed between the source and the detector, and the pass band of the filter is centered on an absorption band of the test gas that is to be detected. When the test gas is present, it absorbs some of the radiation. The detector produces an electrical signal representative of the concentration of the test gas. The detector is connected to a signal processing circuit that responds to rapid changes of test gas concentration but ignores slow changes in concentration, thereby reducing the false alarm rate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for continuous analysis and/or modification of the vapor pressure characteristics of a hydrocarbon stream includes: liquid/gas separation chamber; constant flow liquid influent means; liquid level sensing means; temperature control means; constant pressure gaseous effluent means; liquid effluent means having a flow rate responsive to liquid level sensing means; and influent and effluent flow metering means. Means for sensing composition of gaseous effluent, and manifold means responsive to said composition for variable blending of differing liquid hydrocarbon streams, may also be provided. Influent may be heated or cooled prior to entering the separation chamber.In the preferred embodiment, liquid influent rate is substantially constant. Temperature and pressure, which pressure may be made sub-atmospheric by vacuum means, are selected and maintained.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for detecting the presence of a predetermined target gas (e.g. CO) is disclosed. The gas has a predetermined pattern of peaks of absorbance to radiation lying within a particular radiation range (e.g. infrared), the absorbance peaks alternating with gaps in which the gas transmits the radiation. A source (12) passes IR radiation through a comb filter (5) and a measurement cell (22) containing the target gas. The comb filter (5) has successive passbands separated by absorbance gaps. The passbands of the comb filter are repeatedly shifted relative to the IR radiation between a correlation position in which they coincide with at least some of the absorbance peaks of the target gas and an anti-correlation position in which the passbands coincide with at least some of the absorbance gaps of the gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pigging, flooding, and pressure testing pipelines utilizing a sliding sleeve valve connected at the end of a pig receiver which automatically opens upon fluid pressure in the pipeline reaching a predetermined limit allowing fluid trapped in the pipeline to escape, and is then automatically closed when the pig enters the pig receiver to allow pressure testing of the pipeline. The present apparatus and method eliminates the need and expense of a crew and/or a separate support vessel with divers or an ROV system at the downstream end of a pipeline during pigging, flooding, and pressure testing of the pipeline.

Abstract: A method for checking the sealing of a package, which includes a base part and a cover. A vibratory component is enclosed in a cavity in a gas of defined viscosity. Upon penetration from outside of a gas of different viscosity, the viscosity in the cavity, and thus also the vibratory properties of the vibratory element, are influenced. The sealing of the package can thus be checked at any time. The vibratory element can also be used generally to measure viscosity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring wall shear stress in pipe as a result of fluid flow therethrough employs a glass flow tube, magnetic particles of sufficiently small size such that the form drag force on the individual particles is orders of magnitude smaller than the viscous shear forces on the particle, and a magnet of known magnetic field strength. The glass flow tube with a known coefficient of friction allows visual inspection of particle release and further allows for the determination of the frictional forces on the particles. The magnetic particles are placed inside the tube with the magnet held in close proximity to the exterior wall of the tube. With the particles in place, fluid flow is initiated. The magnetic field strength at the surface of the flow tube is then reduced until the magnetic particles are hydrodynamically dislodged from the interior of the glass tube.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a two-phase compressible composition, such as a foamed cementing composition, enables testing for mechanical properties while maintaining original pressurized gas volumes in the composition. A specimen of the composition can be prepared, transferred and tested without disrupting the dynamic status of the specimen. This allows for testing of the composition under conditions in which the composition will be placed in an oil or gas well. A related specimen test device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An acoustical method of determining the spherical, or vuggy, porosity in carbonate rock formations, as a function of shear modulus. Total porosity and shear modulus of the formation is measured. Then the intrinsic granular porosity, dry bulk modulus, and spherical porosity are calculated. The carbonate rock is modeled, consisting of a primary host medium composed of carbonate grains with intergranular porosity between them. The model is easily modified to account for the case of intercrystalline microporosity existing within the grains, in addition to the intergranular porosity between them.

Abstract: A gas leakage detection system permits the detection of gas leakage within a field of a definite scope to be performed easily and reliably. The gas leakage detection system comprises: gas supply amount detection means (1) that detects the amount of gas supplied at the main side of a gas line that branches out to individual gas users, gas usage detection means (2) that detects the amount of gas used by each of said individual gas users, and leakage determination means (3) that finds the total amount of gas used as the sum of the amounts of gas used by the individual gas users, compares this total amount of gas used against the aforementioned amount of gas supplied, and thus determines whether or not there is any leakage of gas between the main side of the gas line and the individual gas users.

Abstract: The invention is a method for monitoring a work cycle of a mobile machine on a land site. The mobile machine has a bucket and a body that is adapted to rotate about a fixed point of reference. The method includes the steps of determining an angular velocity of the body, determining the body is stopped based on the angular velocity, determining a duration of time the body is stopped, and determining the work cycle in response to the duration of time the body is stopped.

Abstract: A downhole sensor sub is provided in the lower end of a drillstring, such sub having three orthogonally positioned accelerometers for measuring vibration of a drilling component such as the drill bit and/or the bottom hole assembly (BHA) along the X, Y and Z axes. The lateral acceleration is measured along either the X or Y axis and then analyzed in the frequency domain as to peak frequency and magnitude at such peak frequency. Backward whirling of the drilling component is indicated when the magnitude at the peak frequency exceeds a predetermined value. A low whirling frequency accompanied by a high acceleration magnitude based on empirically established values is associated with destructive vibration of the drilling component. One or more drilling parameters (weight on bit, rotary speed, etc.) is then altered to reduce or eliminate such destructive vibration.

Abstract: An intelligent leak test and gas flow measurement apparatus having a body with a conical bore, a center shaft positioned in the conical bore to form a laminar flow gap bounded by the surface of the conical bore and the center shaft, a precisely machined spacer at the second end portion of the body for positioning the center shaft within the conical bore, a pressure differential sensor in contact with the laminar flow gap. A temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the gas flowing through the laminar flow gap is located on a columnar housing and a static pressure sensor for measuring the static pressure is located within the columnar housing. A microcontroller connected to the pressure differential sensor, the temperature sensor and the static pressure sensor, which microcontroller uses embedded software to calculate gas flow measurements and leak detection.