Abstract: A universal fitting for in-line fluid measurement in a process application. The fitting includes an inlet and outlet port and also has a body with a fluid flow passage providing fluid communication between the ports. A sensor housing is provided that extends outwardly away from a wall of the body, wherein the housing is sized to receive a sensor assembly, which assembly measures at least one characteristic of the fluid. A base of each housing integrally formed with the wall and including a sensor seat for receiving a portion of the sensor assembly. A probe aperture receives a probe portion of the sensor assembly, each housing having the probe aperture disposed in the wall and extending from the fluid passage through its respective sensor seat.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a characteristic of a material by measuring electrical or magnetic properties of the material. The system includes a material monitoring device having at least one electrode and at least one magnetic coil, and is in communication with a machine learning model trained to recognize characteristics of the material based on electrical and magnetic properties of the material. The material can be stimulated with an electrical stimulus or stimulating magnetic field, and an electrical response signal or magnetic response signal can be measured. Applications to monitoring water quality, beverages, foodstuffs, and other characteristics of materials is discussed.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are provided to calibrate a sensor array with a plurality of sensors. The method can include sweeping a voltage of a reference electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, where the reference electrode is in fluid communication with the sensor array. The output voltage of each of the plurality of sensors can be monitored at one or more voltages within the first and second voltages. An overall average gain of the plurality of sensors can be calculated at each of the one or more voltages. Further, an acquisition window for the sensor array can be determined. The acquisition window can include a maximum distribution of sensors that provides a maximal overall average gain at a particular reference electrode voltage.

Abstract: An object hardness measuring device includes a first side portion, a second side portion, a pedestal unit, a load unit, a measuring unit, and a holding unit. The load unit applies a load to the measurement object. The measuring unit is able to measure, in a state where the load acts on the measurement object, at least one of a movement distance of the second side portion with respect to the first side portion and a change amount of the load when the second side portion is moved either at a predetermined speed or to a predetermined position. The holding unit is able to hold the measurement object, and is movable between the first side portion and the second side portion by the slide rail unit.

Abstract: A method for determining a suitability of a lubricant to avoid false brinelling damage in a bearing includes providing a rheometer and the lubricant, performing a first conditioning of the rheometer, filling the rheometer with a first lubricant sample, and deforming the first lubricant sample to determine a first shear stress from a first shear deformation of the first lubricant sample at the first temperature, with reference to the first zero point. The method also includes performing a second conditioning of the rheometer, refilling the rheometer with a second lubricant sample, and deforming the second lubricant sample to determine a second shear stress from a second shear deformation of the second lubricant sample at the second temperature, with reference to the second zero point. The lubricant is classified as suitable or unsuitable for avoiding false brinelling damage as a function of the first shear stress and the second shear stress.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to maintain a liquid sample segment of a sample transmitted through a transfer line from a remote sampling to an analysis system. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a sample transfer line configured to transport a liquid sample from a remote sampling system via gas pressure; a sample loop fluidically coupled with the sample transfer line, the sample loop configured to hold a sample fluid; and a backpressure chamber fluidically coupled with a gas pressure source and with the sample transfer line, the backpressure chamber configured to supply a backpressure against the liquid sample during transport through the sample transfer line.

Abstract: A liquid surface imaging device includes an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with lights emitted from the plurality of lightings, and an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface. The plurality of lightings is arranged point-symmetrically with a center of the irradiator as a point of symmetry.

Abstract: A method for collecting and analyzing urine at the time it is released uses a urine collecting tube joined with a canister. Suction is produced in the collecting tube to join the tube with a penis or to the exterior surface of a female urethra orifice. Once suction is achieved the collecting tube stays in place by suction action. When urine flows into the urine collecting tube a sensor triggers a vacuum pump to produce a higher level of suction to flush the urine into the canister where a level sensor determines the quantity of urine received. Various sensors in the canister determine levels of non-urine partials such as occult blood, drugs, salt, and other substances. When urine is no longer detected within the urine tube, the vacuum pump is turned off and a low-level vacuum remains to assure interconnection with the urine tube.

Abstract: Disclosed are asphalt and asphalt binders and methods for making such compositions with sterols. The sterols improve various rheological properties. Also disclosed are methods of determining the changes or improvements of various rheoloical properties.

Abstract: A method of quantifying a viscoelastic effect of a polymer on residual oil saturation (Sor) including calculating an extensional capillary number (Nce) using flux, pore-scale apparent viscosity, and interfacial tension to account for the polymer's viscoelastic forces that are responsible for Sor reduction. The polymer is used polymer flooding during enhanced oil recovery. An extensional capillary number is calculated for a plurality of polymer materials, which are then compiled in a database. Also provided is a reservoir simulator for predicting the Sor reduction potential of the viscoelastic polymer, which includes a database of calculated extensional capillary numbers for a plurality of polymers. The database includes a curve generated from the calculated extensional capillary numbers for a plurality of polymers properties, flux rates, formation nature, oil viscosities, and rheological behaviors.

Abstract: A test device is provided, including: a test member, including a receive portion and a first connection portion, the receive portion including a receive groove and a wall portion formed the receive groove; a moving member, inserted into the receive groove, being rotatable and movable in an axial direction to the test member, including a second connection portion; a sample collection member, formed of deformed absorption material, disposed on the moving member and disposed within the receive groove; wherein when the moving member is rotated relatively to the test member, the at least one protruding structure is moved along the at least one spiral guiding slot to move the sample collection member to rotatably axially squeeze the wall portion.

Abstract: A collector for collecting urine samples is placed inside a toilet with an extension lip placed on a toilet seat disposed on top of the toilet. Upon collecting urine inside the collector, a sample of urine is extracted from inside the collector. The collector may include a socket. The sealed container may be inserted into the socket to extract the sample of urine. A hollow sleeve may be disposed inside or outside the collector. Urine disposed inside the collector and inside the sleeve may attain the same fluid level responsive to a fluid passage between the collector and the sleeve at the bottom of the collector. The volume of urine extracted from the sleeve may be proportional to the urine collected inside the collector with a known proportionality constant.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for generating trace vapors are provided. The apparatus includes a controller and an oven. The controller includes: a processor, a memory storing at least one control program, a clean solution supply port constructed to output a clean solution, an analyte solution supply port constructed to output an analyte solution, a carrier gas inlet port constructed to receive a carrier gas, and a plurality of carrier gas supply controllers constructed to output the carrier gas.

Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system including at least one sensor to detect a first gas analyte and a control system includes electronically interrogating the sensor to determine the operational status thereof and, based upon the results of the electronic interrogation, the control system initiating an automated maintenance procedure for the sensor.

Abstract: A sample preparation mould and a sample preparation method for the triaxial test of MSW are provided. In the present invention, the cylindrical main mould comprises two curved steel pieces, and the two sides of each curved steel piece have a stretched connection part; the two curved steel pieces are connected with each other and clamped by two steel clamps; porous stones are arranged at two ends of the cylindrical main mould and fixed separately by a top limiting lantern ring and a bottom lantern ring; the top limiting lantern ring is detachably connected to the top hopper, from which MSW materials are input; the cylindrical main mould is radially constrained in four positions, and the two ends thereof are axially constrained, thereby significantly improving stability during compacting and hence ensuring the axial and radial sizes of the MSW sample.

Abstract: A kind of online PM2.5 concentrated collection instrument and method are provided including five parts: PM2.5 cutting head, water tank system, virtual cropping system, condenser circulation system and online concentrated collection system. Connected with PM2.5 cutting head, a water tank system contains water tank, electrical heating rod and temperature-controlled digital display device. Virtual cropping system contains virtual cutter, concentrated air vacuum pump, and main air vacuum pump. The condenser circulation system circulating condensate condenses to grow the saturated particles, condenser circulation system contains condensate circulation tube, condensing machine. The online concentrated collection system contains biological sampling bottle, solenoid valve with relay, automatic distillate collector and computer subdivision constant-current pump. Real PM2.

Abstract: Methods and machines involve detecting when a mobile device is in a first area and a second area at different times, collecting pressure data from the mobile device and reference sensor(s) to estimate altitudes of the mobile device within the first area and the second area, collecting terrain altitudes associated with the first area and the second area, and using a difference between the estimated altitudes and a difference between the terrain altitudes to determine a height of a floor. The estimated floor height may be used to calibrate a pressure sensor of a mobile device.

Abstract: A device can provide an air state detection floating device capable of remaining in the air, the device comprising: a power supply unit; at least one memory for storing instructions; at least one processor; a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data; a driving unit for generating a driving force; a first sensing unit for detecting information on an air state of an enclosed space; and a second sensing unit for generating location information, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor so as to the processor to perform operations, and the operations comprise: an operation that generates a control signal for movement in the enclosed space on the basis of the data; and an operation that controls the driving unit based on the control signal.

Abstract: Sag propensity of a fluid can be determined by applying an oscillatory strain at an amplitude in excess of a linear region and below a yield strain of the drilling fluid. This may include use of medium amplitude oscillatory shear (MAOS), from which an elastic modulus of the fluid is determined. The elastic modulus may be determined over time, from which a time to reach maximum elastic modulus can be determined. The time to reach maximum elastic modulus is then converted or correlated to a drilling fluid sag propensity for the drilling fluid either in absolute terms or in relation to base or comparison fluids. Such an evaluation can be performed using a torsional resonance device in which the oscillatory strain is controllable so as to be maintained relatively constant during the measurement.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical fields of civil engineering, smart material and health monitoring, and provides a viscous damper fluid viscosity monitoring device and method based on piezoceramic transducers, comprising piezoceramic transducers, wires, corks, a baffle and a viscous damper. When the fluid viscosity of the viscous damper changes, the energy dissipation of pressure waves during propagation in a fluid will change, and signals received by the piezoceramic transducers will change, so that the viscosity of the fluid in the viscous damper can be calculated by the amplitude change of the signals received. The device of the present invention has a simple structure and accurate monitoring results, and provides a simple and feasible method for real-time monitoring of fluid viscosity of viscous dampers in engineering.