Abstract: Methods and devices for operating protean water installation devices connected to water installation controlling apparatuses and comprising two or more water installation device profiles, wherein only one of the water installation device profiles is enabled at any given time are disclosed. Family descriptor files are associated with the protean water installation devices and with two or more virtual descriptor files. Each virtual descriptor file is associated with one water installation device profile of the water installation device; a registry location indicating the enabled water installation device profile is read at the protean water installation device and a virtual descriptor file, associated with the identified water installation device profile, is executed to operate the water installation device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided that monitors at least one of an input and output stream for at least one of a presence of a material of interest and a concentration of the material of interest; when the material of interest is present and/or has at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a waste location or path to discard the material of interest; and when the material of interest is either not present or does not have at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a byproduct location or path to recover the material of interest.

Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

Abstract: An assay system and method for use in the field of chemical testing is disclosed. The assay system can be used for filtering whole blood for testing on an integrated circuit containing digital control functionality.

Abstract: A Fluid Catalytic Cracking process converts heavy crude oil fractions into lighter hydrocarbon products at high temperature and moderate pressure in the presence of a catalyst. During this process, catalyst particles stay entrained in the descending gas stream. An inlet scroll on the cyclone may be used to keep the inlet gas stream and the entrained particles away from the entrance to the gas outlet tube. Refractory material may applied to the interior of the wall of the cyclone to form an abrasion resistant lining to insulate the walls of the cyclone from the gas flow contents. The inlet feed velocity may be used as a predictive factor to determine a wear rate of the cyclones. Thus, lining erosion can be predicted so that the lining can be repaired or replaced during a planned turnaround.

Abstract: A skin care system and method for managing a skin care system. The skin care system includes circuitry to receive skin information from a user. The circuitry determines treatable skin conditions based on the skin information. The skin care system generates severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility information based on the treatable skin conditions. The skin care system is further able to virtually display user-specific compatible cosmetic formulations based on at least one parameter associated with the severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to calibration and normalization systems and methods for ensuring the quality of radiopharmaceuticals during the synthesis thereof, such as radiopharmaceuticals used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).

Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, rotating equipment, compressors, pumps, turbines, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to perform invariant mapping, monitor system operating characteristics, and/or predict pressure, volume, surges, reactor loop fouling, gas quality, or the like. An operating condition (e.g., of one or more pieces of equipment in the plant or refinery) may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, rotating equipment, compressors, pumps, turbines, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to perform invariant mapping, monitor system operating characteristics, and/or predict pressure, volume, surges, reactor loop fouling, gas quality, or the like. An operating condition (e.g., of one or more pieces of equipment in the plant or refinery) may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

Abstract: A method of operating a furnace having process tubes and multiple burners where it is desired to conform the temperatures of the process tubes to selected target temperature criterion. The present method provides a systematic and quantitative approach to determine how to adjust burner flow rates to result in desired tube wall temperatures, for example, using objective functions to decrease the probability that temperatures pertaining to the plurality of process tubes exceed their selected limit temperatures. An objective function can also be used to reduce the excess oxidant requirement for the furnace.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a model-free online recursive optimization method for a batch process based on variable period decomposition. Variable operation data closely related to product quality is acquired, optimization action on each subset is integrated on the basis of time domain variable division on the process by utilizing a data driving method and a global optimization strategy is formed, based on which an online recursive error correction optimization strategy is implemented. According to the method, the online optimization strategy is formed completely based on the operation data of the batch process without needing prior knowledge or a model of a process mechanism. Meanwhile, the optimized operation locus line has better adaptability by using the online recursive correction strategy, and thus the anti-interference requirement of the actual industrial production is better met.

Abstract: A method of multiplexing the operation of a sample preparation and analysis system is disclosed. The system includes a sample preparation system capable of preparing a first sample in accordance with a first assay that is selected from a database containing a plurality of unique assays and preparing a second sample in accordance with a second, different assay. The method includes separately transporting the first and second prepared samples to an analysis station having first and second separation channels and an analyzer comprising a mass spectrometer. The method further includes simultaneously analyzing the first prepared sample with the analyzer in accordance with the first selected assay and separating the second prepared sample with the second separation channel in accordance with the second selected assay.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated workflow comprise assigning a set of first targets to an uncompiled first workflow. The uncompiled first workflow specifies a first set of process modules. Each such module is associated with a subset of unit operations. Each unit operation includes a time interval and specifies an instrument. For each target in the set of first targets, the uncompiled workflow is translated into an instance of a compiled first workflow comprising a linear temporal order of unit operations, each including execution instructions for an addressed instrument. A set of second targets is obtained and assigned a second uncompiled workflow. Compilation of the second uncompiled workflow for each second target produces a different instance of a compiled second workflow. Each second compiled workflow comprises a linear temporal order of unit operations, with each unit operation including execution instructions for an addressed instrument and specifying a time interval.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Abstract: Dry thawing systems and devices for thawing biological substances are provided herein. Methods for thawing biological substances are also provided.

Abstract: A system includes a control system configured to control one or more parameters of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas turbine system to control a portion of electrical power for export from a generator driven by the turbine to an electrical grid. The control system includes a closed-loop controller configured to control parameters of the EGR gas turbine system and an open-loop controller configured to temporarily control the parameters of the EGR gas turbine system to increase the portion of the electrical power exported to the electrical grid to provide a Primary Frequency Response (PFR) in response to a transient event associated with the electrical power. The open-loop controller is configured to provide control signals to increase a concentration of an oxidant in a combustor to provide the PFR in response to the transient event when the EGR gas turbine system is operating in an emissions compliant mode.

Abstract: Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a product (A1) by way of at least two coupled-together chemical reactions (C1, C2), wherein at least two input substances (E1, E2) are fed to a first chemical reaction (C1), wherein a plurality of intermediate substances (Z1, Z2) are produced from the input substances (E1, E2) by the first chemical reaction (C1), wherein at least one of the intermediate substances (Z2) is fed to a second chemical reaction (C2), wherein the at least one fed intermediate substance (Z2) is further processed by the second chemical reaction (C2), in particular using at least one further substance (W1, W2) in a second chemical reaction (C2) to form a plurality of output substances (A1, A2), that is to say to form the chemical product (A1) and at least one further output substance (A2), wherein the flow rates (Fi) of the fed substances (E1, E2, Z1, W1, W2, A2) that are fed to one of the reactions (C1, C2) are set by a respective actuating element (VE1, VE2, VW1, VW 2, VZ 2, VA1), wherein each of t

Abstract: An automatic batch sequence computer control system is configured to automatically operate process valves in a delayed coker for a complete coke drum cycle. Double verification of the movement of the process valves is used to confirm advancing to the next step. Primary verification is achieved by using position sensors on the valves. Secondary verification is achieved by using monitored process conditions and confirming the measured conditions correlate with expected process conditions for an arrangement of valve positions at a given sequence in the coke drum cycle. A safety interlock system may be integrated with the control system.

Abstract: A device for performing a microfluidic assay on a chip comprising, a microfluidics chip, one or more fluid receptacles on the chip for receiving a fluid, a plurality of pneumatic pumps arrayed on the chip, each pump having a discharge channel leading to a rectifier on the chip, and a reaction chamber in fluid communication with each of the rectifiers, wherein a pressure on the pressurized fluid source drives fluid from the fluid receptacle into the incoming fluid channel connecting the fluid receptacle to the pump, through the pump and into the discharge channel, through the discharge channel to the rectifier, and through the rectifier into the reaction chamber, wherein the pump is configured to generate droplets of a pre-determined size, wherein the rectifiers prevent backflow of the droplets, and wherein droplets are combined in the reaction chamber, the chamber facilitating an assay being performed on the chip.