Abstract: A flame rod analysis system, methods for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod, and circuits for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod. The flame rod analysis system comprises energy storage connectable to a flame rod, a pulsed source connected to the energy storage and providing a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and a buffer to allow a processor to measure a buffered voltage at various time points. Flame rod analysis systems can distinguish between various flame conditions (no flame, low flame, etc.) while simultaneously characterizing the condition of the flame rod (shorted to ground, contaminated, etc.). Some flame rod analysis systems can directly measure the resistance of the flame rod.

Abstract: A method for determining flow velocity in a flow path, comprises defining a flow path for a fluid, the fluid flowing in a downstream direction that is opposite an upstream direction. A thermally-conductive element is exposed to the flow path. A known amount of heat is applied to a first portion of the thermally-conductive element and a sensed temperature is sensed at a second portion of the thermally-conductive element downstream of the first portion. The known amount of heat and the sensed temperature are used to determine a flow velocity of the fluid in the flow path.

Abstract: A method for determining flow velocity in a flow path, comprises defining a flow path for a fluid, the fluid flowing in a downstream direction that is opposite an upstream direction. A thermally-conductive element is exposed to the flow path. A known amount of heat is applied to a first portion of the thermally-conductive element and a sensed temperature is sensed at a second portion of the thermally-conductive element downstream of the first portion. The known amount of heat and the sensed temperature are used to determine a flow velocity of the fluid in the flow path.

Abstract: A flow sensor includes a tube having a tube wall with a window in it. A thermally-conductive base covers the window and has mounted to it a heater and a sensor of a hot film anemometer flow sensor. The base is sealed to the window to resist leakage of fluid from the flow path through the window under normal operating pressures. The hot film anemometer flow sensor is used to measure fluid flow through the tube.

Abstract: A flame rod analysis system, methods for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod, and circuits for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod. The flame rod analysis system comprises energy storage connectable to a flame rod, a pulsed source connected to the energy storage and providing a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and a buffer to allow a processor to measure a buffered voltage at various time points. Flame rod analysis systems can distinguish between various flame conditions (no flame, low flame, etc.) while simultaneously characterizing the condition of the flame rod (shorted to ground, contaminated, etc.). Some flame rod analysis systems can directly measure the resistance of the flame rod.

Abstract: A flow sensor includes a tube having a tube wall with a window in it. A thermally-conductive base covers the window and has mounted to it a heater and a sensor of a hot film anemometer flow sensor. The base is sealed to the window to resist leakage of fluid from the flow path through the window under normal operating pressures. The hot film anemometer flow sensor is used to measure fluid flow through the tube.

Abstract: A flame rod analysis system, methods for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod, and circuits for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod. The flame rod analysis system comprises energy storage connectable to a flame rod, a pulsed source connected to the energy storage and providing a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and a buffer to allow a processor to measure a buffered voltage at various time points. Flame rod analysis systems can distinguish between various flame conditions (no flame, low flame, etc.) while simultaneously characterizing the condition of the flame rod (shorted to ground, contaminated, etc.). Some flame rod analysis systems can directly measure the resistance of the flame rod.

Abstract: A flame rod analysis system, methods for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod, and circuits for determining a condition of a flame and a flame rod. The flame rod analysis system comprises energy storage connectable to a flame rod, a pulsed source connected to the energy storage and providing a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and a buffer to allow a processor to measure a buffered voltage at various time points. Flame rod analysis systems can distinguish between various flame conditions (no flame, low flame, etc.) while simultaneously characterizing the condition of the flame rod (shorted to ground, contaminated, etc.). Some flame rod analysis systems can directly measure the resistance of the flame rod.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining two or more properties of a blended biofuel fluid sample, the method comprising measuring a complex impedance of the sample at each of a plurality of frequencies to produce a sample data set, determining a biofuel blend percentage of the sample using the sample data set; and determining at least one additional property of the sample based upon the determined biofuel blend percentage. In another aspect, a biofuel blend percentage of the sample can be determined using an algorithm developed using a data gathering and data mining technique relating measured impedance spectroscopy data from a plurality of samples to biofuel blend percentage values determined using a standard analytical measuring method for biofuel blend percentages.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sample cell for use in conjunction with an impedance spectroscopy analysis device having two electrodes extending therefrom. The sample cell is attachable to and detachable from the analysis device and includes a housing having an input port for receiving a fluid sample to be tested. The sample cell also includes two spaced apart parallel plates within the housing and in contact with the fluid sample, wherein when the sample cell is attached to the analysis device, each of the two electrodes contacts a respective one of the plates such that an excitation signal can be provided from the analysis device via the electrodes and the plates to excite the fluid sample, and a response signal indicative of the fluid sample can be communicated via the plates and the electrodes to the analysis device.

Abstract: Impedance spectroscopy is used to determine values associated with properties of a substance such as a fluid. In some embodiments, the present invention is applied to engine lubricants. A spectral matrix is constructed that comprises data taken from spectral plots. Also constructed is a result matrix comprising known quantities of a plurality of fluid constituents. A known analytic technique is performed on the spectral matrix to identify at least one principal component having significant influence on the spectral matrix. A reduced spectral matrix, wherein each column in the reduced spectral matrix is associated with a principal component having significant influence on the spectral matrix, is next created. A statistical technique uses the reduced spectral matrix and the result matrix to create at least one prediction equation. The prediction equation is used to predict at least one property in a second substance in situ.

Abstract: A probe having a pair of electrodes is excited with a low A.C. voltage at a relatively high and relatively low frequency and the difference in current measured. The difference dZ between bulk fluid and interfacial impedance is computed from the current difference. The rate of change ?dZ of the impedance difference is determined over a time interval and a physiochemical parameter (X) determined when ?dZ is positive from lubricant with known amounts of constituents selected from the group consisting of (a) Phosphorus, Oxygen and Carbon (P—O—C); (b) Phosphorous and double bond Sulphur (P?S); (c) Zincdialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP); and (d) the Total Base Number TBN by measuring CaCO3 (CO3), from a table of the selected parameter X versus dZ in a first region of the table and determining RUL from a table of RUL versus parameter X (X1). The value of the selected parameter X when ?dz is negative is determined from a second region of the table of X versus dZ.

Abstract: A probe having a pair of closely spaced electrodes is immersed in the lubricant and one electrode is excited with a relatively low voltage AC current. The frequency is swept over a range of about 1-10,000 Hertz and the current and phase angle measured at selected frequency intervals. The reactive (Z?) and resistive (Z?) impedances are computed for each current measurement and values of Z? plotted as a function of Z? as a Nyquist plot. The center of curvature of the plot between the origin and the minimum value of Z? is located; and, the angle of depression of a line from the origin through the center of curvature ? is determined from the plot. Samples of lubricant having known concentration of soot are measured and the angle ? determined for each sample. The angle is then plotted as a function of soot concentration and a smooth curve fitted to the data plots. The curve may be programmed into a microcomputer to be used with the sensor for real time determination of soot concentration.

Abstract: A test socket receives an optical-electronic device which has optical elements at an upper side and electrical elements at a lower side. The test socket assembly has a lower portion in which electrical connectors connect to pin electrodes of the device to be tested. The electrical connectors can be spring loaded. An upper portion is movable down onto the lower portion to restrain the device to be tested in the lower portion. The upper portion has an optical window transparent to a wavelength of interest for contacting against the upper side of the device to be tested.

Abstract: A system to sense changes in the state of an ion exchange resin bed which includes first and second current electrodes spaced from each other, a first electrical circuit electrically connecting the current electrodes and designed to be connected to a source of alternating current, and also including first and second voltage probes spaced from each other and located approximately between said first and second current electrodes with a wire connecting voltage probes. A second electrical circuit consists of the first and second voltage probes, the wire and the portion of the resin bed lying between said voltage probes so that when the first electrical circuit is energized by the source of alternating current a voltage is induced in the second electrical circuit which corresponds to the state of the resin bed located between the first and second voltage probes.