Abstract: Methods and systems for producing an agglomerated recycled plastic for use in asphalt products is provided. The method of various embodiments can comprise loading a quantity of recycled plastic into a chamber with a cutting apparatus configured to produce agglomerated plastic particles, running the cutting apparatus for a first interval to produce an intermediate agglomerate, maintaining a chamber air temperature during the first interval, adding a first amount of water to the chamber after the first interval, running the cutting apparatus for a second interval with the intermediate agglomerate to produce a plurality of agglomerated plastic particles adapted for use in asphalt production, and discharging the plurality of agglomerated plastic particles from the chamber after the second interval.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure (e.g., a prism) having two planar faces and a third planar face that connects the two planar faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure, and a photodetector array located outside the prism. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate one of the two planar faces is incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure having planar first, second, and third faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure adjacent the first face, and a photodetector array located outside the prism adjacent the first face. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate the second face is reflected at the third face and incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure (e.g., a prism) having two planar faces and a third planar face that connects the two planar faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure, and a photodetector array located outside the prism. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate one of the two planar faces is incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure having planar first, second, and third faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure adjacent the first face, and a photodetector array located outside the prism adjacent the first face. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate the second face is reflected at the third face and incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter includes a conduit, a first ultrasonic transducer, a second ultrasonic transducer, and a controller. The first ultrasonic transducer is disposed at a first position about a first portion of the conduit to transmit a first ultrasonic signal and to receive a second ultrasonic signal. The second ultrasonic transducer is disposed at a second position about a second portion of the conduit that is spaced apart from the first position along a length of the conduit to transmit the second ultrasonic signal and to receive the first ultrasonic signal. The controller is configured to cross-correlate the first and second received ultrasonic signals and generate a resulting time-domain signal, analyze the resulting time-domain signal to determine a difference in transit time between the first and second received ultrasonic signals, and calculate a rate of flow of a fluid in the conduit based upon the determined difference.