Abstract: Biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of juice in an ethanol production plant is maximized by mixing a juice containing thin stillage and/or water with a concentrated syrup prior to the anaerobic digestion. The juice then can be mixed with a biomass such as corn meal and enzymes to form a slurry suitable for fermentation. Sufficient syrup is mixed into the juice to provide a BOD concentration in the juice between 100,000 and 150,000 ppm. Enough biogas can be produced to supply enough energy to meet all of the boiler steam production/distillation energy/electrical generation demands for the ethanal production plant with some excess biogas left over for other uses.

Abstract: Biogas production from the anaerobic digestion of juice in an ethanol production plant is maximized by mixing a juice containing thin stillage and/or water with a concentrated syrup prior to the anaerobic digestion. The juice then can be mixed with a biomass such as corn meal and enzymes to form a slurry suitable for fermentation. Sufficient syrup is mixed into the juice to provide a BOD concentration in the juice between 100,000 and 150,000 ppm. Enough biogas can be produced to supply enough energy to meet all of the boiler steam production/distillation energy/electrical generation demands for the ethanal production plant with some excess biogas left over for other uses.

Abstract: A device that provides for the non-invasive data monitoring of analog IO of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system is described. The output is ultimately presented to a user audibly and/or visually on an interface in real-time and is measured directly from the IO channel. This type of device allows the accurate reading and analysis of errors and erroneous data within a device and transmission of said data to disparate secondary devices for use.

Abstract: A device that provides for the non-invasive data monitoring of analog IO of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system. The output is ultimately displayed on an interface in real-time and is measured directly from the IO channel. This type of device allows the accurate reading and analysis of errors and erroneous data within a device and transmission of said data to disparate secondary devices for use.

Abstract: A tunable PLC optical filter having sequentially connected thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers is described. The cascade of MZ interferometers, each having a free spectral ranges matching ITU frequency grid spacing, are tuned so as to have a common passband centered on the frequency of the signal being selected, while having at least one of the stopbands centered on any other ITU frequency. Any other optical channel that may be present at any other ITU frequency is suppressed as a result. Another MZ interferometer in series with the cascade of interferometers including an asymmetric or variable coupler, is tuned to have low transmission at the center frequency of the selected optical channel.

Abstract: A tunable PLC optical filter having sequentially connected thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers is described. The cascade of MZ interferometers, each having a free spectral ranges matching ITU frequency grid spacing, are tuned so as to have a common passband centered on the frequency of the signal being selected, while having at least one of the stopbands centered on any other ITU frequency. Any other optical channel that may be present at any other ITU frequency is suppressed as a result. Another MZ interferometer in series with the cascade of interferometers including an asymmetric or variable coupler, is tuned to have low transmission at the center frequency of the selected optical channel.

Abstract: A tunable PLC optical filter having sequentially connected thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers is described. The cascade of MZ interferometers, each having a free spectral ranges matching ITU frequency grid spacing, are tuned so as to have a common passband centered on the frequency of the signal being selected, while having at least one of the stopbands centered on any other ITU frequency. Any other optical channel that may be present at any other ITU frequency is suppressed as a result. Another MZ interferometer in series with the cascade of interferometers including an asymmetric or variable coupler, is tuned to have low transmission at the center frequency of the selected optical channel.

Abstract: A tunable PLC optical filter having sequentially connected thermally tunable Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometers is described. The cascade of MZ interferometers, each having a free spectral ranges matching ITU frequency grid spacing, are tuned so as to have a common passband centered on the frequency of the signal being selected, while having at least one of the stopbands centered on any other ITU frequency. Any other optical channel that may be present at any other ITU frequency is suppressed as a result. Another MZ interferometer in series with the cascade of interferometers including an asymmetric or variable coupler, is tuned to have low transmission at the center frequency of the selected optical channel.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter is configured to take point measurements at a few optical frequencies per frequency channel of a DWDM optical network. The measurement frequencies are shifted by pre-determined amounts relative to the optical frequency channel being characterized. Since the spectral shape of the tunable optical filter is known, the center optical frequency, the modulation bandwidth, and the total optical power of the channel can be obtained from as few as three optical measurements. The center optical frequency and the total optical power can be continuously monitored by providing a tunable filter stage coupled to an interleaver stage, and computing a ratio and a weighted sum the optical signals at the two outputs of the interleaver stage.

Abstract: A system and method of probing work pieces is described. A first and second arm each having a pivot point and a guide end are pivotally coupled together at the respective pivot points. A probe tip holder is coupled to at least one of the first arm or the second arm. A guide means guides movement of the guide ends of the pivotally coupled arms, such that movement of the guide end of the first arm and the second arm move the probe tip holder in a plane parallel to the work piece surface.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter is configured to take point measurements at a few optical frequencies per frequency channel of a DWDM optical network. The measurement frequencies are shifted by pre-determined amounts relative to the optical frequency channel being characterized. Since the spectral shape of the tunable optical filter is known, the center optical frequency, the modulation bandwidth, and the total optical power of the channel can be obtained from as few as three optical measurements. The center optical frequency and the total optical power can be continuously monitored by providing a tunable filter stage coupled to an interleaver stage, and computing a ratio and a weighted sum the optical signals at the two outputs of the interleaver stage.

Abstract: A system and method of probing work pieces is described. A first and second arm each having a pivot point and a guide end are pivotally coupled together at the respective pivot points. A probe tip holder is coupled to at least one of the first arm or the second arm. A guide means guides movement of the guide ends of the pivotally coupled arms, such that movement of the guide end of the first arm and the second arm move the probe tip holder in a plane parallel to the work piece surface.

Abstract: A device that provides for the non-invasive data monitoring of analog IO of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system. The output is ultimately displayed on an interface in real-time and is measured directly from the IO channel. This type of device allows the accurate reading and analysis of errors and erroneous data within a device and transmission of said data to disparate secondary devices for use.

Abstract: An odor sorbing packaging material is prepared by applying to at least one surface of a flexible substrate an odor absorbing coating containing an effective concentration of activated carbon. The packaging material may be converted into packages, bags, pouches, liner members, wrappers or the like for packaging products and other materials that generate objectionable odors.

Abstract: The effects of dispersion of light on a link having an optical transmission fibre characterised by positive dispersion and large positive relative dispersion slope can be reduced by employing a sufficient length of dispersion compensating fibre (“DCF”) so that dispersion slope on the link is substantially nulled and the net dispersion of the link is made negative. Optical signals launched on the link with a positive chirp will be compensated for by the net negative dispersion.

Abstract: An odor sorbing packaging material is prepared by applying to at least one surface of a flexible substrate an odor absorbing coating containing an effective concentration of activated carbon. The packaging material may be converted into packages, bags, pouches, liner members, wrappers or the like for packaging products and other materials that generate objectionable odors.

Abstract: A high-pressure high-velocity target inserter for use in steam cleaning. The target inserter uses an actuator connected to a tube assembly, which connects to a test line. The target inserter uses packing to prevent high-pressure steam from being released through the target inserter when the target rod is inserted and withdrawn from the line. In the preferred embodiment, the target rod passes through a remotely operated actuator controlled valve and a remotely controlled actuator controller, such that the operator is kept a safe distance away from the inserter when the access valve to the line is open.

Abstract: A high-pressure high-velocity target inserter for use in steam cleaning. The target inserter uses an actuator connected to a tube assembly, which connects to a test line. The target inserter uses packing to prevent high-pressure steam from being released through the target inserter when the target rod is inserted and withdrawn from the line. In the preferred embodiment, the target rod passes through a remotely operated actuator controlled valve and a remotely controlled actuator controller, such that the operator is kept a safe distance away from the inserter when the access valve to the line is open.

Abstract: Some optical transmission fibers, such as LEAF and EFEAF, have a positive dispersion slope too great to be fully compensated for by a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF). To achieve improved dispersion compensation for such transmission fibers, the signals may be passed through a non-dispersion shifted fiber (NDSF) as well as through a DCF.

Abstract: An apparatus which absorbs gas that has been discharged from a pipe at a high velocity and which releases the gas to the atmosphere at a reduced velocity and with relatively low noise. The apparatus includes a container which has a container interior, a container inlet through which the gas enters the container interior, and a container outlet, preferably located at the top of the container, through which the gas is released to the atmosphere. The container further includes a container expanded section and a container main section. The container expanded section, which acts to reduce the velocity of the gas, is located intermediate the container inlet and the container main section and has an inner surface cross-sectional area which expands from the container inlet to the container main section. The container also includes deflector vanes for diverting the flow of the gas within the container interior towards the container outlet.