Abstract: A method for determination of pore-size distribution in a porous material called evapo porometry (EP) is capable of determining pore sizes from approximately the nanometer scale up to the micron scale. EP determines the pore size based on the evaporative mass loss at constant temperature from porous materials that have been pre-saturated with either a wetting or non-wetting volatile liquid. The saturated porous material is placed in an appropriate test cell on a conventional microbalance to measure liquid mass loss at a constant temperature as a function of time. The mass-loss rate is then related to the pore-size distribution. The microbalance permits measuring the mass as a function of time. The slope of the mass versus time curve is the evaporation rate. The evaporation rate is related to the vapor pressure at the interface between the liquid in the porous material and the ambient gas phase. The vapor pressure in turn is related to the pore diameter.

Abstract: A method of early detection of scaling on internal surfaces of conduits of water processing equipment, is provided herein. The method includes: transmitting ultrasonic signals through the wall of the conduits; deriving data samples from received ultrasonic signals or reflections thereof; calculating a moving average of the scatter of the ultrasonic signals, over time, based on the data samples; applying a statistical operand to the moving average, to yield a statistical distribution metric; determining a dynamic window defined by: (i) an upper boundary being the moving average plus at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric and (ii) a lower boundary being the moving average minus the at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric; generating a trend line being a smooth fitting of the derived samples; and monitoring the trend line within the window to detect a crossover of the trend line at either of the boundaries.

Abstract: A method of early detection of scaling on internal surfaces of conduits of water processing equipment, is provided herein. The method includes: transmitting ultrasonic signals through the wall of the conduits; deriving data samples from received ultrasonic signals or reflections thereof; calculating a moving average of the scatter of the ultrasonic signals, over time, based on the data samples; applying a statistical operand to the moving average, to yield a statistical distribution metric; determining a dynamic window defined by: (i) an upper boundary being the moving average plus at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric and (ii) a lower boundary being the moving average minus the at least a fraction of the statistical distribution metric; generating a trend line being a smooth fitting of the derived samples; and monitoring the trend line within the window to detect a crossover of the trend line at either of the boundaries.

Abstract: A method for determination of pore-size distribution in a porous material called evapo porometry (EP) is capable of determining pore sizes from approximately the nanometer scale up to the micron scale. EP determines the pore size based on the evaporative mass loss at constant temperature from porous materials that have been pre-saturated with either a wetting or non-wetting volatile liquid. The saturated porous material is placed in an appropriate test cell on a conventional microbalance to measure liquid mass loss at a constant temperature as a function of time. The mass-loss rate is then related to the pore-size distribution. The microbalance permits measuring the mass as a function of time. The slope of the mass versus time curve is the evaporation rate. The evaporation rate is related to the vapor pressure at the interface between the liquid in the porous material and the ambient gas phase. The vapor pressure in turn is related to the pore diameter.