Abstract: A system for real-time detection of airborne pathogens is disclosed. The system includes: an air intake unit defining an inlet and an air inflow channel; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber including: an active target substrate having a surface that is coated with bioreceptors; and a reference target substrate that is not coated with bioreceptors, and an optical detection unit that is configured to independently illuminate the active target substrate and the reference target substrate with light for detecting presence of an airborne pathogen.

Abstract: An air sampling system is disclosed. The air sampling system includes: an air inflow channel having an air inlet portion at a top end, the air inflow channel being oriented substantially vertically; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet portion; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel, the cooling unit disposed downstream of the inlet portion; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber being fluidly connected to the air inflow channel; and a sensing unit for determining a volume of liquid in the collection chamber, wherein the cooling unit is controlled in response to signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: An air sampling system is disclosed. The air sampling system includes: an air intake unit defining an inlet and an air inflow channel; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber being removably coupled to the air intake unit and including an active target substrate having a surface that is coated with bioreceptors; and an optical detection unit including a light source, the optical detection unit being configured to illuminate the active target substrate with the light source.

Abstract: A system for real-time detection of airborne pathogens is disclosed. The system includes: an air intake unit defining an inlet and an air inflow channel; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber including: an active target substrate having a surface that is coated with bioreceptors; and a reference target substrate that is not coated with bioreceptors, and an optical detection unit that is configured to independently illuminate the active target substrate and the reference target substrate with light for detecting presence of an airborne pathogen.

Abstract: An air sampling system is disclosed. The air sampling system includes: an air inflow channel having an air inlet portion at a top end, the air inflow channel being oriented substantially vertically; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet portion; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel, the cooling unit disposed downstream of the inlet portion; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber being fluidly connected to the air inflow channel; and a sensing unit for determining a volume of liquid in the collection chamber, wherein the cooling unit is controlled in response to signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: An air sampling system is disclosed. The air sampling system includes: an air intake unit defining an inlet and an air inflow channel; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber being removably coupled to the air intake unit and including an active target substrate having a surface that is coated with bioreceptors; and an optical detection unit including a light source, the optical detection unit being configured to illuminate the active target substrate with the light source.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel cell system with an improved arrangement for mixing fuel and oxidant. The present invention relates to a high temperature fuel cell system, in particular to a solid oxide fuel cell system. An ejector is provided with three inlets for a portion of unused oxidant, a portion of unused fuel and a portion of primary oxidant. The ejector mixes and entrains the unused oxidant, a portion of unused fuel and a portion of primary oxidant so rapidly, the time the mixture resides in the ejector is less than the time required for the mixture to ignite.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell system (10) comprises a solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) and a gas turbine engine (14), a compressor (24) of the gas turbine engine (14) is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) and a fuel supply (32) is arranged to supply fuel to the anodes (20) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12). A portion of the unused oxidant from the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied back to the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12). A portion of the unused fuel from the anodes (20) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied to a combustor (52). A portion of the unused oxidant from the cathodes (22) of the solid oxide fuel cell stack (12) is supplied to the combustor (52) and the combustor (52) is arranged to supply exhaust gases to a first inlet (68) of a heat exchanger (66).

Abstract: The fuel processor (10) comprises a desulphurisation reactor (12), a catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14), a combustor (16) and a pre-reformer (18), means (20) to supply a hydrocarbon fuel to the desulphurisation reactor (12), means (24) to supply air to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) and means (24) to supply air to the combustor (16). The desulphurisation reactor (12) is arranged to supply desulphurised hydrocarbon fuel to the catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) in first, second and third modes of operation, to the combustor (16) in a first mode of operation to the pre-reformer (18) in a third mode of operation. The combustor (16) is arranged to supply oxygen depleted air and steam to the pre-reformer (18) in the first mode of operation. The catalytic partial oxidation reactor (14) is arranged to supply hydrogen to the desulphurisation reactor (12) in all three modes of operation.

Abstract: A pre-reformer (10) comprises a non-electrically conducting gas tight duct (12) and an electrically conducting wire (14) arranged in the duct (12). The electrically conducting wire (14) is electrically isolated from the duct (12). The duct (12) has an inlet (16) for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel at a first end (18) and an outlet (20) for supplying a pre-reformed hydrocarbon fuel at a second end (22). At least the inner surface (24) of the duct (12) is chemically inert with respect to the hydrocarbon fuel. An electrical power supply (26) is electrically connected to the electrically conducting wire (14) and a control means (28) controls the supply of electrical current through the electrically conducting wire (14) to maintain the electrically conducting wire (14) at a temperature to provide selective thermal decomposition of higher hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon fuel. The performer reduces coking in associated fuel cells and other parts of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A dual reference voltage input receiver comprises a latch, comparison logic for determining the voltage level of a data signal relative to that of first and second reference voltage levels, and selection logic for determining which of the reference voltage levels is operative for a given data interval, e.g. clock cycle. The latch couples the determined voltage level of the data signal to a subsequent stage and to the selection logic for determining the operative reference voltage level in the next data interval. In one embodiment of the invention, the comparison logic includes first and second comparators for comparing the data signal with first and second reference voltages, and the selection logic is a MUX having its data inputs coupled to the comparators' outputs and its selection input coupled to the data output of the latch.