Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correction of water content measurements include determining an apparent water content measurement of a sample material while the sample material is dried in ambient vapor pressure conditions, determining a correction value that represents a relationship between the apparent water content and the vapor pressure, and correcting the apparent water content measurement based on the correction value. These methods and systems can reduce cost, measurement time, and error in water content measurement for products that lose water over time, such as while being dried or cured.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for displacing liquid away from a signal path of sonic signals in a signal anemometer. A sonic anemometer may include a membrane positioned between a sonic transducer and the open environment. The membrane may be formed of a hydrophobic material that repels the liquid. The membrane may also include a plurality of pores that impede the flow of liquid through the membrane but enables sonic signals to pass through the membrane. The sonic anemometer may also include a reflector that displaces liquid away from the signal path of the sonic anemometer. The reflector may include one or more pores that wick liquid away from the signal path.

Abstract: Methods and system for determining water activity of a sample material are disclosed in which a sample material is positioned in a water activity measurement device, a plurality of water activity values of the sample material are measured at a respective plurality of points of time, with the plurality of points in time preceding an equilibrium state of the water activity of the sample material, the plurality of water activity values over time are log-transformed, a trendline of the plurality of water activity values over time is calculated, and the trendline is extrapolated to determine an extrapolated water activity value of the sample material at the equilibrium state. These methods and systems can decrease the time needed to determine the water activity of the sample by reliably predicting and estimating water activity well before equilibrium is reached in the measurement chamber.

Abstract: A complex dielectric sensor includes at least two voltage dividers to measure voltage amplitudes in a circuit of at least two impedances connected to a transducer probe. The impedances are configured to reduce amplification of raw error using relatively simple geometric calculations based on mapping the voltage amplitudes as a pair of intersecting circles in a complex admittance space. Instrument sensitivity can be optimized by selecting impedances with moduli in the complex admittance space that are similar in magnitude to the modulus of the sample admittance and by selecting impedances that cause characteristic directions of the voltage dividers (relative to the sample admittance in the complex admittance space) to be oriented as close to perpendicular to each other as possible.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correction of water content measurements include determining an apparent water content measurement of a sample material while the sample material is dried in ambient vapor pressure conditions, determining a correction value that represents a relationship between the apparent water content and the vapor pressure, and correcting the apparent water content measurement based on the correction value. These methods and systems can reduce cost, measurement time, and error in water content measurement for products that lose water over time, such as while being dried or cured.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Water activity measurement systems and methods for determining water activity of material samples in a test environment under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. The gas pressure in a test chamber is reduced or held constant while sample temperature is simultaneously tracked. The water activity of the sample can be determined by detecting the boiling point of the sample, at reduced pressure, over time, and calculating water activity using the atmospheric pressure and the saturation vapor pressure at the boiling temperature. The boiling point can be determined by observing an inflection point in the sample temperature over time, and the pressure and temperature at the onset of boiling can be determined at an intersection of trend lines extending from substantially linear intervals of temperature recordings over time.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and system for determining water activity of a sample material are disclosed in which a sample material is positioned in a water activity measurement device, a plurality of water activity values of the sample material are measured at a respective plurality of points of time, with the plurality of points in time preceding an equilibrium state of the water activity of the sample material, the plurality of water activity values over time are log-transformed, a trendline of the plurality of water activity values over time is calculated, and the trendline is extrapolated to determine an extrapolated water activity value of the sample material at the equilibrium state. These methods and systems can decrease the time needed to determine the water activity of the sample by reliably predicting and estimating water activity well before equilibrium is reached in the measurement chamber.

Abstract: Water activity measurement systems and methods for determining water activity of material samples in a test environment under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. The gas pressure in a test chamber is reduced or held constant while sample temperature is simultaneously tracked. The water activity of the sample can be determined by detecting the boiling point of the sample, at reduced pressure, over time, and calculating water activity using the atmospheric pressure and the saturation vapor pressure at the boiling temperature. The boiling point can be determined by observing an inflection point in the sample temperature over time, and the pressure and temperature at the onset of boiling can be determined at an intersection of trend lines extending from substantially linear intervals of temperature recordings over time.

Abstract: A complex dielectric sensor includes at least two voltage dividers to measure voltage amplitudes in a circuit of at least two impedances connected to a transducer probe. The impedances are configured to reduce amplification of raw error using relatively simple geometric calculations based on mapping the voltage amplitudes as a pair of intersecting circles in a complex admittance space. Instrument sensitivity can be optimized by selecting impedances with moduli in the complex admittance space that are similar in magnitude to the modulus of the sample admittance and by selecting impedances that cause characteristic directions of the voltage dividers (relative to the sample admittance in the complex admittance space) to be oriented as close to perpendicular to each other as possible.

Abstract: Sensor stations and related systems and methods to monitor and measure properties of food products in food processing structures such as cure rooms, smokehouses, ovens, and related structures. The sensor stations allow real-time, local collection of product properties and their surrounding environmental conditions in order to improve efficiency, reduce product waste and guesswork, and to provide data-based analysis for decision making. Sensor stations can be mounted to food supports and can be in electronic communication with each other and with intermediate nodes that provide a connection to other external computing devices that provide analysis and alerts to users and technicians. Various non-destructive modeling systems for determining water activity and pH of changing products are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for displacing liquid away from a signal path of sonic signals in a signal anemometer. A sonic anemometer may include a membrane positioned between a sonic transducer and the open environment. The membrane may be formed of a hydrophobic material that repels the liquid. The membrane may also include a plurality of pores that impede the flow of liquid through the membrane but enables sonic signals to pass through the membrane. The sonic anemometer may also include a reflector that displaces liquid away from the signal path of the sonic anemometer. The reflector may include one or more pores that wick liquid away from the signal path.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for displacing liquid away from a signal path of sonic signals in a signal anemometer. A sonic anemometer may include a membrane positioned between a sonic transducer and the open environment. The membrane may be formed of a hydrophobic material that repels the liquid. The membrane may also include a plurality of pores that impede the flow of liquid through the membrane but enables sonic signals to pass through the membrane. The sonic anemometer may also include a reflector that displaces liquid away from the signal path of the sonic anemometer. The reflector may include one or more pores that wick liquid away from the signal path.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for displacing liquid away from a signal path of sonic signals in a signal anemometer. A sonic anemometer may include a membrane positioned between a sonic transducer and the open environment. The membrane may be formed of a hydrophobic material that repels the liquid. The membrane may also include a plurality of pores that impede the flow of liquid through the membrane but enables sonic signals to pass through the membrane. The sonic anemometer may also include a reflector that displaces liquid away from the signal path of the sonic anemometer. The reflector may include one or more pores that wick liquid away from the signal path.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to measure various properties of sample in a sample chamber such as, for example, water activity. The apparatus includes a tunable diode laser that emits laser radiation into the sealed chamber without passing through the air outside the sample chamber or a wall of the sample chamber. The laser radiation only passes through the gaseous mixture in the sample chamber. A temperature sensor such as an infrared thermometer is positioned to measure the temperature of a sample in the sample chamber. The apparatus may be configured to include a plurality of sample containers each of which includes a sealed sample chamber. The sample containers may be automatically fed through the apparatus and analyzed with the tunable diode laser without any operator input or interaction.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to determine water activity and weight of a sample. The apparatus may comprise a chamber configured to at least partially enclose a sample. The apparatus may also comprise a sensor configured to measure water activity of a sample in the chamber. Additionally, the apparatus may comprise a moisture content adjustment device connected to the chamber and configured to change moisture content in the chamber. An isotherm generation module is also disclosed. The isotherm generation module may be configured to receive water activity measurements from a sensor device and weight measurements from a weighing device, the isotherm generation module being configured to generate an isotherm for a sample based on the water activity measurements and the weight measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to determine water activity and weight of a sample. The apparatus may comprise a chamber configured to at least partially enclose a sample. The apparatus may also comprise a sensor configured to measure water activity of a sample in the chamber. Additionally, the apparatus may comprise a moisture content adjustment device connected to the chamber and configured to change moisture content in the chamber. An isotherm generation module is also disclosed. The isotherm generation module may be configured to receive water activity measurements from a sensor device and weight measurements from a weighing device, the isotherm generation module being configured to generate an isotherm for a sample based on the water activity measurements and the weight measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to determine water activity and weight of a sample. The apparatus may comprise a chamber configured to at least partially enclose a sample. The apparatus may also comprise a sensor configured to measure water activity of a sample in the chamber. Additionally, the apparatus may comprise a moisture content adjustment device connected to the chamber and configured to change moisture content in the chamber. An isotherm generation module is also disclosed. The isotherm generation module may be configured to receive water activity measurements from a sensor device and weight measurements from a weighing device, the isotherm generation module being configured to generate an isotherm for a sample based on the water activity measurements and the weight measurements.