Abstract: A biocalorimeter and waste management system is provided for making metabolic heat release measurements of animals or humans in a calorimeter (enclosure) using ambient air as a low velocity source of ventilating air through the enclosure. A shroud forces ventilating air to pass over the enclosure from an end open to ambient air at the end of the enclosure opposite its ventilating air inlet end and closed around the inlet end of the enclosure in order to obviate the need for regulating ambient air temperature. Psychrometers for measuring dry- and wet-bulb temperature of ventilating air make it possible to account for the sensible and latent heat additions to the ventilating air. A waste removal system momentarily recirculates high velocity air in a closed circuit through the calorimeter wherein a sudden rise in moisture is detected in the ventilating air from the outlet.

Abstract: Gamma radiation leaving the surface of a radioactive materials storage vessel is measured and monitored using a plurality of gamma ray absorbing calorimeters. The gamma ray energy absorbed is converted into heat and such heat is measured or indicated for the purpose of monitoring expected radioactive decay processes of the stored radioactive materials. Material leakage or removal from storage is detected and defined by deviations from the normal expected decay in gamma radiation. Such deviation or lack of deviation, as the case may be, provide the desired accountability of the radioactive materials. Since there can be several bands of gamma ray radiation, both flux and its energy level may be determined by using different gamma absorbing materials in the calorimeters selected for the known possible energy levels of the decaying radioactive material.

Abstract: A calorimeter box accommodates a person lying on a cot. The system measures metabolic releases.The person's head extends into a transparent box-shaped duct system. Ambient air flows from the room in which the calorimeter is located into the duct system and past the person's head and neck into the calorimeter box. substantially all convection and evaporative heat losses from the person's head are transported into the calorimeter itself by the air flow. If the air flow were to stop, i.e., failed to exist, the person would have no trouble breathing because in essence his head is in the room. This obviates safety and claustrophobia problems; further the subject can talk to attendants in the room.The calorimeter is of heavy aluminum panel construction for structural strength and for purposes of providing a heat sink. Coil of tubing remove heat from the aluminum panels, and water of constant temperature is circulated through such tubing to maintain the aluminum panels at a substantially constant temperature.

Abstract: Ventilator hood systems for metabolic studies involving a study of the gases exhaled by a person uses suction to induce a flow of gases through a special hood construction which is loosely fitted over the head of the person when he is supported on his back and which serves to conduct a mixture of such exhaled gases and induced gases to suitable analyzing equipment without loss or eddying of the exhaled gases.

Abstract: Afterheat being released from a radioactive storage system is measured and monitored. Changes in heat release with respect to time is related to expected radioactive decay processes of the confined radioactive materials. Material leakage from storage is detected and defined by deviations from the normal expected heat release-time function being monitored. Such deviations or lack of deviations, as the case may be, provide the desired accountability of the radioactive materials.

Abstract: In a heat pump system wherein an evaporator is located outdoors with a stream of air being blown through spaced fins of the evaporator and frost is formed on the fins thereby impairing the efficiency of the heat exchanger, heat flow sensing means is positioned on one or more of such fins and in heat conducting relation to such fins for the purpose of controlling defrost means such that when frost is formed the heat flow sensing means causes defrosting.

Abstract: A mixture of two materials flows through a first measuring station which includes a Venturi meter for obtaining and measuring a pressure difference .DELTA.p that is representative of mass flow rate of the mixture and velocity. The mixture then flows through a second measuring station which includes a temperature differential flowmeter in which a predetermined amount of heat is supplied to heat the flowing mixture and raise its temperature to obtain and measure a corresponding change in temperature that is related to the mean density of the mixture and also the square of the mass flow rate. These values .DELTA.p and .DELTA.t are inputs to computer means which functions to solve a third order polynominal or cubic equation and express that solution in terms of the mixture ratio and flow rates of the individual components and the flow rate of the mixture itself.

Abstract: The quality of heat insulation materials is tested and/or compared in a portable structure in which two heat insulation materials are subjected simultaneously to heat flow from a single common metal-clad heating element and the quantity of heat flow through said material is measured and compared. In one case the portable structure has two conveniently accessible cavities within which equal amounts of such insulation, in flat form, may be placed in contact with corresponding opposite sides of a single common metal-clad planar heat source. In a modification of the invention two tubular insulating materials each of the form and type for insulating pipe, is placed around a metal-clad round heating element and the amount of heat flowing from the heating element and through a corresponding one of said materials is measured and compared using individual thermopiles secured to the outer surface of each material.

Abstract: A method for determining the thermal conductivity of the earth in situ is based upon a cylindrical probe (10) having a thermopile (16) for measuring the temperature gradient between sets of thermocouple junctions (18 and 20) of the probe after it has been positioned in a borehole and has reached thermal equilibrium with its surroundings, and having means (14) for heating one set of thermocouple junctions (20) of the probe at a constant rate while the temperature gradient of the probe is recorded as a rise in temperature over several hours (more than about 3 hours). A fluid annulus thermally couples the probe to the surrounding earth. The recorded temperature curves are related to the earth's thermal conductivity, k.sub..infin., and to the thermal capacity per unit volume, (.gamma.c.sub.p).sub..infin., by comparison with calculated curves using estimates of k.sub..infin. and (.gamma.c.sub.p).sub..infin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining vertical heat flux of a geothermal field, and mapping the entire field, is based upon an elongated heat-flux transducer (10) comprised of a length of tubing (12) of relatively low thermal conductivity with a thermopile (20) inside for measuring the thermal gradient between the ends of the transducer after it has been positioned in a borehole for a period sufficient for the tube to reach thermal equilibrium. The transducer is thermally coupled to the surrounding earth by a fluid annulus, preferably water or mud. A second transducer comprised of a length of tubing of relatively high thermal conductivity is used for a second thermal gradient measurement. The ratio of the first measurement to the second is then used to determine the earth's thermal conductivity, k.sub..infin.

Abstract: The R value of heat insulation already in situ in a wall of a building structure which has already been subjected to climatic hot and cold conditions is established under transient conditions that exist over a 24 hour period by establishing a first series of values, each representative of the difference in temperature between the inner and outer wall at successive times during such 24 hour period and simultaneously establishing a second series of values, each representative of the heat flux into or out of the wall at said same successive times, and combining said first and said second series of values to obtain said R value.

Abstract: A geothermal heat flux transducer includes a plurality of insulating slats on which constantin wire is wound and each half turn is coated with a silver layer to produce a hot junction and a cold junction per turn of wire. The slat with wire thus coated is assembled with insulating material between adjacent slats such that silver coatings on adjacent slats face each other and also uncoated wire half turns on adjacent slats face each other. This allows a multiplicity of thermal junctions thus formed to be assembled in a small package which may be suspended in earth bore holes in mine shafts or otherwise below or above ground for measurement of heat flow emanating from sources far below the earth's surface. Variable heat flow occasioned by diurnal and/or seasonal variations are accounted for in ascertainment of that steady heat flux flowing from geothermal sources alone. The transducer is of special dimensional proportions with parts specially related both structurally and thermally.