Abstract: Described and claimed is a method of controlling a cooling water system in which control is based on information from a control Matrix applicable to the specific operating parameters of the cooling water system including: (i) providing a suitable fluorometer, sufficient analytical devices and a suitable controller; (ii) programming the suitable fluorometer and controller using planning information from a control Matrix for cooling water systems being treated with treatment programs selected from the group consisting of: (d) stabilized phosphate, (e) zinc, and (f) all organic; (iii) using the fluorometer and sufficient analytical devices to determine the status of system factors; (iv) determining the pattern of changes in the readings from step (iii) over time; (v) comparing the changes in readings in steps (iii) and (iv), with the information listed in the control Matrix to determine what corrective action(s) is recommended; and (vi) using the controller to automatically implement the corrective acti

Abstract: A fluorometric method of ascertaining the purity of water used in semiconductor processing is described and claimed. A fluorometric method for monitoring and optionally controlling the water used in a semiconductor chip manufacturing process is also described.

Abstract: Fluorescent monomers of the formula wherein M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, cesium, rubidium, lithium and ammonium, and n is selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9; are provided which are useful in the production of pyranine-tagged polymers which can be detected using a fluorometer and can be used in industrial water systems as treatment polymers.

Abstract: An intelligent telescope system independently acquires and tracks designated celestial objects with little to no knowledge of the night sky being required by a user. The telescope system hosts and runs an application routine in order to have the telescope system conduct a tour of interesting celestial objects that are visible from an observer's location. Tour programs are created by a user and stored in memory in the system's microprocessor controlled command module or, alternatively, pre-defined tour programs are downloaded from a repository, such as in Internet web site, for storage in the system's memory and subsequent use.

Abstract: A fully automated telescope system is able to be fully operable in both Alt-Az and polar configurations. In either configuration, the telescope aligns itself to be celestial coordinate system following a simplified initialization procedure during which the telescope tube is first pointed north and then pointed towards a user's horizon. A command processor, under application software program control orients the telescope system with respect to the celestial coordinate system given the initial directional inputs. The initial telescope orientation may be further refined by initially inputting a geographical location indicia, or by shooting one or two additional celestial objects. Once the telescope's orientation with respect to the celestial coordinate system is established, the telescope system will automatically move to and track any desired celestial object without further alignment invention by a user.

Abstract: An autocycle method to control a cooling water system comprising the steps of: a) adding a treatment product to said cooling water system, with said treatment product comprising inert tracer and tagged treatment polymer in a set proportion; b) providing a sufficient number of fluorometers, c) using said sufficient number of fluorometers to measure the fluorescent signal of said inert tracer and the fluorescent signal of said tagged treatment polymer in the water from the cooling water system; d) using these measured fluorescent signals from step c) to determine the amount of said tagged treatment polymer present in said cooling water system; e) comparing the amount of said tagged treatment polymer present to the amount of tagged treatment polymer being fed into the system to determine the consumption of said tagged treatment polymer; and f) using said consumption of said tagged treatment polymer to control the concentration cycles of said cooling water system, with the proviso that said control is imple

Abstract: A solid-state fluorometry instrument is provided. The instrument is based on either diode laser or light-emitting diode (LED) excitation sources that are capable of being used in a wide range of applications. The solid-state diode laser based fluorometer instrument monitors fluorescent tracers, particularly suitable for industrial water sample stream applications. Using the instrument, a solid-state diode laser or light-emitting diode (LED) is used as an excitation source to excite fluorescent tracer molecules. The fluorescence resulting from the diode laser excitation is imaged with a lens onto a silicon photodiode detector. An optical filter is placed between the sample cell and the photodiode detector to reject scattered laser light. The output from the photodiode is amplified to produce an output voltage proportional to the quantity of fluorescence striking the photodiode detector.

Abstract: A method for determining wafer cleanliness by fluorometric monitoring of the impurities in the semiconductor chip wafer rinse solution. A clean chip is indicated by a leveling off of increased concentration of impurities as the rinsing of the chip progresses. A method for optimizing reuse or recyling of the water discharged from the rinse process which accurately measures the contaminants in that water.

Abstract: A method for measuring the concentration of an anionically charged polymer in an aqueous solution is described and claimed. The method requires a reagent solution that is also described and claimed. The reagent solution comprises water, Nile Blue Dye and chelant, with the chelant being selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal or ammonium salts of phosphonobutane tricarboxylic acid. The method involves using absorbance measurements to determine the amount of anionically charged polymer present in an aqueous sample. The method is very rapid and thus is very useful under field conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection and removal of copper from wastewater streams from semiconductor or printed circuit board manufacturing is described and claimed. The detection system and method involve the addition of a reagent that reacts with copper to quench the fluorophore present, with the decrease in fluorescence being detected by a fluorometer. The reduction of fluorescence is then used to calculate the amount of copper present in the form of Cu+2 ion in the wastewater. The removal system and method involve either the addition of a polymer that reacts with copper to form an insoluble precipitate with said precipitate then being removed by using any technique commonly known in the art; or the use of an ion exchange column to remove the copper from the wastewater stream.

Abstract: A method for determining wafer cleanliness by fluorometric monitoring of the impurities in the semiconductor chip wafer rinse solution. A clean chip is indicated by a leveling off of increased concentration of impurities as the rinsing of the chip progresses. A method for optimizing reuse or recyling of the water discharged from the rinse process which accurately measures the contaminants in that water.

Abstract: A concentration of microbiocides added to fluid systems is monitored by a fluorescence emission method which is based upon the measurement of the fluorescence intensity of an inert fluorescent additive which is added to the microbiocide composition prior to its introduction into the fluid system. Optionally, the fluorescent additive may be metered separately into the fluid system in direct proportion to the amount of industrial microbiocide added. Biocide compositions containing inert fluorescent additives are also disclosed. Preferably the fluid system is an industrial aqueous system. Preferred combinations of biocide and fluorescent additive are glutaraldehyde/1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid, glutaraldehyde/1,3,6,8-pyrene tetrasulfonic acid, isothiazolone/1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid, isothiazolone/1,3,6,8-pyrene tetrasulfonic acid, glutaraldehyde/fluorescein, alkyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride quaternary/2-naphthalene sulfonic acid and 2-(decylthio)-ethanamine/2-naphthalene sulfonic acid.

Abstract: The invention is a method of monitoring for the presence of certain constituents of food processing streams by measurement of fluorescence. The constituent monitored can be a fluorescing impurity of a food product, or the food product itself if such naturally fluoresces. Moreover, losses of the constituent to be monitored may be determined by concurrent measurement of fluorescence of a fluorescent material added to the food process stream. The method is applicable to the following food processing streams among others: meat, vegetable oil, sugar beet, sugar cane, grain, poultry, fruit and soybean processing streams. Upon determination of a variation of the fluorescing constituent to be measured, the food process can be adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A concentration-fluctuation responsive regulation of water treatment agent feed is achieved by adding an incipient to a sample whereby a concentration indicator is formed. Such a concentration indicator comprises a combination of the incipient reagent and a substantially nonfluorescent water treatment agent. The concentration indicator is then monitored by fluorescence analysis of the sample to determine at least one fluorescence emission value that can be correlated to an in-system concentration of the water treatment agent. The fluorescence emission value measured in then correlated to the in-system concentration of the water treatment agent.

Abstract: Leakage is detected between a process fluid and a temper fluid, or from a process fluid to a temperature-conditioning fluid, wherein one but not both of said A and said B fluids is an industrial process fluid and wherein at least one of said A and said B fluids is a gaseous stream, in an industrial process. The industrial process includes an A and a B fluid, and one of the A and B fluids receives heat from or transfer heat to the other of the A and the B fluids by an indirect contact method, and one but not both of the A and the B fluids is an industrial process fluid. In particular, the A fluid is a temperature-conditioning fluid that receives heat from a process fluid, for instance wherein the A fluid is the water of a waste-heat boiler and the B fluid is a gaseous process stream.

Abstract: A target-specie responsive regulation of water treatment agent feed is achieved by the monitoring of a subject target-specie indicator. A target specie in a sample taken from the system is selected as the subject target-specie indicator, or instead an incipient reagent is added to the system sample to form a subject target-specie indicator. Such a formed subject target-specie indicator comprises a combination of the incipient reagent and a target specie. The subject target-specie indicator might then monitored by fluorescence analysis of the sample to determine at least one fluorescence emission value that can be correlated to the in-system concentration of the target specie. In combination with an inert tracer, the system consumption for the target specie can be determined. A responsive adjustment of the in-system concentration of a water treatment agent can be made.

Abstract: Concentration of a polyelectrolyte in the water of an aqueous system is controlled by first withdrawing a sample of the water and adding a known or standard amount of a fluorochromatic reagent to the sample. Then light energy is directed into the sample whereby light energy of a selected excitation wavelength for the fluorochromatic dye is available for absorption by the fluorochromatic reagent. The intensity of light emitted about a selected emission wavelength for the fluorochromatic reagent is measured and the intensity of the emitted light is compared to a standard curve, comprising a plot of fluorescence emission intensity of the fluorochromatic reagent in the presence of a polyelectrolyte versus concentration the polyelectrolyte. The concentration of the polyelectrolyte in the sample of water is determined from the comparison.

Abstract: Leakage is detected between a process fluid and a temperature-conditioning fluid, or from a process fluid to a temperature-conditioning fluid, in an industrial process. The industrial process includes an A and a B fluid, and one of the A and B fluids receives heat from or transfer heat to the other of the A and the B fluids by an indirect contact method, and one but not both of the A and the B fluids is an industrial process fluid. At least one specie of tracer chemical is maintained in the A fluid, and that specie of tracer chemical is not a normal component of the B fluid. At least one of the A and the B fluids is subjected to at least one analysis at least one site. Such analysis at least detects the presence of the specie of tracer chemical when the fluid subjected to the analysis is the B fluid, and such analysis at least determines the concentration of the specie of tracer chemical when the fluid subjected to the analysis is the A fluid.

Abstract: In a furnace (boiler) installation where oxides of nitrogen are to be reduced to elemental nitrogen by treatment with a reactant such as a solution of urea, the desired amount of reactant (dependent on furnace specifics) is determined by comparing the fluorescent light intensity of a sample of the treating solution to the fluorescent light intensity of a calibration standard representing the desired amount of reactant concentration; in the case of non-comparison the concentration of reactant in the treating solution is altered until the intensities are substantially identical.

Abstract: The concentration of an aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor in the water of an aqueous system is monitored by a fluorometric method which is based upon the measurement of the fluorescence intensity of the aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor itself, and the precise determination of concentration permits control of the dosage of such aromatic azole corrosion inhibitor.