Abstract: A method of direct on-line measurement of thickness of fouling deposits created on the tube walls in a pulverized-coal firing furnace is described, as well as an apparatus suitable for implementation of the method. The method is based on imaging of a light spot, generated on the deposit surface by the apparatus. A position-sensitive image detector is used to track the spot as deposits accumulate, and the image signal is processed in real time, which allows for monitoring the creation of fouling deposits during operation of the furnace. The system simultaneously determines the reflectivity of the deposit surface. The apparatus can be used as part of an automatic soot blowing system.

Abstract: A method of direct on-line measurement of thickness of fouling deposits created on the tube walls in a pulverized-coal firing furnace is described, as well as an apparatus suitable for implementation of the method. The method is based on imaging of a light spot, generated on the deposit surface by the apparatus. A position-sensitive image detector is used to track the spot as deposits accumulate, and the image signal is processed in real time, which allows for monitoring the creation of fouling deposits during operation of the furnace. The system simultaneously determines the reflectivity of the deposit surface. The apparatus can be used as part of an automatic soot blowing system.

Abstract: An improved helmet line of sight measuring system for determining the spatial location of a helmet and the line of sight of an observer wearing the helmet, both relative to a coordinate reference frame. A plurality of assemblies of light sources are distributed on the helmet each comprising three light sources positioned at the vertices of a triangle and a fourth light source outside the plane of the triangle. Optical means fixed in space relative to the coordinate reference frame image the light emitted by the light sources in at least one of the assemblies onto an area image sensor, thereby producing two-dimensional image data of the light sources on the plane of the image sensor. Computing means coupled to the area image sensor is thereby able to determine the spatial coordinates of the helmet from the image data.

Abstract: An impeller for a windmotor consists of a rigid hub attached to a rotatingly mounted shaft, an outer rim concentric with the hub and a number of radial vanes of a flexible material, such as fabric, stretched between the hub and the rim, whereby their angle of inclination decreases from their inner to their outer ends. The rim is likewise made of a flexible, non-permeable fabric or other material in the shape of a hollow torus, which is filled with a gas at a pressure sufficient to maintain the shape of the torus under the stresses of wind and other forces. The torus may be filled with hydrogen or helium, whereby the entire impeller becomes lighter than air, thus eliminating the weight factor with regard to impellers with very large diameters.