Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing a first and second sodium ion selective electrode (ISE). The ion selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, having first and second reference electrodes, respectively, with a salt bridge therebetween, where the first ISE receives hard water and the second ISE receives soft water. A least one drain receives outflow from effluent fluid from the first and second sodium ISE sensors.

Abstract: A sensor system and process that utilizes impedance/conductivity measurements to track the movement of hardness in an ion exchange media. The impedance/conductivity sensor is a vertical, longitudinally directed, axially lengthwise electrode system having electrodes placed within a bed of ion exchange material and separated by water and the ion exchange material. The electrodes generally run parallel to one another. Hard water is introduced to the water softener and softened by the ion exchange material. A hardness gradient is tracked by the sensor, and regeneration is initiated when it is determined that the ion exchange material is depleted or exhausted.

Abstract: A sensor system and process that utilizes impedance/conductivity measurements to track the movement of hardness in an ion exchange media. The impedance/conductivity sensor is a vertical, longitudinally directed, axially lengthwise electrode system having electrodes placed within a bed of ion exchange material and separated by water and the ion exchange material. The electrodes generally run parallel to one another. Hard water is introduced to the water softener and softened by the ion exchange material. A hardness gradient is tracked by the sensor, and regeneration is initiated when it is determined that the ion exchange material is depleted or exhausted.

Abstract: A water treatment system, such as a water softening system, having a water treatment tank with at least one distributor plate mounted inside to support filter media and/or ion exchange resin. The water treatment system is designed to treat hard water with a packed ion-exchange filter media and has a distributor plate design for facilitating the ion-exchange within a water softener resin bed, as well as facilitating the regeneration of the resin bed. The distributor plate presents cavities to the topside for entrapping filter media, and the cavities have narrow slits located at the base for allowing fluid to pass. A method for assembling the water treatment tank and supporting inserted distributor plate is shown. The distributor plate rest on and is supported by a domed-shaped structure that can be placed in the bottom portion of the water treatment vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A method of application to provide a workable solution for tracking the hardness of water utilizing an ion selective electrode by tracking the relative hardness of water at the outflow or egress of an ion exchange column. A monovalent cation exchange membrane (ion selective electrode) distinguishes hard water and softened water in a water flow stream. A voltage is applied across the membrane, facilitating the movement of sodium though the membrane (such that anions and divalent ions are excluded), and the current is measured. The change in current (delta current) is used to determine the hard water concentration or level of hardness in an influent stream. A second application estimates or detects the exhaustion of an ion exchanger, and/or determines the regeneration time/cycle of the ion exchanger through the use of an ion selective membrane. Blending of the influent hard water and effluent soft water allows a user to control hardness levels of the effluent.

Abstract: A sensor system and process that utilizes impedance/conductivity measurements to track the movement of hardness in an ion exchange media. The impedance/conductivity sensor is a vertical, longitudinally directed, axially lengthwise electrode system having electrodes placed within a bed of ion exchange material and separated by water and the ion exchange material. The electrodes generally run parallel to one another. Hard water is introduced to the water softener and softened by the ion exchange material. A hardness gradient is tracked by the sensor, and regeneration is initiated when it is determined that the ion exchange material is depleted or exhausted.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A moisture or hydrating liquid activatable solid formulation for nitric oxide (NO) generation includes a nitrite source; a copper (I) or copper (II) catalyst; an NO generation accelerant; and a solid pH buffer. The nitrite source is to generate NO when exposed to an effective amount of moisture or a hydrating liquid. The pH buffer is present in an amount sufficient to render a pH of the moisture or hydrating liquid activatable solid formulation from greater than 4 to about 9.0.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: An NO generating system for nasal inhalation includes a nose vent plug, which includes a nitric oxide (NO) impermeable housing and a receptacle. The NO impermeable housing has integrally formed walls that define a partially enclosed interior portion; two nasal protrusions extending from one of the integrally formed walls and in fluid communication with the partially enclosed interior portion; and an air vent defined in another of the integrally formed walls to introduce air flow into the partially enclosed interior portion. The receptacle is in the partially enclosed interior portion, and contains an NO generating formulation or is to receive an NO generating formulation.

Abstract: A water treatment system, such as a water softening system, having a water treatment tank with at least one distributor plate mounted inside to support filter media and/or ion exchange resin. The water treatment system is designed to treat hard water with a packed ion-exchange filter media and has a distributor plate design for facilitating the ion-exchange within a water softener resin bed, as well as facilitating the regeneration of the resin bed. The distributor plate presents cavities to the topside for entrapping filter media, and the cavities have narrow slits located at the base for allowing fluid to pass. A method for assembling the water treatment tank and supporting inserted distributor plate is shown. The distributor plate rest on and is supported by a domed-shaped structure that can be placed in the bottom portion of the water treatment vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A method of application to provide a workable solution for tracking the hardness of water utilizing an ion selective electrode by tracking the relative hardness of water at the outflow or egress of an ion exchange column. A monovalent cation exchange membrane (ion selective electrode) distinguishes hard water and softened water in a water flow stream. A voltage is applied across the membrane, facilitating the movement of sodium though the membrane (such that anions and divalent ions are excluded), and the current is measured. The change in current (delta current) is used to determine the hard water concentration or level of hardness in an influent stream. A second application estimates or detects the exhaustion of an ion exchanger, and/or determines the regeneration time/cycle of the ion exchanger through the use of an ion selective membrane. Blending of the influent hard water and effluent soft water allows a user to control hardness levels of the effluent.

Abstract: A portable threat detection apparatus and method is disclosed which may comprise a plurality of acoustic emission sensors arranged in a cluster, forming a polygon defining at least two axes of alignment between respective pairs of acoustic emission sensors; a computing device in cooperation with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions for performing: receiving a first signal produced by a first acoustic emission sensor within a respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the first acoustic emission sensor detecting an acoustic emission from a source, and receiving a second signal produced by a second acoustic emission sensor within the respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the second acoustic emission sensor detecting the acoustic emission; determining a cross-correlation factor between the first signal and the second signal; and, determining a bearing to the source based on the cross correlation factor.

Abstract: A portable threat detection apparatus and method is disclosed which may comprise a plurality of acoustic emission sensors arranged in a cluster, forming a polygon defining at least two axes of alignment between respective pairs of acoustic emission sensors; a computing device in cooperation with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions for performing: receiving a first signal produced by a first acoustic emission sensor within a respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the first acoustic emission sensor detecting an acoustic emission from a source, and receiving a second signal produced by a second acoustic emission sensor within the respective pair of acoustic emission sensors, in response to the second acoustic emission sensor detecting the acoustic emission; determining a cross-correlation factor between the first signal and the second signal; and, determining a bearing to the source based on the cross correlation factor.

Abstract: A service provider receives fluid test data generated from multiple different entities and permits authorized users affiliated with the different entities, as well as others, to visualize information associated with that data to via the Internet using graphical computer interfaces at respective computers. The fluid test data can be gathered using portable sensor units equipped with GPS and wireless communication to transmit the fluid test data and geographical information to the service provider.