Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus to measure specific mass increases (due to the absorption of moisture) that occur in materials and for predicting moisture absorption in materials. In one method, pre-dried plastic encapsulated microchip packages (PEMs) are exposed to moist air over a period of time and moisture absorption is determined over a period of time resulting in prediction of moisture absorption of a particular material and determination of methods of care and storage of material to prevent excessive moisture absorption.

Abstract: Methods of cooling an object are presented, the methods comprising contacting a heat transfer fluid with a liquid cryogen to form a precooled, substantially pure heat transfer fluid, and contacting the object with the precooled substantially pure heat transfer fluid to form a cooled object and a recycle flow of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of substantially pure hydrogen, substantially pure helium, substantially pure argon, substantially pure nitrogen, and substantially pure carbon dioxide. Each of the contacting steps may be either direct contact, indirect contact, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of cooling an object are presented, the methods comprising contacting a heat transfer fluid with a liquid cryogen to form a precooled, substantially pure heat transfer fluid, and contacting the object with the precooled substantially pure heat transfer fluid to form a cooled object and a recycle flow of the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid consists essentially of a compound selected from the group consisting of substantially pure hydrogen, substantially pure helium, substantially pure argon, substantially pure nitrogen, and substantially pure carbon dioxide. Each of the contacting steps may be either direct contact, indirect contact, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus to measure specific mass increases (due to the absorption of moisture) that occur in materials and for predicting moisture absorption in materials. In one method, pre-dried plastic encapsulated microchip packages (PEMs) are exposed to moist air over a period of time and moisture absorption is determined over a period of time resulting in prediction of moisture absorption of a particular material and determination of methods of care and storage of material to prevent excessive moisture absorption.

Abstract: An inert gas production system which primarily employs the exhaust gas of an engine as an inert gas source and uses a catalytic purifier to remove oxygen from the engine exhaust to produce the inert gas. The engine is preferably an internal combustion engine which operates on methane. The catalytic purification of the exhaust gas to remove oxygen is preferably performed by a packed bed catalytic purifying system including two catalyst vessels operated in series. The inert gas production system using engine exhaust can operate at a lower cost than the known membrane purification systems which produce an inert gas from air. In addition, the engine can be connected to a generator to provide an electrical energy advantage and the entire system can produce an inert gas stream containing less than 1,000 ppm of oxygen.