Abstract: An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.

Abstract: Propagation of ultrasound through a porous body saturated with liquid generates electric response. This electro-acoustic effect is called “seismoelectric current”, whereas reverse version, when electric field is driving force, is “electroseismic current”. It is possible to measure seismoelectric current with existing electro-acoustic devices, which had been designed for characterizing liquid dispersions. Such versatility allows calibration of said devise using dispersion and then applying it for characterizing porous body. In general, magnitude of seismoelectric current depends on porosity, pore size, zeta potential of pore surfaces and elastic properties of matrix. It is possible to adjust conductivity of liquid for simplifying these dependences. For instance, liquid with high ionic strength causes double layers become thin comparing to the pore size, which eliminates dependence of said currents on pore size. We suggest using such case for characterizing porosity.

Abstract: Propagation of ultrasound through a porous body saturated with liquid generates electric response. This electro-acoustic effect is called “seismoelectric current”, whereas reverse version, when electric field is driving force, is “electroseismic current”. It is possible to measure seismoelectric current with existing electro-acoustic devices, which had been designed for characterizing liquid dispersions. Such versatility allows calibration of said devise using dispersion and then applying it for characterizing porous body. In general, magnitude of seismoelectric current depends on porosity, pore size, zeta potential of pore surfaces and elastic properties of matrix. It is possible to adjust conductivity of liquid for simplifying these dependences. For instance, liquid with high ionic strength causes double layers become thin comparing to the pore size, which eliminates dependence of said currents on pore size. We suggest using such case for characterizing porosity.

Abstract: Propagation of ultrasound through a porous body saturated with liquid generates electric response.

Abstract: A method is described which applies the combination of Electroacoustic and Complex Conductivity measurements to characterize particle electric surface properties, such as ?-potential, and bulk properties, such as the dielectric permittivity, in systems where conductivity data is required for applying an appropriate theoretical model for calculating output parameters from the measured data. In particular, this is important in low conducting systems for which the double layer thickness exceeds the particle radius or in the systems where particles have either high bulk dielectric permittivity or high conductivity.

Abstract: A method is described which applies Acoustic Spectrometry to characterize both the particle size distribution and micro-rheological properties of the structured concentrated dispersions. It suggests to model the structured dispersion as a collection of the spherical particles which are connected together with flexible strings. Oscillation of these strings creates an additional energy dissipation which contributes to the total attenuation. This dissipation is dependent on the second virial coefficient characterizing the flexibility of the strings. It is shown that the value of the second virial coefficient can be calculated from the measured attenuation spectra either for known particle size or together with particle size as adjustable parameter.

Abstract: The process of heavy metals removal from the waste water using silica dispersion without mixing silica dispersion with the waste water. This is achieved due to the membrane device where silica dispersion and waste water stream are separated by membrane with pore sizes smaller that size of the silica particles. The process is organized as counter-flow, which means that silica dispersion and waste water flow in the opposite directions. This provides the maximum utilization of the adsorption capacity corresponding to the adsorbent being in equilibrium with the high initial concentration of the contaminant in distinction from the low utilization when adsorbent works in equilibrium with the low output concentration. In the particular instance the membrane device comprises a lumen of a bundle of hollow fibers with silica dispersion flowing either inside or outside of the fibers and wastewater flowing on the opposite side of the fiber membrane. This process eliminates step of separating silica from the wastewater.

Abstract: A method is described which applies the combination of Electroacoustic and Complex Conductivity measurements to characterize particle electric surface properties, such as &zgr;-potential, and bulk properties, such as the dielectric permittivity, in systems where conductivity data is required for applying an appropriate theoretical model for calculating output parameters from the measured data. In particular, this is important in low conducting systems for which the double layer thickness exceeds the particle radius or in the systems where particles have either high bulk dielectric permittivity or high conductivity.

Abstract: The process of heavy metals removal from the waste water using silica dispersion without mixing silica dispersion with the waste water. This is achieved due to the membrane device where silica dispersion and waste water stream are separated by membrane with pore sizes smaller that size of the silica particles. The process is organized as counter-flow, which means that silica dispersion and waste water flow in the opposite directions. This provides the maximum utilization of the adsorption capacity corresponding to the adsorbent being in equilibrium with the high initial concentration of the contaminant in distinction from the low utilization when adsorbent works in equilibrium with the low output concentration. In the particular instance the membrane device comprises a lumen of a bundle of hollow fibers with silica dispersion flowing either inside or outside of the fibers and wastewater flowing on the opposite side of the fiber membrane. This process eliminates step of separating silica from the wastewater.

Abstract: A method is described which applies Acoustic Spectrometry to characterize both the particle size distribution and mechanical properties of the soft particles in concentrated dispersed systems. It is shown that compressibility of the soft particles can be calculated from the measured sound speed using well-known Wood expression. The value of the thermal expansion coefficient can be calculated from the measured attenuation spectra either for known particle size or together with particle size as adjustable parameter.

Abstract: A “coupled phase model” is used to characterize the motion induced by a sound wave of a particle relative to its dispersion medium. A Kuvabara cell model is used to describe the hydrodynamic effects, whereas a Shilov-Zharkikh cell model is used to characterize electrokinetic effects. A different approach for interpreting the experimental data is described in which the electroacoustic sensor is treated as a transmission line with various energy losses due to the reflection and sound attenuation. The experimental output is also expressed as a loss, namely the ratio of the Colloid Vibration Current to the gradient in the acoustic pressure, and is computed by subtracting all other known losses from the total loss of the electroacoustic sensor. These other energy losses can be either calculated or measured directly using reflected pulses.

Abstract: A colloid analyzer is provided employing a relatively low frequency, low power, continuous "acoustic" wave signal propagated in the direction of spaced electrodes mounted adjacent to the side wall of a chamber or vessel containing a colloid sample. The chamber further comprises a series of probes for respectively sensing the pH, temperature, and conductivity of the sample(s) being analyzed. A piezoelectric transmitter generates the acoustic drive signal. The spaced electrodes in conjunction with an electronic signal processing circuit serves as a receiver and generates an output signal relating to the magnitude and polarity of the zeta potential of the particles being "acoustically" excited by the drive signal. A computer responsive to the signal processing circuit's output signals and/or the vessel probes' output signals alternately develop a graphical output relating to zeta potential, and/or one relating to the surface charge density of the analyzed colloid for given levels of titration.

Abstract: A light source illuminates particles migrating in an electrophoresis chamber under the influence of a reversing polarity electric field applied between a pair of spaced electrodes which are in the form of thin conductive layers deposited on opposed end portions of the chamber. The light reflected from the particles migrating along the stationary layer of the chamber is imaged onto a circumferentially arranged grating on a transparent rotating disk and modulated thereby.

Abstract: A light source illuminates particles migrating in an electrophoresis chamber under the influence of a reversing polarity electric field applied between a pair of spaced electrodes which are in the form of thin conductive layers deposited on opposed end portions of the chamber. The light reflected from the particles migrating along the stationary layer of the chamber is imaged onto a circumferentially arranged grating on a transparent rotating disk and modulated thereby.

Abstract: A light source illuminates particles migrating in an electrophoresis chamber under the influence of a reversing polarity electric field applied between a pair of spaced electrodes which are in the form of thin conductive layers deposited on opposed end portions of the chamber. The light reflected from the particles migrating along the stationary layer of the chamber is imaged onto a circumferentially arranged grating on a transparent rotating disk and modulated thereby.

Abstract: Microelectrophoresis apparatus is provided comprising an electrophoresis chamber, circuit means for impressing a voltage across the chamber, means for generating a light beam to illuminate a portion of the chamber, and a microscope including an objective lens system and an eyepiece for viewing illuminated particles migrating relative to a suspending medium within the chamber under the influence of the applied voltage. Disposed within the microscope between the objective lens system and the eyepiece i.e., internally of the microscope, is a movable optical prism driven by a galvanometer, the drive circuit of which includes an adjustable potentiometer for controlling the rate and direction of movement of the optical prism.