Abstract: A microscale collector and injector device comprises a microscale passive pre-concentrator (?PP) and a microscale progressively-heated injector (?PHI). The ?PP devices comprises first and second substrate portions, a first collection material, a ?PP heater, and an outlet. The first substrate portion defines an array of microscale diffusion channels. The first and second substrate portions cooperate to define a first compartment in fluid communication with the diffusion channels. The first collection material is disposed within the first compartment, at least partially surrounding the outlet. The ?PP heater is disposed in thermal communication with the second substrate portion. The ?PHI device comprises third and fourth substrate portions, a second collection material, and a plurality of ?PHI heaters. The third and fourth substrate portions cooperate to define a second compartment. The second collection material is disposed within the second compartment.

Abstract: A choke assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising a user interface, a fuel valve, and a choke valve. The choke assembly further comprising an off position, in which the user interface is in a first position, the fuel valve is in a closed position, and the choke valve is in a closed position; a start position, in which the user interface is in a second position, the fuel valve is in an open position, and the choke valve is in the closed position; and a run position, in which the user interface is in a third position, the fuel valve is in the open position, and the choke valve is in an open position.

Abstract: A beverage carbonation system, container, carbonator and method for carbonating a beverage are provided. The beverage carbonation system has a container that is removably engageable with a carbonator. The container has a container outlet valve and a container inlet valve that are fluidly engageable with a carbonator outlet port and carbonator inlet port, respectively. At least one pump transfers liquid and carbon dioxide gas between a container chamber and a carbonation chamber when the container is engaged with the carbonator, thereby carbonating the liquid. When the container is disengaged from the carbonator, the container outlet valve and the container inlet valve are closed to fluidly seal the container containing the carbonated liquid.

Abstract: An inline carbonation apparatus includes a fluid tube having an inner diameter. A water flow control module is connected to a water source. At least one water orifice is linked to the water flow control module and is attached at one end of the fluid tube. The water orifice includes a plurality of holes atomizing water passing therethrough. A carbon dioxide source is connected to a carbon dioxide valve. The carbon dioxide solenoid valve is connected to a carbon dioxide regulator that is coupled to a carbon dioxide orifice and attached to the fluid tube in a spaced relationship from the water orifice. The atomized water has a pressure less than the carbon dioxide such that carbon dioxide is absorbed into the water forming carbonated water having a specified volume of carbonation. The water control module regulates a water flow rate into the inline carbonation apparatus.

Abstract: A raw material supply device (105) includes an introduction pipe (152a) which introduces a carrier gas into a raw material vessel (151), a transport pipe (152b) which transports a source gas fed out from the raw material vessel, a supply pipe (155a) which is branched from the transport pipe and supplies the source gas to a film forming chamber (101), a circulation pipe (155b) which is branched from the transport pipe (152b) and returns the source gas to the introduction pipe (152a), an introduction valve (156a) which is attached to the introduction pipe, a supply valve (156b) which is attached to the supply pipe, a circulation valve (156c) which is attached to the circulation pipe, and a controller (157) which controls opening/closing of the valves. The controller controls the supply valve and the circulation valve to be in opposite open/closed states. The source gas can be supplied more stably while suppressing the waste of the raw material.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein can introduce low amounts of gas in a liquid with fast response time and low variation in concentration. In one embodiment, a gas is directed into an inlet on a gas contacting side of a porous element of a contactor and a liquid is directed into an inlet on a liquid contacting side of the porous element of the contactor. The liquid contacting side and the gas contacting side are separated by the porous element and a housing. The gas is removed from an outlet on the gas contacting side of the porous element at a reduced pressure compared to the pressure of the gas flowing into the inlet of the contactor. A liquid containing a portion of the gas transferred into the liquid is removed from an outlet on the liquid contacting side of the porous element, producing a dilute bubble free solution.

Abstract: There is described a water carbonation apparatus in which two carbonation units (10, 11) are linked to a volumetric control unit (9) which stores a volume of carbonated water ready for use. When carbonated water is to be discharged, the stored carbonated water from the volumetric control unit (9) is discharged, while simultaneously carbonated water from one of the carbonation units (10, 11) is discharged into the other carbonation unit (11, 10) is filled with uncarbonated water from the volumetric control unit (9), and a volume of uncarbonated water is drawn from a water supply (2) into the volumetric control unit. The volumetric control unit (9) in one embodiment comprises a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies which together define four internal chambers (21, 22, 23, 24), the pistons being linked together such that the volumes of the four internal chambers vary at the same rate.

Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid having more than one inlet and more than one outlet. Each of the more than one inlet and more than one outlet is selectively openable and closable. The heating tower apparatus also includes a liquid distribution assembly and a fill medium. The liquid distribution assembly distributes the liquid onto the fill medium.

Abstract: A humidifier 21 for use with a fuel cell 1, including a plurality of combined water permeable membranes or water permeable devices 21, each of the water permeable membranes or water permeable devices generating humidified gas by flowing therein different gases with different moisture contents and by moisture exchanging between the different gases so that one dry gas with smaller moisture content is humidified with the other moist gas with larger moisture content; and flowing passage switching devices Va for optionally switching flowing passages Ca of the dry gas. The flowing passage switching devices Va switches the flowing passage Ca in accordance with a required amount of the humidified gas so as to selectively use particular water permeable membranes or a particular water permeable device 21 from among the plurality of water permeable membranes or water permeable devices 21.