Abstract: A method for operating a calorimeter and a calorimeter that is operable to perform the method, wherein the calorimeter has a reactor (1) for receiving a reaction medium, a reactor jacket (2), an in-reactor heater (4) controlled by means of a first controller (6), an outer temperature control unit (9) in thermal contact with the reactor and controlled by a second controller (10), and a measurement sensor (5) arranged in the reactor for determining a reactor temperature (Tr). The reactor temperature is controlled by the heat which is delivered to the reactor by the in-reactor heater and by the heat that is carried in and/or out by the outer temperature control unit. A dynamic control of the heating power of the in-reactor heater and of the outer temperature control unit is used to eliminate any deviation of the reactor temperature from a reactor set-point temperature.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to gas sensing techniques as such, but more specifically, to a sensor structure that comprises a buried electrode structure in the sensor layers, the structure being arranged to be applicable in the related devices and/or measurements. The invention relates also to a measurement method of sensor resistance, which method comprises a step of utilisation having a bias voltage or a grounding applied to the buried electrode.

Abstract: A thermoanalytical instrument, and especially a differential scanning calorimeter, has first and second measurement positions, a heater and a temperature sensor associated with each of the measurement positions, and a controller. The controller, which has an associated means for setting a predetermined temperature program, controls a heating power of the first heater to cause the temperature measured at the first position to follow the temperature program. The controller also controls both heaters to eliminate any temperature difference between the measured first and second temperatures. The controller also provides a means for determining the lower of the measured first and second measured temperatures and applies additional power to the heater associated with that lower measured temperature.

Abstract: A nano-composite material having a high electrical conductivity and a high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity. The nano-composite material is capable of withstanding high temperatures and harsh conditions. These properties make it suitable for use as both a thermal barrier coating for turbine blades and vanes and a thermoelectric generator to power high temperature electronics, high temperature wireless transmitters, and high temperature sensors. Unique to these applications is that the thermal barrier coatings can act as a temperature sensor and/or a source of power for other sensors or high temperature electronics and wireless transmitters.

Abstract: The expansion amount of a substrate (106) is measured using a scope (115a, 115b) which observes the edge surface of the substrate (106). The temperature of the neutral plane of the substrate (106) is calculated using the expansion amount of the substrate (106). A heat flux in the substrate (106) is measured using a heat flux sensor (110). The temperature difference between the neutral surface and upper surface of the substrate (106) is calculated from the measured heat flux and the heat resistance of the substrate (106). The temperature of the surface of the substrate (106) is obtained using the temperature difference and the temperature of the neutral plane of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus to identify alpha-emitting radionuclides and to measure absolute alpha radioactivity using a low temperature detector. A 4? metallic absorber which encloses a radioactive material containing alpha-emitting radionuclides absorbs the total alpha decay energy in the form of thermal energy. The corresponding temperature changes are measured by a low temperature detector attached to the 4? absorber with high energy resolution. The identification of alpha-emitting radionuclides is declared by comparing the measured temperature signal with characteristic decay energy of radionuclides. The absolute amount of the radionuclides is determined by counting the number of the pulses for each of the identified nuclides.

Abstract: A detector device of the present invention detects densities of components, such as gasoline and ethanol, contained in mixture fuel even when some water is included in the mixture fuel. The detector device includes a sensor having a pair or electrodes, an electronic device for calculating the densities and a memory device for storing permittivities of pure components including water measured beforehand. Alternating current having two different frequencies f1, f2 is applied to the pair of electrodes immersed in the mixture fuel to detect the permittivities of the mixture fuel under f1 and f2. The two frequencies, f1 and f2, are so chosen that the premittivities of gasoline and ethanol show no change between f1 and f2, while the permittivitiy of water shows a substantial difference between f1 and f2. The electronic device calculates the densities of the components based on permittivities of the mixture fuel detected by the sensor and those of components stored in the memory device.

Abstract: The specific heat capacity (cp) of a medium is determined using a calorimeter with a reactor (1), a stirrer (3), a first thermostat for providing an inner heat balance, a second thermostat, means for providing an outer heat balance and a central control unit (35). The method uses the steps of: applying a modulated energy profile to the medium, inside the reactor (1), under near isothermal conditions; monitoring the resulting energy changes of: the medium, the reactor (1), the first thermostat, the second thermostat and/or the outer heat balance means as a function of time; determining the respective inner and outer heat balances independently from each other at predefined time intervals; and calculating the overall heat transfer coefficient (UA) and the specific heat capacity of the medium (cp) simultaneously and independently from each other as a function of time from the inner and outer heat balances.

Abstract: A method and water analysis system are provided to automatically, and without manual intervention, detect and identify contamination and/or hazardous material within one or more water samples from a potable and/or effluent water system. The method includes collecting a water sample from a potable and/or effluent water system; monitoring, in response to the collecting, sensors-detectors that are located in proximity to the collected water sample and receiving sensor-detector data from the sensors-detectors. The sensors-detectors include: laser induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) sensor technology, gas chromatography sensor technology, mass spectroscopy sensor technology, calorimetric spectroscopy sensor technology, and radiation detection technology. The method further includes spectrally analyzing, in response to the monitoring, the received sensor-detector data to detect, identify, and quantify, metals, chemicals, radiological materials, and biological materials, within the collected water sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the kinetics of gas hydrate formation in a fluid comprising water, wherein the following stages are carried out: a sample of the fluid is provided in form of a water-in-oil stable emulsion, DSC measurements are performed on the sample to obtain at least one peak corresponding to the gas hydrate conversion energy in the water drops of said emulsion, kinetic characteristics of the formation of hydrates in said fluid are deduced from the peak.

Abstract: A calorimeter includes a bucket cover which is used to reconfigure an isothermal water reservoir to provide for temperature equilibration prior to sample analysis and subsequently define a fixed volume of water during analysis in which high precision temperature measurements can be recorded. The apparatus includes mechanisms for sealing and controlling the cover, and for coupling the combustion vessel to the cover while minimizing the thermal contact between them. Improved thermal isolation between the fixed volume of water and the surrounding environment is also achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for the measurement of heat flow from at least one sample. The device 1 is adapted to receive a multi well vessel assembly (2) with samples in one or several vessels (21, 22, . . . 2n). The device (1) comprises an opening (11) for insertion of the vessel assembly (2) into the device (1), a measurement chamber (12) with a heat sink (13), a channel (14) extending from the opening (11) to the measurement chamber (12). The present invention specifically teaches that the opening (11) and channel (14) leads horizontally into the device (1), and that the height of the opening (11), channel (14) and measurement chamber (12) is only high enough to receive the vessel assembly (2).

Abstract: A device that may utilize radiant energy emitted from a process to formulate heat flux information about the process. The light emitted from the process may be transmitted by a low loss light conveyance component to a heat flux sensing component situated remotely from the process. The process light energy may then be converted into heat energy by a high emissivity material coupled to the heat flux sensing component. The light conveyance component may further include an angular sensitivity corrector to increase the efficiency of light absorption.

Abstract: A thermal measurement apparatus and method for performing heat flux differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is disclosed. A variable thermal resistor is used to couple a measurement assembly to a heat sink in the thermal measurement apparatus, such that samples can be rapidly heated and rapidly cooled. The apparatus can be configured with a highly conductive sample assembly enclosure. The enclosure can include a high emissivity coating. In one embodiment, the enclosure extends along a longitudinal direction that is about the same as that of an infrared lamp assembly used to heat the enclosure, thereby increasing the efficiency of heating the sample enclosure. In one configuration, the variable thermal resistor comprises a gap whose gas composition can be varied during a sample measurement to independently optimize sample heating and cooling rates.

Abstract: A heat flux differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is disclosed. The DSC can be configured with a highly conductive sample assembly enclosure. The enclosure can include a high emissivity coating. In one embodiment, the enclosure extends along a longitudinal direction that is about the same as that of an infrared lamp assembly used to heat the enclosure, thereby increasing the efficiency of heating the sample enclosure. In one embodiment, a gas-filled thermal resistor is used to couple the measurement assembly to a heat sink, such that samples can be rapidly heated and rapidly cooled.

Abstract: A structure of calorimeter provides a calorimetric head (1) comprising a calorimetric cell (10) suitable for receiving a sample holding container (20) containing a sample (25) to examine. The cell (10) is arranged according to a first shield (3), or active shield. Outside the active shield (3) a second shield (4), or dynamical shield is present, which comprises a cylindrical hollow body arranged around the active shield (3) for all its length in order to provide a space (5) of determined size. Outside the active shield a thermal bath is present (not shown) at a temperature lower than the first and the second shield (3,4). The dynamic shield (4) allows an effective adjustment of the heat flux through the active shield (3) during calorimetric measures by limiting the heat flux same. In fact, in operative conditions the dynamic shield acts as thermal flywheel and keeps constant the heat flux coming from the active shield (3).

Abstract: A calorimetric measuring device as subject of the present invention, for qualitative or quantitative analysis of the enthalpy of a buffer and one or more reagents, comprises a first open calorimeter for to receiving a buffer solution and one or more reagents, and a second open calorimeter for receiving a reference buffer solution. The calorimetric measuring device further comprises a means for registration of a signal being function of the temperature difference between the first open calorimeter and the second open calorimeter.

Abstract: New sensors and methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple gaseous substances simultaneously with both high selectivity and high sensitivity are provided. The new sensors rely on a characteristic difference in energy between the interaction of a particular substance with a catalyst coated heat transfer device (HTD) and a non-catalyst coated (or one coated with a different catalyst) reference HTD. Molecular detection is achieved by an exothermic or endothermic chemical or physical reaction between the catalytic surface of the sensor and the molecule, tending to induce a temperature change of the sensor. Both high temperature and non-destructive low temperature detection are possible. The magnitude and rate of endothermic or exothermic heat transfer from a specific molecule-catalyst interaction is related to molecular concentration.

Abstract: Thermoanalytical sensor for calorimetric measurements which cooperates with a temperature control device and comprises at least one measurement position formed on the sensor, a heat flow path established between the temperature control device and the at least one measurement position, and at least one temperature-measuring element, characterized in that the sensor has a plurality of layers which are formed substantially by ceramic elements that have been solidly bonded to each other by undergoing a sintering process together and which in their green state can be provided with a structure, wherein at least a part of the ceramic elements are structured.

Abstract: A modulated differential scanning calorimeter that accounts for heat flow due to evaporative solvent loss. The calorimeter modulates the temperature applied to a sample and a reference to determine the amount of heat flow that is due to evaporation. By calculating the amount of heat flow due to evaporation, the user can determine how much of the heat flow of any given well is due to the process of interest as opposed to evaporation.

Abstract: A sensor for a heat flux differential scanning calorimeter in which the differential temperatures are measured between locations external to the regions of heat exchange between the sensor and sample containers. The measured differential temperatures respond to the magnitude of the heat flow rate between the sensor and the sample and reference containers and are rendered insensitive to variations in the magnitude and distribution of thermal contact resistance between the sensor and the containers.

Abstract: In order to measure specific heat, the measurement time is very long and the instrument is very expensive. The specific heat may be calculated based on the thermal time constant obtained from the change of the sample temperature when the predetermined amount of sample with known density at the first temperature is introduced in the environment at the second temperature. This measuring method can use the oscillatory densitometer. The predetermined amount corresponds to the volume of the sample to be introduced in the oscillatory densitometer, the density is a measurement result of the oscillatory densitometer, and the thermal time constant corresponds to the time constant of the oscillation period of the oscillatory densitometer.