Gaseous Mixture (e.g., Solid-gas, Liquid-gas, Gas-gas) Patents (Class 702/24)
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Patent number: 8032311Abstract: A method for characterizing a desired property of a fluid downhole is described. In some non-limiting examples, the method comprises receiving an input signal representing sound speed of a fluid downhole, processing the input signal using a correlation equation expressing the desired property in terms of at least sound speed to produce an output signal representing the desired property, and outputting the output signal. In some examples, the correlation equation is derived through a chemometric analysis of a training data set, the training data set comprises a plurality of input values and a plurality of output values derived from said input values, between the desired fluid property and the first measured property, and the output values are calculated from the input values using a series of correlation equations. In at least one example, the desired property is gas oil ratio. In another example, the desired property is gas brine ratio.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Rocco DiFoggio
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Patent number: 8032321Abstract: A biosensor system determines the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a sample using one or more calibrated correlation equations. The analysis may be electrochemical, optical, or a combination thereof. The biosensor system may be implemented using a measurement device and a sensor strip. The measurement device applies test signals to a multi-layered encoding area of the sensor strip. Calibration information is determined from the patterns generated by the interaction of the test signals with the multi-layered encoding area.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLCInventor: Weiping Zhong
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Patent number: 8027792Abstract: The Invention is a method for quantitative analysis of a mixture of molecular compounds by two-dimensional gas chromatography having application for quantitative analysis of products from the chemical or petroleum industry. A two-dimensional gas chromatography is carried out, during which a chromatographic signal is recorded. A chromatogram in two dimensions on which chromatographic peaks form spots is generated from the signal. These spots are defined by means of polygons. Then, for each polygon, chromatographic signal portions contained between two intersections of the polygon with columns of the chromatogram are extracted. Start and end times are defined for the chromatographic peaks present in these portions and the polygon is adjusted by shifting its intersection points according to the start and end times of the chromatographic peaks. Finally, molecular compound amounts are determined by calculating the surface area of the polygons thus adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Fabrice Bertoncini, Benoît Celse, Laurent Duval
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Publication number: 20110231109Abstract: The present invention aims at creating an accurate mass spectrum with a high resolving power based on a plurality of multi-turn time-of-flight (TOF) spectra, while reducing the amount of computation to assure the real-time processing. First, a plurality of TOF spectra each obtained for a different timing when ions are ejected from the loop orbit are measured (S2 and S3). At this point, the concept of the coincidence detection method is utilized to determine what mass-to-charge ratio a peak appearing on the TOF spectra originates from. From the information on the peak of interest in one TOF spectrum and other data, the time range in which a corresponding peak appears on other TOF spectra is set, and the existence or nonexistence of the peak in that range is determined (S5). In the case where the corresponding peak is found on most of the other TOF spectra, the m/z is deduced from the peak on the TOF spectrum with the highest resolving power and a mass spectrum is created (S6 and S7).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicants: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, KOBE UNIVERSITYInventors: Osamu FURUHASHI, Kiyoshi OGAWA, Shigeki KAJIHARA, Tohru KINUGAWA
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Patent number: 8024133Abstract: A sensor system for detecting and estimating concentrations of various gas or liquid analytes. In an embodiment, the resistances of a set of sensors are measured to provide a set of responses over time where the resistances are indicative of gas or liquid sorption, depending upon the sensors. A concentration vector for the analytes is estimated by satisfying a criterion of goodness using the set of responses. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Margie L. Homer, Darrell L. Jan, April D. Jewell, Adam Kisor, Kenneth S. Manatt, Allison M. Manfreda, Margaret A. Ryan, Abhijit V. Shevade, Charles Taylor, Tuan A. Tran, Shiao-Pin S. Yen, Hanying Zhou
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Patent number: 8024149Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for preventing the failure of a system, which includes one or more pipes, or one or more cooling jackets, or one or more fluid cooled system components carrying a fluid, involves detecting one or more pressure levels of the fluid in the one or more pipes at one or more points, then comparing the detected pressure levels to a corresponding one or more predetermined limitation values. If the detected pressure levels exceed the corresponding limitation values, a shut-down signal is generated. The shut-down signal triggers the adjusting of one or more systems responsible for causing thermal variations of the fluid, preventing the system from failing while allowing the system to continue operation shortly thereafter.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Titanium Metals CorporationInventor: Lawrence M. Rubin
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Patent number: 8024134Abstract: A gas sensor which includes: a plurality of gas detectors, each detects a target gas; an error detector which detects the occurrence of an error on each of gas sensors; an output selector which selects one output from among outputs entered from each gas sensor, the output selected by the output selector is the output from the gas detector in which no error exists; and an output unit which generate a normal output based on the output selected by the output selector and outputs the normal output to an external electrical device through a single output system, the output unit generates an abnormal output based on the output from the gas detector, in which the error exists, when the gas detector, in which an error exists, is detected, and outputs alternately the normal output and the abnormal output.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Sasaki, Akihiro Suzuki
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Publication number: 20110218726Abstract: A method of determining an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine in real-time includes: calibrating sensitivity of a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor to a plurality of gases; inputting to a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller a molecular composition of Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen which comprise a combustion fuel in use in the internal combustion engine; calculating with the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller an air-to-fuel ratio by performing a chemical balance equation calculation based on the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor sensitivity calibration and the input combustion fuel molecular composition; and transmitting the calculated air-to-fuel ratio to an engine control unit in real-time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: BG SOFLEX LLCInventors: Bruce BOWLING, Albert GRIPPO
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Publication number: 20110213554Abstract: A method for remotely screening a selected area of the atmosphere for the presence of emissions into the atmosphere comprises moving a mobile platform, such as an aircraft, which carries an atmospheric component sensor in a pattern over and in the vicinity of the selected area, measuring the concentration of a component of the atmosphere at one or more points along the pattern with the atmospheric component sensor to obtain concentration data, obtaining supplementary data, and using an inverse dispersion technique, that utilizes the concentration data with the supplementary data to detect and locate one or more sources of emissions, and to determine the emitted mass release rates and/or surface fluxes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2009Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventors: Ian George Archibald, William Joseph Senior Hirst
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Patent number: 8010300Abstract: A system is provided for determining emission rate of a gas from a source. The system includes a selector for designating an in-plume area extending across a plume of gas. The in-plume area includes a length dimension greater than a width dimension. The system also includes a processor for determining an area-integrated concentration value for the in-plume area. The system further includes a wind vector received by the processor. The processor determines the emission rate of the gas based on the area-integrated concentration value and a vector component of the wind vector.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Steven Vincent Stearns, Joseph Lawrence Lippert
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Patent number: 8000903Abstract: Methods for using modified single wall carbon nanotubes (“SWCNTs”) to detect presence and/or concentration of a gas component, such as a halogen (e.g., Cl2), hydrogen halides (e.g., HCl), a hydrocarbon (e.g., CnH2n+2), an alcohol, an aldehyde or a ketone, to which an unmodified SWCNT is substantially non-reactive. In a first embodiment, a connected network of SWCNTs is coated with a selected polymer, such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polystyrene and/or polyvinylalcohol, and change in an electrical parameter or response value (e.g., conductance, current, voltage difference or resistance) of the coated versus uncoated SWCNT networks is analyzed. In a second embodiment, the network is doped with a transition element, such as Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir, Ru, Os and/or Au, and change in an electrical parameter value is again analyzed. The parameter change value depends monotonically, not necessarily linearly, upon concentration of the gas component.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Asministration (NASA)Inventor: Jing Li
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Patent number: 7996159Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for sensing gases includes a gas detector with at least one light emitter and at least one light detector configured to detect an intensity of light at wavelengths of light indicative of target gas(es). The system also includes a processor circuit and a data storage device in communication with the gas detector and configured to determine an amount of target gas in the volume of the gas-air mixture and to determine a lower explosive limit (“LEL”) level for at least one target gas in the gas-air mixture. The processor is configured to receive data regarding temperature and relative humidity of the gas-air mixture such that the processor circuit can adjust the LEL according to the temperature and humidity. Temperature and humidity sensors may be included to sense these conditions for inputting to the processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Delphian CorporationInventor: Francois Mottier
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Publication number: 20110184657Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a substrate, a hydrogen absorbing member, a power source, an ammeter, and a processing unit. The hydrogen absorbing member is positioned on the substrate, and includes a carbon nanotube yarn and a hydrogen absorbing film coated on the carbon nanotube yarn. The ammeter measures an electric current. The hydrogen absorbing member and the ammeter are connected in series to the power source. The processing unit is electrically coupled to the ammeter to obtain a hydrogen concentration according to the electric current.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: TAI-HSU CHOU
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Publication number: 20110178722Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting the remote origin fraction of 222Rn present in a measuring site (Z) for the monitoring of dynamic phenomena inside the land crust, comprising the following steps: a) analysis of the measuring site (Z) in order to state a typical ratio between 222Rn of local origin and 220Rn of local origin; b) measurement, at preset time intervals, of alpha spectroscopy in the measuring site (Z) by means of an appropriate measuring chamber (2); c) processing of said alpha spectroscopy in order to find the concentrations of 222Rn and 220Rn present in the measuring site (Z); d) determination of the concentration of 222Rn of local origin by multiplying the concentration of 220Rn with the typical ratio; subtraction of the concentration of 222Rn of local origin from the concentration of 222Rn to obtain the concentration of the remote origin fraction Of 222Rn.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2008Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: Vincenzo Roca, Mariagabriella Pugliese, Carlo Sabbarese, Gennaro Venoso
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Publication number: 20110172486Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a suspension of microbubbles for use in a carrier liquid, wherein the microbubbles have a gas core and a liquid shell, said liquid shell comprising magnetic nanoparticles, and wherein the microbubbles satisfy the following conditions: (i) the force due to buoyancy (FBW) of the microbubble in the carrier liquid is greater than the weight (W) of the microbubble; (ii) the magnetic force (FM) on the microbubble due to a magnetic field applied to the carrier liquid is greater than the combined weight (W) and force due to buoyancy (FBW) of the microbubble; (iii) said magnetic force (FM) on the microbubble is greater than the force due to viscous drag (FD) on the microbubble due to flow of the carrier liquid; and (iv) the scattering cross section (?scat) of the microbubble to ultrasound allows the microbubble to be detectable and rupturable on exposure to ultrasound.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Quentin Andrew Pankhurst, Eleanor Phoebe Jane Stride, Colin David Porter, Ana García Prieto
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Publication number: 20110153224Abstract: Devices, implementations and techniques for measuring the environment impact of electronic devices, such as CO2 emission reduction by using alternative power sources for powering or charging electronic devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLCInventor: Takashi Iwamoto
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Publication number: 20110153083Abstract: A method for analysing a fluid containing one or more analytes of interest includes; measuring a plurality of properties of a sample fluid with unknown concentrations of the one or more analytes of interest; and using the measurements and a model of the relationship between the plurality of properties and concentrations of the one or more analytes to calculate the concentration of at least one of the analytes of interest. The model may be an artificial neural network. The method may be used to monitor the concentration of inhibitors of gas hydrate formation in a fluid. Apparatus for use in the method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITYInventors: Bahman Tohidi, jinhai Yang, Antonin Chapoy
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Publication number: 20110147524Abstract: The invention relates to a fire detection system comprising one or several fire sensors, in which fire detection system a monitoring unit communicates with the fire sensors and by way of a configuration unit may be configured by means of configuration data, wherein the configuration data comprises information relating to the fire sensors within the means of transport, which fire sensors are to be used in the means of transport. The invention further comprises a method for configuring a fire detection system and an aircraft comprising such a fire detection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBHInventors: Kai Behle, Frank- Peter Riemer, Michael Dietl, Joerg Boesch
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Publication number: 20110153223Abstract: Water droplets in exhaust gas that is, or was, analyzed by a remote emissions sensing system are detected. The detection may be made using measurements generally captured by the remote emissions sensing system during typical operation. As such, the detection may be applied “on site” as remote emissions sensing analysis is ongoing, or may be applied post hoc from data previously acquired by a remote emissions sensing system. The detection may be implemented without requiring additional sensors, more sophisticated sensors, and/or other additional or more sophisticated equipment being included in the remote emissions sensing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PRODUCTS HOLDINGS INC.Inventors: ROBERT ALLEN GENTALA, PETER MILES MCCLINTOCK, DONALD HUGH STEDMAN
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Publication number: 20110153225Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a flexible pipe, including an inline sensor system coupled to the annulus of the flexible pipe to detect corrosion of the flexible pipe. Also disclosed are method and system for monitoring an amount of water being accumulated in an annulus of a flexible pipe, including locating a pressure measurement system proximate to the annulus for measuring pressure of gas inside the annulus; controlling a flow of vent gas with a vent gas valve; positioning a flow measurement system upstream or downstream of the vent gas valve for measuring the flow of the vent gas when the vent gas valve is opened; and collecting with a microprocessor pressure and flow measurement data from the pressure and the flow measurement systems for determining the amount of water accumulated in the annulus based on the collected pressure and flow measurement data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Lars Nicolas Mangal, Stephane Vannuffelen, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos, Ricardo R. Vasques, Michel V. Berard, Dominique Dion
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Patent number: 7966132Abstract: Provided are compositions and systems useful in remote monitoring of chemical hazards, air quality, and medical conditions, for example, robotic systems to search for and detect explosives, mines, and hazardous chemicals. In addition, the methods, systems and compositions of the invention provide the ability to mine data from a database containing a plurality of chemical fingerprints.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Nathan S. Lewis, Erik Severin
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Publication number: 20110144921Abstract: There is provided a greenhouse gas emission trading system including at least one battery for storing electric power, a measuring unit that measures, after a first amount of electric power has been stored in the battery, when a power supply request is received from the outside, a power amount of electric power having been stored in the battery, and a calculation unit that calculates greenhouse gas emissions for notification to the outside, based on measurement results by the measuring unit and information about emissions of greenhouse gases that were emitted when generating the first amount of electric power.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Yoshihito ISHIBASHI
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Publication number: 20110137573Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring and testing engine emissions during normal operations. The system monitors and logs engine data to determine when the engine is operating at a steady-state within a defined test mode. The system may measure and log multiple sets of emissions data while the engine is operating in the defined test mode. The multiple sets of emissions data may be aggregated for qualifying the engine and may provide trend information about the engine. The test mode definition may be revised based on the logged engine data. The system may be used to selectively monitor one or more of a set of multiple engines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventor: LINCOLN EVANS-BEAUCHAMP
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Publication number: 20110137574Abstract: An emission management system is implemented via a host server that is accessible to a large number of clients (organizations) using a website. Based on data input by a client relating to actual usage of resources, the client's past CO2e emission over time is calculated by the host server and displayed to the client on the website in the form of a wedge chart, with emissions along the y-axis and time along the x-axis. The server software also extrapolates the past emissions to display baseline predicted future emissions, assuming no reduction strategies are implemented. The client also inputs an emission target level and proposes one or more strategies for reducing the baseline level to achieve the target level. The server converts each strategy to a CO2e emission reduction and layers the different reductions between the baseline level and the target so the client can graphically see the effect of each strategy on achieving the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: HARA SOFTWARE, INC.Inventors: Robert Koch, Udo Waibel
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Patent number: 7957906Abstract: A calculated vertical velocity sensor signal is determined from a recorded pressure sensor signal. A constructed vertical velocity sensor signal is determined as a linear combination of the calculated vertical velocity sensor signal and a recorded vertical velocity sensor signal in dual-sensor seismic streamer data, using a mixture coefficient as a proportionality constant. An upgoing pressure wavefield component is determined as one half of a difference of the recorded pressure sensor signal and the constructed vertical velocity sensor signal, as a function of the mixture coefficient. An error in the upgoing pressure wavefield component is determined by propagating errors in the recorded pressure sensor signal and constructed vertical velocity sensor signal terms. A value of the mixture coefficient is determined that minimizes the error in the upgoing pressure wavefield component.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Neil Turnbull
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Patent number: 7957922Abstract: A data logger system utilizing a censor which obtain a plurality of measurements of an environmental parameter and generates a plurality of signals representing such measurements. A processor receives the plurality of signals and produces a table of counts in sequential format. An external prime converter receives the table of sequential counts and converts the same to human readable values representing the environmental parameter measurement.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Inventor: Fred Wu
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Publication number: 20110130973Abstract: A light absorption examining device includes a laser light source that emits the pulse laser beam, a measuring unit that retains the measuring object and irradiates the measuring object with the pulse laser beam, a light receiving unit that receives the pulse laser beam transmitted through the measuring object and outputs a light receiving signal, a pulse generator that produces a single rectangular pulse at a time when a signal level of the light receiving signal output from the light receiving unit intersects a set threshold, a laser driver that supplies the produced rectangular pulse to the laser light source to emit the pulse laser beam, and a control/processing unit that determines an accumulated delay time and examines absorption of the pulse laser beam by the measuring object using the determined accumulated delay time, the accumulated delay time representing a delay in a production timing of the rectangular pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTDInventor: Noriaki Kimura
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Patent number: 7953558Abstract: Disclosed embodiments of the present invention provide means to obtain correct gas density and flux measurements using (i) gas analyzer (open-path, or closed-path gas analyzers with short intake tube, for example 1 m long, or any combination of the two); (ii) fast temperature or sensible heat flux measurement device (such as, fine-wire thermocouple, sonic anemometer, or any other device providing fast accurate gas temperature measurements); (iii) fast air water content or latent heat flux measurement device (such as, hygrometer, NDIR analyzer, any other device providing fast accurate gas water content measurements); (iv) vertical wind or sampling device (such as sonic anemometer, scintillometer, or fast solenoid valve, etc.) and (v) algorithms in accordance with the present invention to compute the corrected gas flux, compensated for T-P effects.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Li-Cor, Inc.Inventors: George Burba, Dayle McDermitt, Anatoly Komissarov, Tyler G. Anderson, Liukang Xu, Bradley A. Riensche
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Publication number: 20110125414Abstract: A method for operating a gas sensor is provided, wherein provision is made for determining the concentration of a gas component in a sample gas. In so doing, the gas sensor is operated in at least two different operational modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBHInventors: Bernd Schumann, Thomas Classen, Berndt Cramer
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Publication number: 20110125413Abstract: Methods and systems for determining travel history can be based on noninvasive analysis of stable isotope ratios in the body of an individual. A method for reconstructing a travel history for an individual can include collecting a sample of exhaled breath from the individual and analyzing the sample to obtain a breath isotope ratio. The breath isotope ratio can be transformed to a body water isotope ratio and compared to a map model correlating input isotope ratios to geographic locations so as to determine a travel origin for the individual.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: David W. Podlesak, James R. Ehleringer, Thure E. Cerling
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Publication number: 20110125389Abstract: A method is provided for the determination of the actual quantity of fuel injected in an internal combustion engine, in particular a Diesel engine. The engine includes, but is not limited to an inlet line and an exhaust line, at least one cylinder and at least an injector for each of the cylinders. The method includes, but is not limited to, during a fuel cut-off state of the engine, at least an injection into one of the cylinders of a nominal fuel test quantity and, in correlation to the test injection, a determination of the air flow quantity MAF at the inlet of the engine, a determination of the parameter ? in the exhaust line of the engine, and a calculation of the actual quantity of fuel Qfuel injected in the test injection using the Electronic Control Unit of the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Tommaso DE FAZIO, Michele BASTIANELLI
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Patent number: 7949471Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed for determining cetane values from constant volume combustion chamber apparatuses capable of producing pressure versus time combustion profiles having a fast combustion region and a slow combustion region, where data from the two regions is used to compute cetane values for middle distillate fluid samples using a series expansion equation.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Petroleum Analyzer Company, LPInventor: G. Patrick Ritz
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Publication number: 20110112772Abstract: A transmission quantification approach that is effective at quantifying the concentration of key atmospheric gases, including water vapor and methane, does not require a background spectrum and is immune to changes between background and absorbance spectra. By using local minima and maxima in transmission of a target gas, this approach creates two spectral arrays as long as a single beam input spectra. One of these spectral arrays represents the points in wave-number space that are less absorbing points, and the other represents the more absorbing points. A concentration for a given gas is calculated by determining what reference concentration creates a residual after division by a pure gas spectrum that forces these two arrays to converge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: University of Washington Through Its Center For CommercializationInventors: Michael G. Yost, Robert S. Crampton
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Publication number: 20110100210Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing the operability of fuel vapor intermediate stores (4), in particular of activated carbon filters, in tank-venting systems with at least one tank (3) and at least one fuel vapor intermediate store (4). In this case an actual change degree of filling of the fuel vapor intermediate store (4) is determined as a consequence of absorption or desorption processes of gaseous hydrocarbons in the fuel vapor intermediate store (4). The actual change in degree of filling is compared with a desired change in degree of filling and, from the comparison, a conclusion about the operability of the fuel vapor intermediate store (4) is drawn.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2008Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBHInventors: Martin Streib, Andreas Pape, Andreas Baumann, Werner Haeming
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Publication number: 20110106396Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking the operability of an exhaust gas after-treatment system (12) of an internal combustion engine by evaluating signals (S—22, S—26) of a first exhaust gas sensor (22) and a second exhaust gas sensor (S—26), between which a catalyst 24 is disposed. The method is characterized in that the air ratio L of an exhaust gas atmosphere flowing through the exhaust gas after-treatment system (12) is reduced from a first lambda value 11>1 to a third lambda value L3 with L2>L3 via a second lambda value L2 with L1>L2>1, the value of a time duration (dt—26; dt—22) is detected, which is between the times (t5, t6, 7t7, t8) at which the signals (S—26, S—22) of the two exhaust gas sensors (22, 26) display the second value L2, the value of the time duration (dt—26; dt—22) is compared to a threshold value (dt_max), and an analysis of the operability of the catalyst (24) is not carried out if the value of the time duration (dt—26; dt—22) is greater than the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2008Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBHInventors: Harald Moll, Damien Bouvier
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Publication number: 20110098936Abstract: There is disclosed a method for determining the heating value of a fuel, the fuel comprising at least one hydrocarbon including a first hydrocarbon present in the highest molar concentration, the method comprising: measuring the stoichiometric oxidation molar flow ratio of the fuel; determining the ideal molar heating value (HVm,i) from the measured stoichiometric oxidation molar flow ratio; measuring the molar concentration of the first hydrocarbon; and determining the real molar heating value (HVm,r) from the ideal molar heating value (HVm,i) and the molar concentration of the first hydrocarbon. An apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: Johan Bats, Floris J.J Huijsmans
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Publication number: 20110098937Abstract: A single chip wireless sensor comprises a microcontroller connected by a transmit/receive interface to a wireless antenna. The microcontroller is also connected to an 8 kB RAM, a USB interface, an RS232 interface, 64 kB flash memory, and a 32 kHz crystal. The device senses humidity and temperature, and a humidity sensor is connected by an 18 bit ?? A-to-D converter to the microcontroller and a temperature sensor is connected by a 12 bit SAR A-to-D converter to the microcontroller. The device is an integrated chip manufactured in a single process in which both the electronics and sensor components are manufactured using standard CMOS processing techniques, applied to achieve both electronic and sensing components in an integrated process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventor: Timothy Cummins
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Publication number: 20110093217Abstract: A moisture sensor system is described. In one embodiment, the provides an adjustable threshold level for the sensed moisture level. The adjustable threshold allows the moisture sensor to adjust to ambient conditions, aging of components, and other operational variations while still providing a relatively sensitive detection capability. In one embodiment, the adjustable threshold moisture sensor is used in an intelligent sensor system that includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with the moisture sensor units. When one or more of the moisture sensor units detects a excess moisture the moisture sensor unit communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the moisture condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet (and/or local area network), etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventor: Lawrence Kates
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Publication number: 20110093216Abstract: A method for determining the relative humidity of an insulating liquid filled electric apparatus including a container containing insulating liquid and gas, a communication unit providing communication between the gas of the container and gas of an external environment, and providing dehydration of gas passing through the communication unit, wherein the method includes: continuously measuring and storing the relative humidity of the gas in the container, calculating an average value of the relative humidity in the gas based on the stored humidity measurements during a certain time period, and determining the relative humidity of the insulating liquid based on the average value of the relative humidity in the gas and a relationship between the relative humidity of the gas and the relative humidity of the insulating liquid at equilibrium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Gunnar Andersson, Bengt-Olof Stenestam
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Publication number: 20110093214Abstract: A method of quickly detecting a handmade explosive in a bottle with a low erroneous alarm frequency is provided. A sample gas generated from a bottle placed on a bottle placement space is sucked-in, and ions of the sample gas are generated by an ion source and subjected to mass analysis. The presence/absence of a mass spectrum derived from the handmade explosive is determined from an obtained mass spectrum, and the result thereof is displayed on a monitor, thereby quickly detecting the handmade explosive in the bottle or the handmade explosive adhering to the surface of the bottle at a low erroneous alarm frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Hisashi NAGANO, Yasuaki Takada, Minoru Sakairi, Yuichiro Hashimoto, Masuyuki Sugiyama
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Publication number: 20110093215Abstract: A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Xin Zhou, Xiang Liu, Alfred Feitisch, Gregory M. Sanger
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Publication number: 20110087441Abstract: A system and method for estimating the amount of hydrogen and/or nitrogen in a fuel cell stack and stack volumes at system start-up and shut-down. The method defines the fuel cell stack and stack volumes as discrete volumes including an anode flow-field and anode plumbing volume, a cathode flow-field volume and a cathode header and plumbing volume. The method estimates the amount of hydrogen and/or nitrogen in the anode flow-field and anode plumbing volume, the cathode flow-field volume and the cathode header and plumbing volume when the fuel cell system is shut down, during a first stage when the hydrogen partial pressure between the anode and cathode is not in equilibrium and during a second stage when the hydrogen partial pressure between the anode and cathode is in equilibrium by considering various flows into and out of the volumes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: John P. Salvador, Joseph Nicholas Lovria, Sriram Ganapathy, John C. Fagley
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Patent number: 7925450Abstract: A process system adapted for processing of or with a material therein. The process system includes: a sampling region for the material; an infrared photometric monitor constructed and arranged to transmit infrared radiation through the sampling region and to responsively generate an output signal correlative of the material in the sampling region, based on its interaction with the infrared radiation; and process control means arranged to receive the output of the infrared photometric monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the process system.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.Inventor: Jose I. Arno
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Patent number: 7925449Abstract: Products and processes are provided herewith for analyzing octane content in a fuel sample that include the step or steps of receiving an octane measurement of a fuel sample from a octane analyzer, rounding the octane measurement to a nearest recognized octane rating, comparing the rounded octane measurement with a listed octane rating for the fuel sample, and communicating results of the comparison to a user of the octane analyzer. The octane analyzer may be incorporated into a fuel pump or a vehicle. The results of the comparison may also be used to adjust the vehicle operating parameters to account for the actual octane rating of the fuel dispensed into the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: CFPH, LLCInventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Antonio Papageorgiou
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Publication number: 20110077872Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for detecting and identifying gases includes a piezoresistive microcantilever transducer, wherein dissipation of heat from the piezoresistive microcantilever into one or more gases is measured by changes in an electrical resistance of the piezoresistor, a vibrating microcantilever transducer, wherein shifts are measured in resonant frequency of the vibrating microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases, and a subsystem for correlating the measured resistance changes and the resonant frequency shifts to the one or more gases. In another embodiment, a method for detecting and identifying one or more gases includes determining dissipation of heat from a microcantilever into one or more gases, and determining shifts in resonant frequency of the microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Albert Loui, Donald J. Sirbuly, Selim Elhadj, Scott K. McCall, Bradley R. Hart, Timothy V. Ratto
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Publication number: 20110068940Abstract: A system for monitoring a concentration of carbon dioxide in an unsaturated zone of a site in which carbon dioxide should be stored underground is provided which includes: a plurality of apparatuses for detecting the concentration of carbon dioxide in the unsaturated zone, each including a cylindrical chamber buried in an unsaturated zone under the earth surface, gas introduction holes formed in the side surface of the chamber, and a carbon dioxide concentration sensor formed through the top of the chamber for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide contained in the gas in the chamber; a plurality of communication devices transmitting the carbon dioxide concentration from the carbon dioxide concentration sensor; and a monitoring server storing a reference carbon dioxide concentration every time zone and comparing the reference carbon dioxide concentration with the measured carbon dioxide concentrations transmitted from the communication devices to output a normal or abnormal signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)Inventors: Jeong-Chan Kim, Ki-Sung Sung
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Publication number: 20110066286Abstract: An in-line loss-on-ignition measurement system includes an on-site extractor subsystem configured to collect fuel or a combustion by-product from a hydrocarbon fuel burning plant. An on-site analyzer is configured to receive the collected matter from the extractor subsystem and configured to weigh the collected matter, burn the collected matter, and weight the collected matter again. A controller is responsive to the analyzer and is configured to determine the loss-on-ignition data for the plant based on the weight of the collected matter before and after it is burned in the analyzer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Daniel Harjes, John Williams, James A. Bickford, Daniel Traviglia, David G. D'Amore, James D. Derouin
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Publication number: 20110066387Abstract: A convention appliance monitoring apparatus handles only the amount of gas used and security information for the case of a gas cutoff and can not address social needs for a desire to obtain information about influence (e.g., an amount of CO2 emission) of use of the gas combustion appliance on a terrestrial environment. Based on a gas appliance used by a client and a gas flow signal pertaining the gas appliance which are output from an appliance determination unit 2, CO2 emission data on the gas appliance stored in a CO2 emission data storage unit 3, and CO2 emission data which are to be compared with the gas appliance and stored in a comparative CO2 emission data storage unit 4, a CO2 emission calculation unit 5 calculates an amount of CO2 emission, an comparative amount of CO2 emission and a difference between the amount of CO2 emission and the comparative amount of CO2 emission.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicants: Panasonic Corporaiton, The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of JapanInventors: Tsuyoshi Honda, Akira Matsuda, Kouji Murase, Kenji Yasuda, Mitsuo Namba, Kazuo Kubo, Hisashi Saito
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Patent number: 7900374Abstract: An automatic drying apparatus and a method of controlling the same is disclosed, enabling exact drying by using a humidity sensor (37) provided at a location having a stabilized output characteristic for automatic drying, the automatic drying apparatus including a heating apparatus (31) for heating air supplied into a drum into which a drying object is introduced, a fan (32) for forcibly drawing air into the drum; and a humidity sensor (37) provided between the fan (32) and the heating apparatus (37) such that a sensing surface is positioned to be parallel to a flowing direction of air passed through the fan (32), for outputting a sensing voltage value for determining dryness of the drying object.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sun Cheol Bae, Dae Woong Kim, Chang Woo Son
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Patent number: 7902497Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the lubrication oil content in an exhaust gas mixture comprising the steps of ionizing the exhaust gas mixture by means of an ion source (3), feeding the ions of the exhaust gas mixture to a filter unit (5) which is embodied as a multipole with a connected voltage source, setting a transmission range of the filter unit (5) according to a lubrication oil fraction to be measured, filtering out ions with a specific mass outside the transmission range and feeding the other ions to a measuring device (8) as well as measuring the intensity of the transmitted ions. According to the invention there is provision for the determination of the proportion of the lubrication oil fraction to be measured to be carried out as a global measurement of the intensity of the ions in a step over the transmission range. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method. The invention provides an improvement both in the measuring quality and in the measuring speed.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Inventors: Marcus Gohl, Gerhard Matz