Abstract: System and methods for determining a concentration of urea in an aqueous solution disposed in a container are provided. The system includes an infrared light source and an infrared light detector. The system further includes a window disposed proximate to an aperture of the container, such that the infrared light at a first light intensity level from the infrared light source passes through a first portion of the window toward the aqueous solution. A portion of the infrared light is absorbed by the aqueous solution, and a second portion of the infrared light is reflected from the aqueous solution and through a second portion of the window. The infrared light detector system generates a first signal indicative of a second light intensity level based on the second portion of infrared light. The system further includes a microprocessor that determines the second light intensity level based on the first signal, and further determines a urea concentration based on the first and second light intensity levels.

Abstract: A method for providing a more accurate synthetic profiles of temperature, salinity and sound speed of the ocean over an area of interest is provided by using a value of the mixed layer depth in addition to values of surface temperature and surface height in an ocean modeling system such as the Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) system developed for the U.S. Navy. The method of the present invention compares the predicted or observed mixed layer depth for the area of interest, for example, as obtained from remote sensing or upper ocean modeling, to a mixed layer depth estimated from an initial synthetic profile, and determines which is deeper, termed the reference mixed layer depth. The method then derives a modified temperature and salinity synthetic profile by setting the temperature and salinity equal to the surface values at depths less than or equal to the reference mixed layer depth and using an algorithm to estimate temperature and salinity at depths below the reference mixed layer depth.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring optimum water-quality and informing quality of water 100 measures an amount of impurities of water, keeps to renew an optimum value by a lowest amount of the impurities until the present use, compares the optimum value with the present amount of the impurities measured in the water and informs the result.

Abstract: A method and system to blend components to form a lubricant having a predetermined characteristic. The method includes determining the characteristic from a model that relates that characteristic as a function of the amount of its components and properties of the components. These predetermined characteristics include KV (kinematic viscosities), CCS (cold cranking simulator), HTHS (high temperature, high shear viscosity), Noack Volatility, MRV (mini-rotary viscometer), Brookfield Viscosity, Soot-Dispersancy, Oxidation, Deposit, Wear, Sulfur, Phosphorus, Base Number, Color, Ash Content, Aniline Point, Acid Number, Viscosity Index, Turbidity, Demulsibility, Foam Stability, Acute Toxicity, Biodegradability, Nitrogen, and Detergency.

Abstract: In a system and method for feature alignment in chromatographic systems, the system runs a first sample through a first separation column. The system determines a first set of features for the first sample run. The system runs a second sample through a second separation column and detects a second set of features for the second sample run. The system estimates a systematic shift in features between the first sample run through the first separation column and the second sample run through the second separation column. The system adjusts the second set of features detected for the second sample run through the second separation column based on the estimated systematic shift to obtain a third set of adjusted features.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the real time measurement of acrylamide in a food product. Wavelength emission data is collected from a food product. The same food product is tested off-line in an analytical laboratory for levels of acrylamide pre-cursors or acrylamide. The wavelength emission data is then correlated with the off-line laboratory data.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting particles in a fluid within a medium, such the analyzing device includes: a source adapted to transmit signals into the medium; at least one detector adapted to detect signals transmitted from the source such that the at least one detector and the source are structured and arranged on opposite sides of the medium; at least one processing unit in communication with the at least one detector and adapted to produce a plurality of output signals representative of one of at least one particle characteristic or one or more particle property.

Abstract: In a luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples, luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, an infrared filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the camera. The use of an infrared filter suppresses stray IR radiation resulting from plate phosphorescence (which can result in abnormally high backgrounds and/or alteration of the image received by the camera).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the size and distribution of particles within a multiphase fluid flowing within a pipe is provided, wherein the apparatus includes at least one metering device for determining at least one of the mixture density of the fluid, the flow rate of the fluid and the dispersion of the fluid, wherein the at least one metering device generates meter data responsive to at least one of the mixture density of the fluid, the flow rate of the fluid and the dispersion of the fluid and a processing device communicated with the at least one metering device, wherein the processing device receives and processes the meter data to generate fluid information responsive to the size and distribution of the particles within the fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for concentration determination of at least one component in an acid catalyst for hydrocarbon conversion containing an unknown concentration of an acid, an acid-soluble-oil (ASO), and water. An instrument configured for measuring a property of the acid catalyst, has responsivities to concentrations of one of the acid, ASO, and water, substantially independent of the concentrations of the others of the acid catalyst, ASO, and water. A temperature detector is configured to generate temperature data for the acid catalyst. A processor is configured to capture data generated by the temperature detector and the instrument, and to use the data in combination with a model to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the one of the acid, the ASO, and the water. Optionally, one or more other instruments configured for measuring other properties of the liquid mixture may also be used.

Abstract: A method of method of determining relative contributions of two or more producing subterranean sources to a total flow is described using the steps of selecting a subset from a set of identifiable components in the total flow and using the subset to determine the relative contributions of two or more producing subterranean sources, wherein the subset is selected based on the sensitivity of the determination step to errors in the measurement of concentrations of said identifiable components.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for inspection of liquid articles to determine the presence of drugs concealed in the liquid articles without opening the outer packages. The method includes emitting radiation beams having a single energy to transmit through the liquid article; receiving the radiation beams transmitted through the liquid article to get multi-angle projection data; inversely operating the multi-angle projection data based on the uniformity of the liquid article to obtain an attribute value of the inspected liquid article; retrieving a reference attribute value in a pre-created database by using the identification information of the liquid article as an index, and calculating a difference between the calculated attribute value and the reference attribute value; and determining whether the difference is larger than a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining the percentage of Carbon Equivalent, Carbon and Silicon in liquid ferrous metal. The apparatus comprises of refractory cup structure having a cavity, thermocouple wire, quartz tube, base, tellurium, holder, compensating cable, electronic device. The method comprises steps of pouring of sample in a refractory cup, recording maximum temperature of the sample and allowing it to cool to solidification temperature, determination of liquidus temperature, this temperature being inversely proportional gives percentage of carbon equivalent using an algorithm, determination of solidus temperature using an algorithm, and the determination of percentage of carbon and silicon using electronic device based on an algorithm. The present invention relates to the detection of the composition of liquid ferrous metal in a much quicker time using a refractory cup.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring and optimizing the concentration of an additive composition in a fuel ethanol. The method includes adding a known amount of the additive composition to the fuel ethanol to create a treated fuel ethanol. A measured fluorescent signal provides information for determining the concentration of the additive composition in the fuel ethanol. A component in the additive composition is capable of providing the fluorescent signal or capable of being chemically derivatized to provide a fluorescent signal or a calorimetric signal. Based upon the measured fluorescent signal or calorimetric signal, the concentration of the additive composition in the fuel ethanol may be adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multivariate calibration which can be used when the optical system used for that method does not comprise a multi-channel detector such as a CCD sensor or a line array of photodiodes. An optical system without a multi-channel detector doesn't allow to carry out preprocessing steps. Thus there is the need to carry out these preprocessing steps in another way. It is suggested to partially replace the preprocessing step by a measurement of the optical signal, whereby the measurement comprises transmitting or reflecting the optical signal by an optical element, thereby weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function. The advantage of the invention is to teach how such an optical system without a bulky and expensive CCD sensor can be used to carry out a multivariate calibration and preprocessing steps.

Abstract: A new method is presented for measuring the molecular properties of an unfractionated solution of macromolecules. Sample aliquots spanning a range of concentrations are injected sequentially into a stream of solution and flow towards the detectors. Each aliquot produces, thereby, an effective “peak” whose elements correspond to different concentrations of the diluted aliquot. The weight averaged molar mass, the mean square radius, and the second virial coefficient of the macromolecules in solution are derived from an analysis of the angular and concentration dependence of the scattering signals throughout the corresponding peaks. In contrast to earlier on-line methods, better accuracy is achieved, while using a smaller quantity of sample. A similar method for determining cross virial coefficients between two distinct species of macromolecules is also presented.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an oil monitoring apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an oil monitoring apparatus includes a probe and an analyzing module in-line connected to the probe. The probe includes: a first sensor for measuring respective optical intensities of a light passing through the oil at respective red, green and blue wavelength ranges; a second sensor for measuring a water content; and a third sensor for measuring a temperature of the oil. The analyzing module calculates and monitors chemical deterioration of the oil, total contamination of the oil, a relative saturation of the oil by water and temperature of the oil based on the output signals of the first and third sensors. The oil monitoring apparatus monitors various parameters relating to the deterioration of the oil and to the physical properties of the oil simultaneously and successively.

Abstract: A method for detecting contaminants in a liquid is provided. The method can include filling at least a portion of a sample container interior chamber with a liquid sample and submerging a sensor probe of a hand-held portable sensing device in a liquid sample. The method can additionally include sensing an electrical conductivity of the liquid sample utilizing at least one conductivity sensor and automatically selecting a particular one of a plurality of contaminant concentration detection (CCD) algorithms based on the sensed conductivity. The method can further include setting a sensitivity of at least one ionic species sensor to a sensitivity level particular to the selected CCD algorithm and sensing non-desired contaminants in the liquid sample utilizing the at least one ionic species sensor. A concentration of the non-desired contaminant in the liquid sample is then determined in accordance with the selected CCD algorithm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for determination of at least one chemical property and optionally one or more physically properties in an oil e.g. a bunker fuel or a lubricant under transportation from a first container e.g. a fuel supply tank to a second container e.g. a tank og a ship. The system comprises a pipe inlet arranged to continuously or stepwise withdraw a sample part from the oil in flow under transportation from said first container to said second container, a pipe outlet for discharging at least some of the sample part, at least one chemical property measuring instrument for measuring a chemical property in a sample of said sample part, a sample handling arrangement for guiding a sample from said sample part into and out of said at least one chemical property measuring instrument.

Abstract: A method for determining solid content concentration in a fluid flow includes measuring a noise signal generated by a fluid flow and correlating the noise signal to the solid content. The noise signal may be correlated to represent the solid content concentration such as by applying one or more filters to the noise signal or applying one or more physical or numerical methods to the noise signal. For example, the fluid flow may be pressurized to a selected level to collapse gas bubbled entrained in the fluid flow, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing a component of the noise signal unrelated to the solid content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of analyzing the behavior of pollutants in a stream through the prediction of a transverse dispersion coefficient.

Abstract: A monitor device is attached to the water supply line of a consumer where it repeatedly measures a characteristic that correlates to quality of water in the water line. Each of a succession of a water quality values is derived from one or more of the measurements. The process continues at selected intervals to continuously monitor the condition of water in the line. Each new value can be compared to a reference value representing a maximum acceptable level of contaminants. If the water quality value exceeds the reference value, an overvalue signal is produced, indicating an unacceptable level of contaminants in the water. Additionally, the values can be transmitted to a central collection facility where they are correlated with values transmitted by similar devices on the supply lines of other consumers to track the quality of water of a supply system over time.

Abstract: A substance detection system having an electronic nose and classifier. The system may extract feature from the electronic signals representing the smells from the electronic nose sensing an unknown substance. The features may be formatted as smellprints that are synthesized as data. The features may be classified, and in a binary tournament fashion, as an illustrative example, may be mapped to be compared or correlated with features of known substances. The known substance or substances having the highest scores for good mapping, comparison or correlation with the sensed substance, may be reviewed in view of decision criteria to determine an identification of the sensed substance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hand-held impedance spectroscopy analysis device for analyzing fluids wherein the impedance spectroscopy device is in communication with a sample cell including a reservoir containing a fluid sample, the sample cell including a sample cell circuit and two metal plates in contact with the fluid sample and in contact with a pair of electrodes. The analysis device includes a processing system including a main processor which is responsive to commands from a user input device, and a data acquisition circuit which receives power and command signals from the processing system.

Abstract: A portable multi-ions sensing system is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods which allows for the determination of concentration or solubility in a multi-component system using Raman spectroscopy. The present invention circumvents the necessity of constructing a calibration curve in order to analytically determine the concentration/solubility of a solute in a homogeneous liquid or a homogeneous solid. Methods of determining the saturation concentration of a solute in a polymer matrix or a polymer matrix film are also provided.

Abstract: A computer system. The computer system including a processor and memory unit coupled to the processor, the memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method for monitoring a solution in a tank used to fabricate integrated circuits, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: (a) collecting data indicating of an amount of copper in a region of a substrate of a monitor, the monitor comprising an N-type region in a silicon substrate, the region abutting a top surface of the substrate, the monitor having been submerged in the solution for a preset time; (b) comparing the data to a specification for copper content of the solution; (c) if the data indicates a copper content exceeds a limit of the specification for copper, indicating a corrective action is required to prevent copper contamination of the integrated circuits; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) periodically.

Abstract: This invention is a method for determining a concentration of an analyte. The steps include applying a potential excitation to a fluid sample containing an analyte, and measuring one or more currents associated with one or more time-segments. The method can also include calculating a final analyte concentration based on a first and second set of analyte concentrations, wherein each set of analyte concentration values is based on a first and second set of calibration data associated with first and second time-segments.

Abstract: A daily urinary excretion measurement apparatus and a method thereof, for measuring daily excretion of a urine component highly accurately and easily, are provided.

Abstract: This method for estimating molecule concentrations in a measurement line that can include a liquid phase chromatographic column or a mass spectrometry is based on statistical calculations to transform, in an analytical model of the received signal, the factors (measured results or measurement parameters) into probability distributions from a priori estimations. The final values of the results are inferred from a parameter, such as the average, of these probability distributions. The method is excellent in properly assessing measurement peaks in signals with noise or superimposed with other peaks, which is not carried out properly by conventionally peak analysis or spectral analysis methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining at least one flow parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe, which fluid contains particles entrained within the fluid flow is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) determining a velocity of the fluid flow within the pipe; 2) sensing the impingement of particles on a surface wetted with the fluid flow, and producing a signal relating to the impingement; and 3) determining the at least one flow parameter of the fluid flow utilizing the determined fluid flow velocity and the sensor signal relating to impingement of the particles on the surface wetted with the fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost, easy-to-use, and accurate method and apparatus for determining alcohol content in a test sample, such as wine. The method for alcohol content determination includes the following steps. A known quantity of a test sample is provided. A measurement of electrolytic conductivity EC0 of the test sample is taken. Next, a known quantity of conductive additive with known composition is added to the test sample to produce a first solution. A measurement of Electrolytic conductivity EC1 is taken for the first solution. Data representing predetermined values for EC0 and EC1 with corresponding known alcohol concentrations is provided for comparision. The electrolytic conductivity values for EC0 and EC1 are cross-referenced against the known data to determine a value for the alcohol concentration of the test sample. In addition, the values for EC0 and EC1 are adjusted for temperature and other variables.

Abstract: A method for discriminating particle groups comprises generating, by a particle analyzer, a particle characteristic distribution histogram in which the abscissa indicates respective channels for representing the characteristics of the particles, and the ordinate indicates the particle count; setting a valid area selection height in the particle characteristics distribution histogram; and generating an equivalent negative histogram based on the set height and the particle characteristic distribution histogram.

Abstract: Naturally present chloride concentration in natural water is utilized for the development of the technique to gauge the performance of percolation tanks in space and time. The chloride mass balance technique is simple, sensitive, reliable and yet powerful enough to resolve the temporal variation due to the effect of silting or climate factors. The percolation efficiency data of percolation tanks can aid in the formulation of guidelines for selection of suitable sites for future tanks with greater efficiency. Otherwise unscientific construction of percolation tanks in sites that yield poor percolation efficiency is uneconomical, and the very purpose of their construction will be forfeited. Thus the technique developed using chloride mass balance in tank water for evaluation of tank performance is highly economy oriented.

Abstract: A apparatus 10,110,170 is provided that measures the speed of sound and/or vortical disturbances propagating in a single phase fluid flow and/or multiphase mixture to determine parameters, such as mixture quality, particle size, vapor/mass ratio, liquid/vapor ratio, mass flow rate, enthalpy and volumetric flow rate of the flow in a pipe, by measuring acoustic and/or dynamic pressures. The apparatus includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along the pipe 14. The pressure sensors 15-18 provide acoustic pressure signals P1(t)-PN(t) to a signal processing unit 30 which determines the speed of sound amix propagating through of the process flow 12 flowing in the pipe 14. The pressure sensors are piezoelectric film sensors that are mounted or clamped onto the outer surface of the pipe at the respective axial location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for determining multiphase fluid streams flowing from individual wells of a cluster of crude oil, gas and/or other fluid production wells, wherein the fluid streams produced by the individual wells are commingled and routed via a fluid separation assembly into fluid outlet conduits for transportation of at least partly separated streams of crude oil, gas and/or other fluids.

Abstract: A method of establishing liquid classes of complex mixtures for liquid handling equipment. The mixtures are composed of components and the equipment has equipment parameters. The first step comprises preparing a response curve for the components. The next step comprises using the response curve to prepare a response indicator for the mixtures. The next step comprises deriving a model that relates the components and the mixtures to establish the liquid classes.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive fuel level probe includes a spring-loaded foot. The probe shaft of the fuel level probe moves up and down within the spring-loaded foot as a function of fuel density. The spring-loaded foot includes a reference magnet whose height relative to the bottom of a fuel storage tank is fixed. Currents generated by the fuel level probe allow measurement of how much of the fuel level probe is positioned above the reference magnet, and from this measurement, the buoyancy of the fuel level probe may be measured. From the buoyancy of the fuel level probe, the fuel density may be calculated.

Abstract: A biosensor with multi-channel A/D conversion and a method thereof are provided. The present biosensor includes a chip generating a time-dependent analog signal in response to a content of a specific component of a specimen provided thereon, a multi-channel A/D converter, and a microprocessor. The multi-channel A/D converter has multiple channels simultaneously receiving the time-dependent analog signal in each sampling interval to convert the time-dependent analog signal to a set of digital signals. The microprocessor receives the sets of digital signals in a period of sampling time and determines the content of the specific component based on the sets of digital signals. The present biosensor provides a multi-channel A/D conversion for the time-dependent analog signal to improve the resolution of the determination of the content of the specific component.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for a noninvasive optical determination of the pH of a substance in a compartment in a closed system comprising a compartment wherein a substance resides which is permeable to at least one wavelength of light, a light source and light detecting device configured to obtain spectral data for a substance for at least one wavelength, a processor adapted to determine the pH of the substance by correlating the spectral data with predetermined spectral data for a known substance at a known pH at the at least one wavelength, and wherein the processor is further configured to control the release of the substance from the compartment to its end use.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A service provider receives fluid test data generated from multiple different entities and permits authorized users affiliated with the different entities, as well as others, to visualize information associated with that data to via the Internet using graphical computer interfaces at respective computers. The fluid test data can be gathered using portable sensor units equipped with GPS and wireless communication to transmit the fluid test data and geographical information to the service provider.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the determination of the concentration of a non-volatile analyte in an aqueous sample medium, with the use of an optical sensor which contains a luminescent dye and is calibrated at the user site by means of a single-point-calibration. To enable the user to completely dispense with all calibration media a luminescence measurement value is obtained at the user site with the sensor in contact with the aqueous or bloodlike sample medium, which value is referenced to the relative characteristic obtained at the factory site and to a measured dry calibration value obtained at the user site, the concentration of the non-volatile analyte being deduced from these data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring an amount of ammonia generated from a sample solution being an aqueous urea solution, an aqueous ammonium formate solution, or an aqueous mixture thereof, includes: applying a pulse voltage to a heating element for a predetermined time to heat the sample solution using the heating element; measuring a thermal conductivity-dependent output value and a kinetic viscosity-dependent output value that are electrical outputs dependent on electric resistivity of a temperature-sensitive element; calculating a urea concentration X wt % and an ammonium formate concentration Y wt % in the sample solution from a relationship between the thermal conductivity-dependent output value and the kinetic viscosity-dependent output value; calculating a urea amount A and an ammonium formate amount B in the sample solution from their concentrations and an amount of the sample solution; and determining the amount of generated ammonia with data thus obtained.

Abstract: Various methods for visualization of output from a liquid-liquid chromatographic instrument are provided. One or more analytes detected by a liquid-liquid chromatographic instrument are visualized by providing a data set comprising a plurality of data points corresponding to one or more analytes detected by the instrument, wherein the data points comprise at least one parameter related to a K-value or a parameter from which a K-value can be determined. A K-value is calculated for at least a portion of the data set, and at least a portion of those K-values transformed by a reciprocal transformation to generate output data having a transformed K-value, wherein the transformed K-value is a real number for all K undergoing the transformation, thereby ensuring that all analytes detected by the instrument are plotted in a single chromatogram. The output data is provided to a user.

Abstract: Method of determining the composition of polymer mixtures comprising defined polymer components of differing mean molar masses Mn, which comprises the steps (a) recording of at least one 1H-NMR relaxation curve of the polymer mixture and (b) calculating the proportions of the polymer components by matching the measured relaxation curve with the relaxation curves of the individual polymer components. In this way, the composition of polymer mixtures can be determined quickly and simply. Furthermore, process integration for regulating the polymerization is possible.

Abstract: Spectra data collected from a mixture defines an n-dimensional data space (n is the number of data points), and application of PCA techniques yields a subset of m-eigenvectors that effectively describe all variance in that data space. Bach member of a library of known components is examined based by representing each library spectrum as a vector in the m-dimensional space. Target factor testing techniques yield an angle between this vector and the data space. Those library members that have the smallest angles are considered to be potential mixture members and are ranked accordingly. Every combination of the top y library members is considered as a potential solution and a multivariate least-squares solution is calculated using the mixture spectra for each of the potential solutions. A ranking algorithm is then applied and used to select the combination that is most likely the set of pure components in the mixture.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive fuel level probe includes a spring-loaded foot. The probe shaft of the fuel level probe moves up and down within the spring-loaded foot as a function of fuel density. The spring-loaded foot includes a reference magnet whose height relative to the bottom of a fuel storage tank is fixed. Currents generated by the fuel level probe allow measurement of how much of the fuel level probe is positioned above the reference magnet, and from this measurement, the buoyancy of the fuel level probe may be measured. From the buoyancy of the fuel level probe, the fuel density may be calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems or apparatuses for analyzing fluids. More particularly the present invention relates to apparatuses and methods that employ impedance spectroscopy (IS) for analyzing fuels. Fuels of interest include biofuel, particularly biodiesel. Hand-held and “in-line” IS apparatuses are disclosed.

Abstract: A sampling method sampling a lower-layer liquid from a liquid body comprised of two layers of liquids, an upper-layer liquid (octanol) and the lower-layer liquid (buffer solution), without mixing the layers. An extracting device is provided with a tubular apical end and is adapted to bring the apical end from above into a liquid to extract the liquid through the apical end. The method includes a plug injection step of injecting a plug liquid without mixing with the upper-layer liquid 50a, into the apical end 11a of the extracting device, and an extraction step of extracting the lower-layer liquid with the plug liquid by means of the extracting device.