Abstract: Insulating oil in electric power generation, transmission and distribution equipment such as circuit breakers, regulators, phase shifters, tank diverter switches and capacitor banks for respectively separated phases of a plural phase transmission or distribution line is filtered for removal of accumulated water, carbon particles and other contaminants by filters in oil circuits respective to each phase in the plurality. Each oil circuit respective to each circuit breaker includes a respective filter and circulation pump. However, all pumps in the plural phase power system, for example, are driven by the same motor and drive line whereby a fluid condition or circulation interruption of one oil circuit that requires termination of pump operation in the one oil circuit terminates the pump operation in all oil circuits. Pump motor power is preferably drawn from an energy source that may be independent of that served by the transmission and/or distribution power source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the moisture and sediment content of a petroleum sample. In one embodiment, a sample to be tested is collected in a field bottle. The sample from the field bottle is then transferred from the field bottle, and into and through a measurement column containing a high-uptake gelling agent, such as a superabsorbent polymer. The sample's moisture is determined by measuring the expanded volume of the high-uptake gelling agent. The measurement column also contains a sediment measurement section having a sediment filter and a sight glass with graduations to measure the sediment content of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for analyzing the composition of the contents of a receiver comprising: means (40) for emitting/receiving an electromagnetic field at a variable frequency over a determined frequency range, means (22) for supporting a container (R), the contents of which should be analyzed, adapted in order to provide relative accurate positioning between the emitting/receiving means (40) and the container (R), means (50) capable of measuring the complex impedance of the emitting/receiving means influenced by the load formed by the container (R) and its contents, representative of the complex dielectric characteristics of the container and of its contents, and means (50) capable or providing a piece of information related to the measured complex impedance and consequently to the nature of the contents of said container.

Abstract: A masticatory efficiency measuring apparatus of the present invention includes a tank (3) that contains a stirring liquid to be supplied to a measuring container (2), a heater for heating the stirring liquid in the tank (3), a stirring device for stirring chewed food pieces in the stirring liquid with the measuring container (2) containing the chewed food pieces and the stirring liquid, a concentration meter (5) for measuring the concentration of a food component eluted into the stirring liquid from surfaces of the chewed food pieces, and a control device. The control device controls operations of the heater, stirring device and concentration meter (5), and determines the masticatory efficiency evaluating value based on the measurement result of the concentration meter (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing an analyte. The system includes a fluid reservoir, a plurality of sample reservoirs, a plurality of channels, a pump that synchronously draws from the fluid reservoir and the plurality of sample reservoirs to provide a plurality of samples through the plurality of channels and a processing device, for example, a flexural plate wave device, for processing the plurality of samples in the plurality of channels. A valve including a pin disposed beneath a dowel and a pusher pushes the pin toward a fastened dowel, which pinches a portion of the channel disposed therebetween. A socket provides electrical contact to the processing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring compositional parameters of solid, liquid, and gas components of a mixture flowing in a pipe is presented. The apparatus combines three different compositional measurements (e.g., the speed of light (microwave), the speed of sound (sonar), and mass loading of vibrating tubes or absorption of radiation) simultaneously to provide a real time, multi parameter, compositional measurement of gas-entrained mixtures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the moisture and sediment content of a petroleum sample. In one embodiment, a sample to be tested is collected in a field bottle. The sample from the field bottle is then transferred from the field bottle, and into and through a measurement column containing a high-uptake gelling agent, such as a superabsorbent polymer. The sample's moisture is determined by measuring the expanded volume of the high-uptake gelling agent. The measurement column also contains a sediment measurement section having a sediment filter and a sight glass with graduations to measure the sediment content of the sample.

Abstract: A probe 10,170 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 or unconfined space, for example, using acoustic and/or dynamic pressures. The probe includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations x1-xN disposed axially along a tube 14. For measuring at least one parameter of a saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12, such as steam, flowing in the tube 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 saturated vapor/liquid mixture 12 in the tube 14 using acoustic spatial array signal processing techniques.

Abstract: A method of producing an organic electroluminescent device includes forming an organic compound layer with an organic compound layer coating liquid that contains an organic compound and an aliphatic ketone solvent. The aliphatic ketone solvent contains about 0.01% by weight or less of an impurity contained ketone structure component.

Abstract: A method for evaluating lyophobicity of an inner wall of a fine tube having a lyophobic film formed on the inner wall includes a step of setting up a fine tube having a lyophobic film extending from an end of the inner wall of the fine tube to a predetermined position of the inner wall, in a liquid placed in a unit in such a manner that the lyophobic film is positioned uppermost and also includes a step of measuring the position of the liquid surface of the liquid that has risen in the fine tube and then stopped and then determining the position of the lower end of the lyophobic film.

Abstract: An improved system, device and method for characterizing a fluid sample that includes injecting a fluid sample into a mobile phase of a flow characterization system, and detecting a property of the fluid sample or of a component thereof with a flow detector comprising a mechanical resonator, preferably one that is operated at a frequency less than about 1 MHz, such as a tuning fork resonator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the water, oil, and gas fractions in hydrocarbons from high water cut hydrocarbon wells. A hydrocarbon flow stream discharging from a well is subjected to hydro-separation to produce an oil-enriched fractional stream upon which water content measurements can be more accurately and reproducibly made. Calculations based on the water content of the oil-enriched fractional stream and the flow rate of at least one of the streams through the separator are conducted to determine the water content of the original stream. This provides a simple approach to measuring the water content in high water cut hydrocarbons that is real-time, accurate, and reproducible.

Abstract: A sample testing device has a buffer container that can hold buffer fluid, a filter with a securement for holding a test strip, the test strip, a test strip container having a receptacle to accommodate the filter, so that when the filter is held therein the test strip is disposed in the receptacle, and a sample collector for holding a sample. The sample collector receives the buffer container, and the sample collector has a piercing member which, when the buffer container is placed in the sample collector, pierces the buffer container. Buffer fluid in the buffer container then contacts the sample. As buffer fluid flows through the sample collector, the buffer fluid that has contacted the sample passes through the filter to the test strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the stability of dispersions and emulsions accelerates the onset of significant particle agglomeration in a sample by stressing the sample by reducing the height of the interparticle potential energy barrier between the particles. This is achieved by adding one or more of three stress factors: changing the pH of the sample to reduce the surface charge on the particles; adding an adsorbing electrolyte so that ions of the appropriate charge are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the particles to reduce the net charge on the particles; and applying a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent salt to partially screen electrostatic repulsions between the charged particles. In a preferred embodiment, the increase in agglomeration is detected with single particle detection, such as SPOS, to generate a PSD from which a figure of merit is derived. Another embodiment detects turbidity or light scattering to generate a value X indicative of the extent of agglomeration.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring an amount of constituent elements in a wet gas mixture, particularly of a wet gas containing petrol. As the wet gas is passed through a two stage measurement system, the total permittivity of the mixture and the amount of water in the mixture are determined. These data, combined with some assumptions about the system, permit calculation of the amount of petrol in the mixture.

Abstract: A continuous flow centrifuge adapted with an insert of glass beads, sand or the like is used to concentrate cysts of microorganisms such as giardia or cryptosporidium from large volumes of water. The apparatus and methods are useful for the detection of contaminating microoorganisms in groundwater and public drinking water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measurement of total water content in a liquid. According to the method, the relative water content (aw) of the liquid is measured in a first measurement step at a first temperature (T1). According to the invention, the temperature of the liquid under measurement is altered from the first temperature (T1) and the relative water content is measured in a second measurement step at the second, altered temperature (T2), whereby, based on these at least two measurement values (aw(1)T1, aw(2)T2), the total water content is determined from the temperature dependence of water dissolution into the liquid under measurement.

Abstract: The system for monitoring dilution has a commodity being stored separately from a first fluid. The commodity has a predetermined distinguishing parameter (DP2) and the first fluid has a predetermined distinguishing parameter (DP1) being different from that of the predetermined distinguishing parameter (DP2) of the commodity. During operation of an apparatus the first fluid dilutes the commodity. A monitoring station has a device therein in which the predetermined distinguishing parameter (DP2) of the commodity is distinguished from the predetermined distinguishing parameter (DP1) of the first fluid. The monitoring station has at least one of a display monitor and a recording device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the compounding of pharmaceutical parenteral admixtures is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a computer that contains a memory for storing instructions for operating the apparatus and for controlling compounders that prepare a prescription admixture, with the memory including data relating to a plurality of the pharmaceutical components that may be transferred to prepare the prescription admixture, and data concerning the operating characteristics of the compounders that the apparatus is adapted to control. The apparatus determines the order of admixing by general rules of admixing and by categorized compatibility groups of components, so that the number of rinses that must be done are minimized.

Abstract: A fuel sensor (20) includes a single capacitor (22) that operates in two different modes to obtain capacitance and conductance information when a fuel mixture flows between the electrodes (24, 26) of the capacitor. Two different oscillators (180, 182) are selectively used to obtain the conductance and capacitance information. In a disclosed embodiment, a capacitor includes an outer electrode (24) that is received around an inner electrode (26) such that there is a spacing between the electrodes through which the fuel flows. The fuel acts as a dielectric of the capacitor allowing the conductance and capacitance measurements to be made. The inventive fuel sensor can be readily incorporated into a variety of locations within a vehicle fuel supply system depending on the needs of a particular situation. In one example, a portion of the fuel rail (132) is used as one of the electrodes of the capacitor.

Abstract: A liquid can be marked for identification purposes with at least first and second miscible markers. The markers are mixed in the liquid so that the ratio of the concentration of the first marker to the concentration of the second marker is substantially equal to a predetermined value. Thus, by comparing the ratio of the measured concentration of the first marker to the measured concentration of the second marker with predetermined values the liquid can be uniquely identified. The detectors can be connected to a processor and control unit (22) for initiation of testing, for processing of detection signal from the detectors, and for display of readout information. Processor and control unit (22) can include a look up table (23) for storing information about marking patterns, a comparison element (35) for comparing measured values with values supplied by look up table (23), and a display (30).

Abstract: A sensor (40) includes a single capacitor (42) that operates in two different modes to obtain capacitance and conductance information when a mixture flows between the electrodes (44, 46) of the capacitor. The inventive sensor is particularly well-suited for making methanol content determinations within a mixture used to provide hydrogen to supply a fuel cell. Two different oscillators (180, 182) are selectively used to obtain the conductance and capacitance information. In a disclosed embodiment, a capacitor includes an outer electrode (44) that is received around an inner electrode (46) such that there is a spacing between the electrodes through which the mixture flows. The mixture acts as a dielectric of the capacitor allowing the conductance and capacitance measurements to be made. The example sensor includes a temperature sensor (76) conveniently supported within the inner electrode (46).

Abstract: An oil content measuring device measures the oil content of a refrigerant in a supercritical or a vapor phase state. A refrigeration system uses the oil content measuring device. The oil content measuring device has an electrostatic capacity measuring device for measuring an electrostatic capacity of the refrigerant containing a refrigerating machine oil, a density measuring device for measuring a density of at least one of the refrigerant and the refrigerating machine oil, a computing device for performing a computation on correlation characteristics between the electrostatic capacity and an oil content which indicates the ratio of the amount of the refrigerating machine oil to the amount of the refrigerant containing the refrigerating machine oil, using the density measured by the density measuring device. An oil content determining device determines an oil content at the measuring time from an electrostatic capacity using the correlation characteristics obtained by the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an alcohol content and temperature measuring instrument which is simply composed of a mug, an embolism an observation window, and a thermograph and a measuring tub. The measurement of alcohol concentration in a particular liquid can be measured according to Torricelli's law and Archimedes principle, while learn about the temperature of the liquid from the thermograph.

Abstract: A sensor probe and method of use for determining the temperature, velocity, and/or liquid volumetric fraction of gas laden with droplets. In one variation, the probe includes a single heating element used in a well-characterized flow. The heating element is maintained above the Leidenfrost transition for the droplets, which prevents cooling effects from the droplets from impacting the temperature measurement. In another variation, the probe includes two or more heating elements arranged in similar flow environments. The property of interest is derived by relying on thermodynamic and heat transfer principles, which are not usable in conjunction with conventional devices.

Abstract: A system for separating an aqueous stream of mixed polynucleotides into a series of length-based polynucleotide fractions and collecting one or more of the length-based polynucleotide fractions into separate containers. The system comprises a separation column containing separation media for separating an aqueous stream of mixed polynucleotides into a series of length-based polynucleotide fractions; a container including one or more single-sample containers; an ejection chamber having a separated sample inlet for receiving the length-based polynucleotide fractions, a waste outlet for discharging uncollected sample, and a capillary-sized fraction outlet positioned to discharge a selected length-based polynucleotide fraction into a single-sample container. The system also includes means for effecting discharge of a selected length-based polynucleotide fraction into the separate container.

Abstract: A sensor probe and method of use for determining the temperature, velocity, and/or liquid volumetric fraction of gas laden with droplets. In one variation, the probe includes a single heating element used in a well-characterized flow. The heating element is maintained above the Leidenfrost transition for the droplets, which prevents cooling effects from the droplets from impacting the temperature measurement. In another variation, the probe includes two or more heating elements arranged in similar flow environments. The property of interest is derived by relying on thermodynamic and heat transfer principles, which are not usable in conjunction with conventional devices.

Abstract: An oil content measuring device measures the oil content of a refrigerant in a supercritical or a vapor phase state. A refrigeration system uses the oil content measuring device. The oil content measuring device has an electrostatic capacity measuring device for measuring an electrostatic capacity of the refrigerant containing a refrigerating machine oil, a density measuring device for measuring a density of at least one of the refrigerant and the refrigerating machine oil, a computing device for performing a computation on correlation characteristics between the electrostatic capacity and an oil content which indicates the ratio of the amount of the refrigerating machine oil to the amount of the refrigerant containing the refrigerating machine oil, using the density measured by the density measuring device. An oil content determining device determines an oil content at the measuring time from an electrostatic capacity using the correlation characteristics obtained by the computing device.

Abstract: A method for measurement of mass and energy transfer parameters (clearance and dialysance) in hemodialysis. A sensor is provided in the dialysate flow path downstream of the dialyzer and means are provided to add concentrate upstream of the dialyzer. A pre-determined amount of a substance whose dialysance is to be measured is added upstream of the dialyzer. The amount of substance riot dialyzed in the dialyzer is measured downstream of the dialyzer by said sensor by integrating the concentration over time. Dialysance is calculated from the amount added upstream, the amount measured downstream and the dialysate flow. In case the substance is part of the dialysate the base concentration is subtracted during integration. The addition of the concentrate upstream of the dialyzer can be done manually or, alternatively by the mixing pump of the dialysis machine. Instead of an increase of the concentration with a concentrate dilution with water can be used as well.

Abstract: A method for measuring the dynamic surface tension (DST) of a proposed outer layer of a liquid composition, to be curtain or slide hopper coated, over a range of surfactant levels to determine the surfactant concentration which produces the maximum resistance to air currents. Measurements are made by the Wilhelmy Blade Method, in which a surface of a pool of composition to be measured is placed in contact with the lower edge of a suspended blade. The static method is modified such that the surface of the composition touching the blade is continually refreshed to simulate the formation of fresh curtain surface by pumping the composition upwards through an open cylinder and allowing the composition to spill over the edges (“overflowing weir”). The bulk surfactant concentration providing maximum resistance to coated streakiness or mottle is highly correlated with the concentration providing maximum surface tension gradients in the overflowing weir apparatus.

Abstract: A method of measuring a water effect on an underground non-water well includes the steps of assembling a history of water cut (WC) measurements for the well over an extended period of time, determining a water cut rate of change (R) for the well based upon the history of water cut measurements, wherein the water cut rate of change is defined as follows: 1 ⅆ ( WC ) ⅆ ( t ) = R ,

Abstract: A vapor sensing device that is sufficiently small and lightweight to be handheld, and also modular so as to allow the device to be conveniently adapted for use in sensing the presence and concentration of a wide variety of specified vapors. The device provides these benefits using a sensor module that incorporates a sample chamber and a plurality of sensors located on a chip releasably carried within or adjacent to the sample chamber. Optionally, the sensor module can be configured to be releasably plugged into a receptacle formed in the device. Vapors are directed to pass through the sample chamber, whereupon the sensors provide a distinct combination of electrical signals in response to each. The sensors of the sensor module can take the form of chemically sensitive resistors having resistances that vary according to the identity and concentration of an adjacent vapor.

Abstract: Tilt and vibration sensor and method for forming the sensor with a piezoresistive membrane having a weight affixed proximate its center for detecting the tilt and vibration of a body. The membrane may include four piezoresistors placed proximate the edges of the membrane at the points of maximum stress when the membrane is subject to a uniform applied pressure. The piezoresistors may form a Wheatstone bridge circuit to generate a first and second output voltage in response to changes in resistance of the piezoresistors under the uniform applied pressure. The first output voltage may be indicative of the angle of inclination of a body and the second output voltage may be indicative of the vibration of the body. The membrane may be fabricated from a silicon wafer using known photolithography and etching processes. The membrane may be connected with a voltage source and secured within an appropriate housing to be placed in an operational environment.

Abstract: A water treatment control system using a fluorescence analyzer includes an activated carbon injection equipment 4 having an activated carbon injector 4a, a fluorescence analyzer 7 provided on the upstream of the activated carbon injector 4a, and a flowing water flowmeter 6. An activated carbon injection rate necessary to reduce a trihalomethane formation potential is calculated by an activated carbon injection rate calculating apparatus 8 based on a measured value from the fluorescence analyzer 7. An activated carbon injection amount from the activated carbon injector 4a is controlled by an activated carbon injection amount control apparatus 9 based on the activated carbon injection rate and a measured value from the flowing water flowmeter 6.

Abstract: A process, a method and apparatus are provided for testing and analyzing oil's physical and chemical characteristics and contaminants found in oil. A process separates contaminants prior to testing of oil's chemical and physical characteristics and includes manufacturing and operation parameters, and visual techniques for analysis. An apparatus is provided to separate and remove contaminants into magnetic, non-magnetic and liquids for further testing and analysis. This is accomplished using magnetic fields, filtration and condensing systems. The testing of oil's chemical and physical characteristics as well as contaminants is done using a plurality of tests such as viscosity, blotter, opacity and images for contaminants. A method is provided to prepare blotter and filtration systems, to remove fluid contaminants from particles and to include process parameters, trending and graphical analysis of images via software programming.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a highly electrically-resistive fluid. The method includes applying across the fluid an AC signal that includes at least two different AC electrical potentials, with at least one AC electrical potential having a non-zero DC offset, measuring the fluid's electrical response at each applied potential, and analyzing the fluid quality and/or condition using the applied AC signal and the corresponding measured electrical responses. The invention finds application in conjunction with the on-line (i.e., while in use) monitoring a highly resistive fluids such as, e.g., lubricants, natural and/or synthetic motor oils optionally including standard additives and/or adjuncts, combustion engine fuels, other hydrocarbon-based fluids used in transportation and industrial applications, and the like.

Abstract: An optical-chemical sensor which is suitable for the continuous and discontinuous determination by luminescence optics of the concentration of chloride in an aqueous sample and which comprises a luminescence indicator (I) and a polymer (H) carrying the luminescence indicator (I) is characterized in that the luminescence indicator (I) is a non-lipophile acridine or bisacridine compound and the polymer (H) is a linear-chain hydrophile polymer soluble in an organic solvent, whereby it is possible to excite the sensor by commercially available LEDs, to manufacture very large numbers thereof at a moderate cost and in a reproducible way and, preferably, to use it for the determination of physiological chloride concentrations and the sensor furthermore has a wide dynamic measuring range for the determination of chloride; a high sensitivity, stability and reproducibility; a high selectivity for chloride; and a low pH cross-sensitivity.

Abstract: A process for evaluating the quality of a printing ink is provided, wherein a defined quantity of the printing ink is stirred; a force or torque to be applied during the stirring is measured, and a defined quantity of moistening agent is added to the ink at a defined point in time. A device for evaluating the quality of the printing ink is also provided with a container for the printing ink; a stirring device, with which an ink filled into the container can be stirred; a measuring device for measuring the force to be applied by the stirring device or the torque to be applied; a moistening agent supply and a control, which actuates the feed of moistening agent such that a predetermined quantity of moistening agent is introduced into the container at a defined point in time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor head for use in an implantable device that measures the concentration of an analyte in a biological fluid which includes: a non-conductive body; a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, wherein the electrodes pass through the non-conductive body forming an electrochemically reactive surface at one location on the body and forming an electronic connection at another location on the body, further wherein the electrochemically reactive surface of the counter electrode is greater than the surface area of the working electrode; and a multi-region membrane affixed to the nonconductive body and covering the working electrode, reference electrode and counter electrode. In addition, the present invention provides an implantable device including at least one of the sensor heads of the invention and methods of monitoring glucose levels in a host utilizing the implantable device of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system that monitors and controls the precipitation of asphaltenes in a formation fluid recovered from a subsurface formation or reservoir by using a sensor to make a direct real-time on-site measurement of the relative concentration asphaltenes from at least one location at a wellsite or in a pipeline. In a system including a fiber optic attenuated total reflectance probe for sensing asphaltenes and using a processor to compare sequential measurements, the system of the present invention can trigger the addition of additives in response to a change in asphaltene concentration in the formation fluid, preventing precipitation.

Abstract: A method and system for liquefaction monitoring of a gas in a gas piping system in which pressure and temperature information about the gas is gathered and the liquefaction status of the gas is determined and reported.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus (100) for determining the constituent composition of a produced fluid is disclosed. The apparatus (100) includes a vessel (106) having an interior chamber (108) that receives and contains a sample of the produced fluid. In the interior chamber (108), the sample of the produced fluid is allowed to separate into its constituents. A gauge (200) having an array of transmitter elements (E1-E17) and an array of corresponding receiver elements (R1-R17) disposed oppositely of one another on the vessel (106), is used to transmit and receive energy waves that propagate through the sample of the produced fluid. The receiver elements (R1-R17) detect changes in absorption or scattering of the energy waves transmitted from the corresponding transmitter element (E1-E17) caused by the constituent of the sample of the produced fluid through which that energy wave propagated.

Abstract: A portable fuel analyzer includes a sensor, a processor and a display. The portable analyzer receives a fuel sample and the display identifies whether the vehicle fuel is tainted. The portable fuel analyzer is linked to an evaluation unit to determine a frequency measurement based upon signals from the sensor in the portable fuel analyzer. The evaluation unit compares the frequency from the vehicle fuel sensor with the frequency from the portable fuel analyzer. If the green LED is illuminated and the portable fuel analyzer indicates a different frequency than the vehicle fuel sensor, the vehicle fuel sensor is defective and should be replaced; If the green LED is illuminated and the portable fuel analyzer indicates the same frequency as the vehicle fuel sensor, a vehicle component other than the vehicle sensor is faulty; and, if the red LED is illuminated, the mixed fuel sample is tainted and a determination about the vehicle fuel sensor cannot be determined.

Abstract: A method of quickly and safely determining the component concentrations of a three-component mixture comprising substantially sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride and water, which comprises measuring at least one set of three physical quantities of (1) temperature, (2) ultrasonic wave propagation velocity and (3) electric conductivity or viscosity of the three-component mixture and converting the obtained values to the component concentrations on the basis of a working curve representing the relationship between each component concentration of the three-component mixture and the three physical quantities; and a method of continuous production of hydrogen fluoride for controlling a water concentration in the reaction system by using this method.

Abstract: Air bath dissolution tester has a heating element within the USP specification dissolution test stirring shaft, easily attachable to a basket-type (USP) method I, or paddle (USP method II). This allows direct heat transfer to the test solution in the vessel, reducing heat up time. Temperature in the vessel is controlled by a controller responsive to test vessel temperature sensor. Temperature data is obtained during the test. The test vessel is located in a warm air chamber to prevent heat loss. The air chamber and test vessel are transparent, allowing the operator to determine the progress of the test. No water bath is required. The heated SS shaft promotes test solution degassing by direct heating and high-speed stirring during heat up, thus eliminating a separate step.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for analyzing a fluid includes a disposable fluidic sensor module, a replaceable transducer module, and an expendable electronics package. The disposable fluidic sensor includes a fluidic flowmeter and a capillary structure formed in a plate-like member which receives a sample fluid flow. The fluidic flowmeter is responsive to the fluid flow to generate an output indicative of the flow rate of the fluid, and the capillary structure restricts the fluid flow such that a pressure drop across the capillary structure is related to the viscosity of the fluid. The fluidic flowmeter can be a fluidic oscillator whose oscillation frequency is related to the fluid flow rate. The oscillator flowmeter also serves as an orifice, with the pressure drop across the oscillator being related to the density of the fluid.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting levels of fluids and particulate matter is based on differences in dielectric constants of the various materials. The difference is reflected in different capacitance across electrodes immersed to different depths in such materials. A square-wave clock pulse is input into circuit composed of the capacitance and a resister in series. The output voltage is fed into a logic unit (such as exclusive-OR), which converts the exponential decay of the voltage into a pulse of uniform height with duration proportional to the time constant (proportional to the capacitance) of the exponential decay. The pulse is optionally fed through a low-pass filter to give a signal proportional to the duration.

Abstract: A mixing assembly which transfers a number of nutritional fluids from individual source containers into a collection container while noninvasively sensing the type of fluid being transferred is provided. The mixing assembly utilizes a transfer set to establish fluid communication between the source containers and the collection container. A sensing assembly is configured to noninvasively sense a number of the types of fluid flowing through the transfer set to help to prevent improper mixing. For other fluids for which the sensing assembly alone may not be able to distinguish with the desired accuracy, the mixing device utilizes a method to approximate the flow rate of that fluid with the flow rate also providing an indication of that type of fluid. By combining the output of the sensing assembly with the flow rate determination, additional fluids can be identified.

Abstract: A system monitors the composition of emulsions (e.g., oil/water mixtures) by measuring one or more electrical properties (e.g., dielectric constant) of the emulsion. A computer processor determines a plurality of possible solutions using a predetermined relationship between the measured electrical properties and the component fractions of the emulsion. One possible solution is determined for each component that might be the continuous phase in the emulsion. The computer processor then evaluates the component fractions resulting from each possible solution to choose which single solution is most reasonable based on known physical limits for a continuous phase emulsion involving the component associated with each possible solution. The component fractions associated with the selected solution are output by the processor.