Abstract: An accelerated vapor recompression apparatus 10 converts incoming flow 35a to a concentrate 35c by developing a concentration profile 146 within a tank 30 holding a liquid 23 containing dissolved solids. The resulting curve 160 of saturation temperature of the stratified liquid 23 (such as a brine 23 or other material 23) moves away from the curve 162 corresponding to fully mixed conditions. The shift 174, 180 in saturation temperature results in increased boiling without increased energy from a heater 70 or compressor 50. A method 90, 200 of control of the system provides interventions 203, 204, 205, 206 at different levels 92, 94, 96, 98 of control, ranging from mass flows 35 to work of a compressor 50, heat from a heater 70, and a predictive processing 215 of feedback 217 for controlling commands 216 algorithmically.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid measuring device comprising a capillary device and a non-linear response device. The capillary device typically having a flow channel comprising a contraction with a sidelet upstream and sidelet downstream of the contraction, the sidelets each comprises a pressure sensor arranged to determine the pressure drop over the contraction, the geometry of the flow channel of the capillary device being adapted to provide a flow response by the linear effects in the fluid, with the least response from the non-linear effects in the fluid. The non-linear response device typically having a flow channel connected to the flow channel of the capillary device, the flow channel of the non-linear response device comprising sidelets arranged to determine a pressure drop over at least a part of the flow channel, wherein the geometry of the flow channel of the non-linear response device being adapted to provide a flow response primarily driven by the non-linear effects in the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the quantity of reducing agent in a tank (10) of a system intended to reduce the amount of NOx in the exhaust gases of a motor vehicle. The system comprises: a storage material (11) arranged in the tank (10) and capable of storing and of releasing the reducing agent reversibly according to the demand for reducing agent which may vary over the course of time; a heating device (12) designed to supply heat in order to release the reducing agent from the storage material (11), and a control device (13) for driving the heating device (12) in order to release the reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the presence or absence of bubbles inside pipes in a dispensing apparatus and a dispensing apparatus.

Abstract: In order to estimate the cetane number of a fuel, fuel injection is executed by controlling the driving of a fuel injection valve by a prescribed amount. The amount of change in the rotation of a diesel engine generated in response to the fuel injection is detected, and the cetane number of the fuel is estimated on the basis of this amount of change in the rotation. The actual amount of fuel injected from the fuel injection valve is detected, and when the difference between the amount actually detected and the prescribed amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the execution of the fuel cetane number estimation process is restricted.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a partial level of saturation to a mass of sand, through generation of gas bubbles, as a way to prevent liquefaction during earthquakes. The system includes a solution that is operable to generate gas bubbles and a solution generator that prepares the solution. A conduit delivers the solution to the sand, so that the solution generates the gas bubbles during and after being delivered to the sand. A probe may be used to determine whether the sand is susceptible to liquefaction before the solution is delivered and to assess a change in degree of partial saturation after the solution has been delivered.

Abstract: Described herein is a device for detecting a physical variable for a process fluid via differential measurement, comprising a pressure transmitter having a main body, provided with a pressure sensor and a first pressure-sensitive element and a second pressure-sensitive element operatively connected to the pressure sensor. The device moreover comprises a first remote separator, designed to be positioned in a first detection position, and a second remote separator, designed to be positioned in a second detection position.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a new method for designing road asphalts, comprising:—the determination of the optimal bitumen content with compacting experiments using samples made of asphalt mixtures; the optimal bitumen content being the one at which the receptive void volume has a minimum value, depending on the bitumen content; that is, where the compactness of the sample is the highest, and by changing the mass rates in the asphalt mixture, the bitumen content is set to the optimal bitumen content at most. The optimal bitumen content provides the possibility to aim for reaching the highest compactness, i.e. the smallest possible void volume which provides the most favorable fatigue and solidity characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting presence of a target particulate of predetermined size (e.g., engine wear debris) in a fluid (e.g., an engine lubricant) by providing at least one pair of serially fluid-connected upstream test and downstream reference filtration elements in the fluid. At least the upstream test filtration element has a filtration size rating that is sufficient to remove a predetermined amount of the target particulate from the fluid. The differential pressure of the fluid may then be measured (e.g., by suitable pressure transducers) across each of the test and reference filtration elements. By comparing the differential pressure across the test filtration element to the differential pressure across reference filtration element, the presence of the target particulate in the fluid can thereby be detected by an increase in differential pressure across the test filtration element in comparison to the differential pressure across the reference filtration element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a homogeneous batch (1) of pressurised fluid cylinders (2) during at least part of the use cycle of said cylinders. According to the invention, each of the cylinders (2) is provided with a valve (3) having an electronic device (4) including at least one sensor (14) for measuring the pressure (P) inside the cylinder (2), a system (44) for storing/acquiring and processing data and an electromagnetic wave transmitter (34), for example using radio frequency, designed for the remote transmission of at least one of the following items of information: the identity of the cylinder (2) and the pressure (P) measured inside said cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring changes in pressure in a fluidic system are described. In one aspect, an apparatus for measuring pressure as described herein includes a test channel (e.g., a first fluidic channel (120)) and a control channel (e.g., a second fluidic channel (125)) that join a measuring region (130) downstream of the test and control channels. In some embodiments, fluid flowing in the test and control channels can be laminar and form a stable fluid interface in the measuring region. A property of the fluid interface, such as the position of the fluid interface, e.g., relative to a width of the measuring region, may be measured, in some cases visually. In some embodiments, introduction of a component (e.g., a cell) into the test channel can cause a change in pressure drop in the test channel. This change in pressure drop can cause a deflection of the fluid interface.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing wax deposition from a crude petroleum during transmission of the crude petroleum through a pipeline are provided. Compositions and methods of testing the deposition of wax from a petroleum sample are also provided.

Abstract: A fuel amount control system of a fuel cell includes a fuel storage unit that stores the fuel to be supplied to the anode, a diluent storage unit that stores a diluent generated as a result of the chemical reaction in the cathode, a fuel mixing unit that mixes the fuel supplied from the fuel storage unit and the diluent supplied from the diluent storage unit to supply a fuel mixture solution to the anode, a sensor located inside the fuel mixing unit, which has a various volume that depends on the concentration of the fuel in the fuel mixture solution and outputs an electrical signal according to a volume variation, and a control unit that receives the electrical signal output from the sensor and outputs electrical signals to open and close the fuel storage unit and the diluent storage unit such that the fuel mixture solution having an appropriate concentration is supplied from the fuel mixing unit to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for monitoring particles in a fluid stream, comprising a body portion and a detector element that is acoustically decoupled from the body portion. The detector element comprises a target surface, a sample acoustic sensor and a corrosion sensor. The sample acoustic sensor is acoustically coupled to the target surface and is arranged to provide a first signal, which varies in dependence upon acoustic noise generated by impacts of particles and fluid on the target surface. The corrosion sensor is arranged to provide a second signal, which varies in dependence upon corrosion and/or erosion of the target surface. A corresponding method of monitoring particles in a fluid stream is also described. The method and apparatus are suitable for monitoring sand in oil and gas production flow streams.

Abstract: Method and device for measuring the minimum miscibility pressure of two phases. In a pressure cell, gas is bubbled into a liquid, or conversely, liquid is dripped into a gas. The presence of bubbles or of drops is detected through the differential pressure variation measured between the inside of the cell and an injected phase injection line. This measurement is performed by means of a very accurate differential pressure sensor, for various pressures imposed within the cell. A relation between the number of bubbles or of drops formed per time unit and pressures within the cell is deduced therefrom. The minimum miscibility pressure of the two phases then corresponds to the pressure for which the inverse of the number of bubbles or of drops is zero, which is deduced by extrapolation of the relation. Application: enhanced oil recovery or CO2 geologic storage.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a density of a liquid within a fluid that includes both a liquid and a gas are described. A pressure of the fluid oscillates according to a time-varying function, which causes a density of the fluid also to oscillate according to the same time-varying function. A resulting pressure signal and density signal are analyzed to extract at least a first and second pressure value and at least a first and second density value, where the first pressure and density values occur at a first time, and the second pressure and density values occur at a second time. Then, the liquid density is calculated from the first and second pressure and density values. As a result, the liquid density may be calculated quickly and easily, with a minimum of effort on the part of an operator, and without requiring disruption of other measurement processes associated with the flowtube.

Abstract: A sensor element (5) detects a physical measurement variable such as a pressure, a temperature, a capacitance, or a gap width between two bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other during operation and experience high tribological stress. In certain areas between the surfaces of the bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other, in a surface region of at least one of the bodies (10), a sensitive layer (13, 30), in particular a sensor segment (13), is provided, which is separated from the body (10) by an insulation layer (12).

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a density of a liquid within a fluid that includes both a liquid and a gas are described. A pressure of the fluid oscillates according to a time-varying function, which causes a density of the fluid also to oscillate according to the same time-varying function. A resulting pressure signal and density signal are analyzed to extract at least a first and second pressure value and at least a first and second density value, where the first pressure and density values occur at a first time, and the second pressure and density values occur at a second time. Then, the liquid density is calculated from the first and second pressure and density values. As a result, the liquid density may be calculated quickly and easily, with a minimum of effort on the part of an operator, and without requiring disruption of other measurement processes associated with the flowtube.

Abstract: The grade of oil used in a machine or apparatus can be determined by determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply and determining the oil grade in response to determining the temperature and pressure.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for determining one or more characteristics of a sample fluid, and a method to determine the one or more characteristic of the sample fluid, are provided. In particular, a first assembly is contained within a particular housing, and a second assembly is positioned externally from the particular housing. The first assembly includes a first sensor which may be adapted to obtain first data associated with a first characteristic of the sample fluid, and a particular electrical assembly which is electrically coupled to the first sensor, and may be adapted to determine the first characteristic of the sample fluid as a function of the first data. The second assembly includes a second sensor which may be adapted to obtain second data associated with a second characteristic of the sample fluid.

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 system for automatically selecting an oil pressure sensor processing algorithm based on oil pressure sensor type includes an oil pressure sensing device producing an signal indicative of engine oil pressure, and electrically connected to one of an analog and a switch input of a control computer. The control computer is configured to identify the oil pressure sensing device as an analog oil pressure sensor and process the oil pressure signal according a corresponding signal processing algorithm if a voltage level at the analog input is within a predefined voltage range while a voltage level at the switch input is at or near a first voltage level, and to identify the oil pressure sensing device as an oil pressure switch and process the oil pressure signal according a corresponding signal processing algorithm if the voltage level at the switch input is at or near a second voltage level.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring a level of settled particles in a fluid-containing vessel includes the steps of fluidizing particles from a position below the settled level of particles, and measuring a static pressure of liquid within the vessel at a position in the vessel below the settled level of particles. The fluidized static pressure is correlated to a level of settled particles within the vessel using an experimentally determined relationship. The apparatus includes an inlet pipe into the vessel at a position below the settled level of particles, and a pump which recirculates liquid from the vessel above the submerged level of particles, remote from the settled level of particles, and a static pressure instrument connected to the inlet pipe. A solids pump can be activated to remove settled particles from the vessel, the operation of the pump being controlled by the measured level of settled particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to apparatus for thermodynamic analysis of a mixture of fluids, in which the volume of a sample of a given quantity of said mixture is caused to vary step by step and in monotonic manner, and the pressure of the sample is read at each step, the sample being stirred at each step so as to hasten the mixture reaching thermodynamic equilibrium. According to the invention, the sample is stirred by applying ultrasound to said sample by means of transducer (20). The sample can be contained in a bag (19) of flexible material immersed together with the transducer in a control fluid inside a rigid container (10). The invention can be used to determine the bubble point of a mixture of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A system and method of measuring a level of settled particles in a fluid-containing vessel includes the steps of fluidizing particles from a position below the settled level of particles, and measuring a static pressure of liquid within the vessel at a position in the vessel below the settled level of particles. The fluidized static pressure is correlated to a level of settled particles within the vessel using an experimentally determined relationship. The apparatus includes an inlet pipe into the vessel at a position below the settled level of particles, and a pump which recirculates liquid from the vessel above the submerged level of particles, remote from the settled level of particles, and a static pressure instrument connected to the inlet pipe. A solids pump can be activated to remove settled particles from the vessel, the operation of the pump being controlled by the measured level of settled particles.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to detect bubbles in a fluid sample to determine if gases are present, wherein an ultrasonic source is used and its properties monitored. Fluctuations in the ultrasonic source's electrical properties indicate the presence of bubbles/gas. Alternatively, the ultrasonic source may be used to cavitate the sample and induce the nucleation of bubbles. In such a system/method, bubbles may be detected by either (1) monitoring the ultrasonic source properties, (2) monitoring the compressibility of the sample, (3) monitoring the sample properties, including harmonics and subharmonics. The method and apparatus disclosed herein may be used in a borehole such as with a sampling means (including either a flowing sample or a stationary sample) or in a surface lab.

Abstract: A fluid filled transformer including a tank for containing at least primary and secondary windings, a radiator connected to the tank via top and bottom headers, a fluid disposed in the tank, a fluid circulation flow path including passages through the windings, radiator, headers, and at least a portion of the tank, and at least one diagnostic sensor disposed within the fluid circulation flow path for measuring properties of the fluid. By positioning the sensor within the circulation flow path, measured values are more reliable, accurate, and efficiently sensed.

Abstract: A liquid/gas phase detector system employing a sensor to detect fluid phase, flow rate, and temperature. A flow conditioner in the form of a pipe segment with an inverted V-shaped section forming a weir is adapted for coupling in a horizontal conduit downstream from a source of liquid flow. When a thermal dispersion technology sensor is used, heated and non-heated temperature sensitive elements extend within the pipe segment on the upstream side of the weir. Fluid flow changes encountering the sensing elements cause temperature changes which produce an output signal relating to fluid phase (gas or liquid) and flow rate. Several different embodiments for the flow conditioner are provided.