Abstract:
An improved fan controller for forced-air temperature conditioning apparatus for buildings, such as for example, forced warm air furnaces in which the fan turn-off is controlled as a function of the difference in temperature between the plenum temperature and the return air temperature.
Abstract:
A device using needed hydrogen gas flow and electricity for operation obtained from a fuel cell power supply. Also, water generated by the fuel cell may be recycled for hydrogen generation which may be used by the device and in turn expanded by the fuel cell for further electrical power generation. The device may be a gas chromatograph, a fluid calibration mechanism, a flame ionization detector, or the like.
Abstract:
A multi-stage membrane process for the removal of carbon dioxide from syngas streams containing at least about 5 volume percent carbon dioxide. The syngas is preferably obtained by the gasification of a biomass feedstock.
Abstract:
A gas analyzer apparatus includes a device or platform for supporting a predetermined quantity of a reagent capable of reacting with a predetermined gas to cause a detectable change in a characteristic of the reagent, a reservoir adapted to retain the reagent, a dispenser for dispensing a controlled quantity of the reagent from the reservoir to a predetermined position on the device for supporting the predetermined quantity of the reagent, and a detector that detects the presence of the predetermined gas upon the predetermined gas and the controlled quantity of reagent reacting to cause a detectable change in a characteristic of the reagent detectable by the detector, the detector adapted to detect a change in the controlled quantity of the reagent by detecting the change in the characteristic through the predetermined quantity of the reagent.
Abstract:
A method of making a plurality of flow sensors is provided, each flow sensor having a substrate with a sensing element and flow channel aligned over the sensing element. The sensing element senses at least one property of a fluid. The flow channel is aligned by one or more guide elements formed in an alignment layer. The flow channel across the sensing area is accurately and precisely aligned due to the guide elements provided at the wafer-level, facilitating reliable, low-cost, and consistent results among multiple flow sensors. The flow sensor is adapted for use in harsh environments.
Abstract:
A micro fluid analyzer that may be highly sensitive, fast and very compact. The analyzer may use sufficiently low power per analysis to be easily implemented with an equivalently small battery pack or other portable power source. There may be energy conservation features in the analyzer, such as optimal adsorber film thicknesses in the pre-concentrator, concentrator and chromatographic separators. There may be special timing of the phased heating elements in the concentrators and separators to further reduce energy consumption. Various kinds of detectors and sensors may be incorporated in the analyzer for achieving low probability for false positives and detection versatility. There may be a controller that provides data acquisition and analyzes, drive signals for control, management of wireless signal transmission and reception, processing, and other operational uses of the micro analyzer.
Abstract:
A sensor system having an analyte modulator, detector and a pump. The concentration of an analyte sample may be modulated at one time constant. The detector may have an output with a drift at another time constant. The one time constant may be shorter than the latter time constant. The latter time constant may be substantially removed from the detector output with a discriminator. A reservoir may receive high concentrations of analyte from the modulator, before analyte is forwarded to the detector and pump via analyte conveyance lines and valving. The modulation or pre-concentration of analyte in the sensor system may entail shorter times and smaller volumes than those needed by the detector. Such mismatches may be alleviated via accumulation of analyte in the reservoir prior to being forwarded to the detector.
Abstract:
A microscale planar device for detecting particles under high pressure with high sensitivity. The device may have an anode and cathode with an insulator situated between them. The insulator may have a number of holes, cavities or channels between the anode and cathode. There may be conductive rings at the perimeters of openings of the channels on the anode side of the insulator. These rings may be a part of the anode. An ion may be attracted into one of the channels where it interacts with a gas to result in an avalanche breakdown. The breakdown may be detected by instrumentation connected to the anode and cathode. The lateral and/or longitudinal dimensions of the channels may be such that the device may operate as a detector with ambient air as a gas under its pressure of about one atmosphere.
Abstract:
A chemical impedance detector having several electrodes situated on or across a dielectric layer of a substrate. The electrodes may be across or covered with a thin film polymer. Each electrode may have a set of finger-like electrodes. Each set of finger-like electrodes may be intermeshed, but not in contact, with another set of finger-like electrodes. The thin-film polymer may have a low dielectric constant and a high porous surface area. The chemical impedance detector may be incorporated in a micro fluid analyzer system.
Abstract:
An optical spectrometer having a multi-wafer structure. The structure may be fabricated with MEMS technology. The spectrometer may be integrated with a fluid analyzer. A reflective grating such as a diffraction or holographic grating situated on the circumference of a Rowland circle along with a point of light emission and a detector may be a configuration of the spectrometer. Some configurations may use an external light source where the light may be optically conveyed to the point of emission on the circle. There may be a Raman configuration where an interaction of light with a sample or an interactive film of a channel in a fluid analyzer is the point of light emission for the spectrometer. In some configurations of the spectrometer, the grating and/or the film may be reflective or transmissive.