Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for simultaneous determining the physical parameters, chemical composition and concentrations of the components of a gas flow and will find application in industry and everyday life, e.g. in HVAC systems to determine air quality or monitor other gas mixtures. By means of the device of the invention, more efficient monitoring of gases is carried out and comfort and safety are ensured. The device (1) consists of a body (3) in which a measuring chamber (11) is formed in which the sensors (12) are placed, having microcantilevers (13) with particular selectivity and sensitivity. It contains means for said simultaneous determination, each of which comprises selected microcantilevers (13) and at least one actuating element (14, 17), arranged in the common measuring chamber (11).
Abstract:
Properties of the air such as temperature, pressure, humidity and air flow can modify the propagation pathway of an acoustic signal. By making acoustic measurements of a known acoustic path it is possible to estimate at least one of the temperature, the pressure, the humidity and the air flow using perturbations present in the measured signal. Moreover, by combining data from several acoustic pathways topographical reconstruction of profiles of at least one of the temperature, the pressure, the humidity and air flow can be obtained. Profiling these data over an extended volume such as an office or green house is particularly important for local control.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to system for measuring pressure and temperature based on change in the characteristic properties of a medium for ultrasound under the effect of pressure and temperature. The invention is based on two waveguides where geometry is adapted to the medium's characteristic properties for ultrasound such that only planar pressure waves are generated in the waveguides. The first of the waveguides is arranged for measuring temperature due to thermal expansion of the medium, where the medium is pressure-compensated by means of an internal compensator to prevent thermal pressure accumulation, and where measuring temperature is based on the medium's specific known characteristic data for ultrasound under the effect of temperature under constant pressure. The second waveguide is arranged for measuring pressure, based on waveguide and the medium's known characteristic properties for thermal expansion and pressure, and where the thermal effect is corrected analytically based on measurement of temperature in the first channel. The physical principle of the invention is based on the properties of a medium (oil) where the stability for high temperature and pressure is crucial for long-term properties. Long-term properties of ultrasound sensors are not physically linked to the medium's properties, such that change in characteristic properties of ultrasound sensors does not impair the accuracy of the medium unless the function of the ultrasound sensors ceases. The physical principle of the invention allows an arrangement where ultrasound sensors can be separated from measuring channels by a pressure barrier, such that the integrity of the pressure barrier is not broken.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a system and method for implementing process control for tubing thickness using sonic NDE techniques. The system may, for example, generate ultrasound waves in a test object during the manufacturing process. A detector such as an interferometer may be used to detect the ultrasound waves. An interpreter or analyzer may determine the tubing or sheet thickness from the waves. Then, a control system may determine and implement an appropriate control action on the process.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring a predetermined parameter having a known relation to the transit time of movement of an energy wave through a medium by: transmitting from a first location (A) in the medium a cyclically-repeating energy wave (e.g., an acoustical wave, or electromagnetic wave); receiving the wave at a second location (B) in the medium; detecting a predetermined fiducial point in the wave received at the second location (B) continuously changing the frequency of transmission of the wave from the first location (A) to the second location (B) in accordance with the detected fiducial point of each wave received at the second location (B) such that the number of waves received at the second location (B) from the first location (A) is a whole integer; and utilizing the change in frequency to produce a measurement of the predetermined parameter.
Abstract:
This invention is for a method and apparatus for determining the presence of thermal activity (13) in a volume of atmosphere (12), and has particular application in enabling and prolonging the flight of unpowered aircraft (16) and model aircraft such as gliders and hang-gliders. This is accomplished by using a suitable antenna (10) at ground level (11) and transmitting substantially vertically into the atmosphere a plurality of acoustical pulses of between 100 to 200 milliseconds duration at a frequency of about 6 kHz, each pulse separated by up to several seconds. The back-scattered signals which are primarily caused by thermal activity are received by a suitable receiver, and by use of appropriate circuitry or microprocessor the signals are analysed first by measuring the amplitude, then digitising the signals according to a threshold value, and finally integrating the signals over a number of received times so as to provide a cumulative signal, or scan, which then provides an indication of the thermal activity within the volume of air that back-scattered the signals. Over a number of scans, the history and the evolution of the thermal activity of the air being sampled is therefore provided. The apparatus may be positioned on the ground (11) or on an aircraft (16) and may also be located at remote locations and to provide information by appropriate communications. The method and apparatus thus enable a pilot (17) to utilise the existence of any thermals (13) that will enable them to prolong or improve their flight by steering the craft into the volume (12).
Abstract:
Process and device for photothermal and/or calorimetric analysis of gaseous, liquid and solid test material (24), by detuning an ultrasonic resonator (1). Said resonator comprises a mutually opposed ultrasonic emitter (2) and ultrasonic receiver (3). The signal whose amplitude or phase relation are analysed by the analyser (5) provides information concerning thermal variations in the ultrasonic resonator designed as a gas cell or calorimeter, based on the temperature-dependent velocity of sound. The device discloseed is suitable for detecting gases and for calorimetric analysis of test materials in particular light-conducting elements (50) such as optical fibres.
Abstract:
A non-invasive temperature measurement system comprises an ultrasound transducer configured to emit an ultrasound stimulus pulse toward a product package. An ultrasound receiver is configured to generate a reflected ultrasound waveform from electrical signals that represent physical characteristics of a plurality of reflected ultrasound pulses from a plurality of surfaces of the product package. A first reflected ultrasound pulse is from a first side of the product package closest to the transducer and a second reflected ultrasound pulse is from a second side of product package farthest from the transducer. A signal processor processes the reflected ultrasound waveform to determine a time lag between the first reflected ultrasound pulse and the second reflected ultrasound pulse. The time lag is then correlated to a temperature of a product in the product package. The ultrasound stimulus pulse does not induce nucleation of ice in a supercooled fluid.