Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for determining the velocity of a moving fluid surface, which comprises the following steps S1 to S5: - S1) taking a sequence of images of the moving fluid surface by at least one camera; - S2) comparing a first image from the sequence with a second image from the sequence in order to distinguish moving patterns of the fluid surface from non-moving parts and to obtain a first processed image (im_1f) comprising the moving patterns; - S3) comparing a third image from the sequence with a fourth image from the sequence in order to distinguish moving patterns of the fluid surface from non-moving parts and to obtain a second processed image (im_2f) comprising the moving patterns; - S4) comparing the first and second processed images in order to determine the spatial displacements of the moving patterns; and - S5) determining from the spatial displacements the velocity.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device and method for controlling the fuel-air ratio during the combustion of ground coal in the firing system of a coal power plant, which comprises means for the pneumatic delivery of ground coal to the burners of the firing system of the coal power plant and means for feeding combustion air to the burners or into the firing chamber of the firing system of the coal power plant and in which the amount of combustion air and the amount of carrier air is controlled. The aim of the invention is to achieve a high reliability of the control combined with low maintenance of the air mass measurement devices for measuring the amount of combustion air and carrier air. According to the invention, this aim is achieved by a measurement device for measuring the amount of combustion air which, according to the correlation measurement method, evaluates the triboelectric effects on sensors which are arranged in series in the direction of flow of the combustion air and thus measures the flow velocity of the combustion air. To this end, between 0.1 mg and 10 mg of fine-grained particles having a particle diameter of between 20 µm and 200 µm are introduced per m3 air into the suctioned fresh air. The introduction of particles into the suctioned fresh air is carried out essentially during the starting phase of a firing system of a coal power plant. The measurement of the amount of carrier air is preferably carried out by means of a correlation measurement device that evaluates the triboelectric effects on sensors which are arranged in series in the carrier air stream in the direction of flow of the carrier air.
Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring a fluid microflow velocity within a capillary conduit, comprises: a) at least one thermoelectric cooler having a heating and a cooling surface, said heating surface being suitable for heating a fluid flowing over it and said cooling surface being suitable for cooling said fluid; and b) a capillary conduit through which said fluid flows, said capillary conduit passing through said at least one thermoelectric cooler in heat-exchanging positioned relationship with its heating and cooling surfaces.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the field of pollution monitoring equipment and in particular to aspirated particle detector systems, which detect particles in air sampled from a number of locations. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining flow in an aspirated particle detector system, said system comprising a plurality of carriers in fluid communication with a particle detector, comprising means for detecting the flow rate in at least one of the carriers comprising sensing a signal transmitted between a first and a second signal transceiver (44a - d, 42) wherein the first transceiver (42) is adapted to transceive signals in at least two of the carriers. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to the use of an ultrasonic means of flow sensing within an aspirated smoke detector system.
Abstract:
An apparatus (34) for measuring the velocity of a droplet a liquid includes a laser (36) for generating a beam of light into the shape of a thin sheet. A beam divider (40) is along the first path (38) of the light for dividing the beam into two separate beams which extends along second (42) and third (44) paths. The second (42) and third (44) paths lie in a common plane. Along the second (42) and third (44) paths is a device (60) for projecting a droplet of liquid across the second (42) and third paths (44) so that the droplet passes through both of the divided beams. At least one photodetector (52, 54) is along both the second (42) and third paths (44) to receive the divided beams and provide an electrical signal corresponding to the beams. A beam divider (40) which is used to divide the beam into two beams includes a body (62) of an optically transparent material having at least two flat front surfaces (68, 70) which are at an angle with respect to each other to form a V having a sharp corner, and at least two flat back surfaces (74, 76) each of which is spaced from and parallel to a separate front surface.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for non-invasive measurement of the velocity of a gas or a liquid in a test site, comprising the following steps: I) energizing the atoms and/or molecules present in the gas or liquid to an excited atom or molecule state using a first focused pulsed light beam of a light source in the test site; j) after a time interval DELTA t has elapsed, that is at least as long as the time required for the excited atoms and/or molecules to return to a metastable state by means of relaxation, the atoms and/or molecules in metastable state are selectively energized to an excited atom or molecule state using a second pulsed light beam of the light source irradiating the test site and the assumed momentary location of the spatial area containing the atoms and/or molecules and having a lower intensity in relation to the first light beam, so that a characteristic luminescence is generated; k) detecting the characteristic luminescence of the selectively excited atoms and/or molecules and determining the coordinates of the test site and the emergence of luminescence (luminescent cloud) in an image field and l) calculating the speed v of the gas or liquid on the basis of the distance s between the test site and the central point of the luminescence cloud and the time interval DELTA t as follows: v = s/ DELTA t.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for determining at least one of a plurality of particle physical characteristics. The particle physical characteristics include particle size, shape, magnetic susceptibility, magnetic label density, charge separation, dielectric constant, and derivatives thereof. The method includes generating a region of space having a substantially constant force field, determining the velocity of at least one particle within the region by identifying and locating the particle and its coordinates in at least two temporarily defined digital images, and determining the particle physical characteristics from the determined velocity and a predetermined force field magnitude and direction. A device for determining one or more particle physical characteristics is described which has a force field device (102) for subjecting at least one particle to at least one force field, a substantially transparent flow channel, and a computer system for gathering and analyzing data associated with the at least one particle. A system for determining one or more particle physical characteristics is provided which has a force field device for generating at least one force field having a predetermined force field magnitude and direction and for subjecting at least one particle to the at least one force field, a flow system (122) for regulating the introduction of the at least one particle into the force field device, and a computer system (106) for gathering and analyzing data associated with the at least one particle. A pole piece assembly for producing a region of space having a substantially constant magnetic force field is also provided.
Abstract:
A method for monitoring a well bore during drilling operations, particularly with respect to a fluid gain and/or fluid loss event. Monitoring the well bore may be accomplished by monitoring an incoming flow rate of the fluid into the wellbore. The fluid return line from the well bore may carry drilling fluid from the well bore to a mud gas separator located downstream from the well bore. Changes in at least one parameter of the mud gas separator may be monitored. The changes to the at least one parameter of a mud gas separator may be compared to the incoming flow rate of the fluid. Discrepancies between the changes and the incoming flow rate may be indicative of a fluid gain or fluid loss condition.
Abstract:
A micro-fluidic device (1) including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of components (2) for processing a fluid and/or for sensing properties of the fluid is suggested. Each component (2) is coupled to at least one control terminal (9,10) enabling an active matrix to change the state of each component individually. The components comprise at least one heater element (13). The active matrix includes a two-dimensional array of electronic components (12) realized in thin film technology. The active matrix provides a high versatility of the device. The thin film technology ensures a very cost efficient manufacturing also of large devices. In the micro-fluidic device the fluid flow can be detected.