Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. In some embodiments, the reader component communicates with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.

Systems and methods are provided herein for gas storage and the safe release of gas using cascading burst discs. A vessel for storing gas is in pneumatic communication with a first flow path. A first burst disc is disposed in the first flow path such that gas flow is prevented when the disc is intact. A second flow path is in pneumatic communication with the first flow path and configured to receive gas flow when the first burst disc is ruptured. A second burst disc is disposed in the second flow path and configured to prevent a gas flow while the second burst disc is intact. At an operating pressure, the first burst disc may be punctured by an operator allowing normal use of the system. In the event of a gas overpressure, the first and second burst discs will rupture permitting safe release of the gas.

A pressure relief valve having a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a curvilinearly extending housing interior sidewall that defines a flow passageway through the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port. A piston assembly that is moveable between a closed position to establish a fluid-tight seal between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position to permit fluidic flow of pressurized fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port. The piston assembly has a piston head having a parabolically shaped piston face and elliptical perimeter that, when the inlet piston assembly is moved to the open position, aligns with the housing interior sidewall to provide a continuous transition from a position immediately upstream of the piston to a position immediately downstream of the piston.

A pressure relief valve having a housing with an inlet port, an outlet port and a curvilinearly extending housing interior sidewall that defines a flow passageway through the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port. A piston assembly that is moveable between a closed position to establish a fluid-tight seal between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position to permit fluidic flow of pressurized fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port. The piston assembly has a piston head having a parabolically shaped piston face and elliptical perimeter that, when the inlet piston assembly is moved to the open position, aligns with the housing interior sidewall to provide a continuous transition from a position immediately upstream of the piston to a position immediately downstream of the piston.

A rotatable pressure relief valve assembly is disclosed. The rotatable pressure relief valve assembly may comprise a rotatable plug mounted within a valve body, along with a release mechanism configured to engage with the shaft and hold the plug in a closed position until an opening pressure of the valve assembly is reached. An assembly may include a damper configured to absorb a rotational kinetic energy or a catching mechanism configured to retain the plug in an open position when the plug rotates into the open position. A plug may be wing-shaped or have a mass balanced across a rotatable shaft offset from a diameter of the plug. An assembly may include a buckling pin, torque pin, tensile member or other release mechanism, which may be pre-loaded. A thermal shield also may be provided.

A rotatable pressure relief valve assembly is disclosed. The rotatable pressure relief valve assembly may comprise a rotatable plug mounted within a valve body, along with a release mechanism configured to engage with the shaft and hold the plug in a closed position until an opening pressure of the valve assembly is reached. An assembly may include a damper configured to absorb a rotational kinetic energy or a catching mechanism configured to retain the plug in an open position when the plug rotates into the open position. A plug may be wing-shaped or have a mass balanced across a rotatable shaft offset from a diameter of the plug. An assembly may include a buckling pin, torque pin, tensile member or other release mechanism, which may be pre-loaded. A thermal shield also may be provided.

A safety valve includes: a valve element; a valve seat that has a gas release hole from which a gas is released and a protrusion that protrudes towards the valve element; and a meltable body that is made of a material capable of being melt at an abnormal high temperature. At a temperature other than the abnormal high temperature, the meltable body limits displacement of the valve element to thereby prevent inflow of the gas towards the gas release hole. At the abnormal high temperature, the meltable body is melt, thereby the valve element is displaced and the gas is released from the gas release hole.

A frangible closure coupling is used with or on pipe of a tank that contains a potentially dangerous fluid, such as liquid natural gas. The closure coupling mitigates the uncontrolled release of fluid from the tank in the event of a rupture of a pipe attached to the tank.

Natural gas is produced when LNG that is contained in an insulated LNG cargo tank(s) of a non-self-propelled LNG carrier (i.e., a barge) evaporates as a result of heat leakage through the walls of the insulated cargo tank(s). The natural gas is transferred from the barge to a tugboat or a towboat that is equipped with natural gas burning engines through a flexible gas transfer assembly so that the tugboat is powered by the natural gas fuel. The pressure in the cargo tank(s) on the barge is, therefore, effectively managed to prevent or substantially reduce the buildup of pressure within the LNG cargo tank(s). The LNG can then be contained within the LNG cargo tank(s) for an appropriate period of time and can be delivered at an appropriate and acceptable equilibrium pressure and temperature.

According to one aspect, a fire extinguisher includes a fire extinguisher reservoir and a fire extinguisher outlet burst disc that forms a discharge barrier between the fire extinguisher reservoir and a discharge head to retain a pressurized fire extinguishing agent at an internal fire extinguisher pressure within the fire extinguisher reservoir. A cutter is detained within the fire extinguisher proximate the fire extinguisher outlet burst disc. An interior container within the fire extinguisher reservoir has a container pressure and is sealed with a container burst disc. An activation device having a piercing member is operable to pierce the container burst disc and diffuse the container pressure to create a pressure differential relative to the internal fire extinguisher pressure at the cutter, thereby driving the cutter through the fire extinguisher outlet burst disc to release the pressurized fire extinguishing agent through the discharge head.