Disclosed herein is a novel optical particle characterization system and method of use that can be applied to harsh environments. By separating the sensing components from the electronics unit and using optical fibers for interconnection, only the sensing components need to endure harsh environmental conditions. This reduces the design constraints on the electronics unit and permits the incorporation of optical components into the sensing probe that can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

A method and apparatus (1) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack are disclosed. The method comprises emitting light from a light source along an optical path for scattering from the particles, rotating a rotatable monitoring assembly (15) mounted in the optical path, and detecting the scattered light using a detector. The rotatable monitoring assembly (15) contains at least two in apertures, and the method further comprises rotating the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into a plurality of different configurations. In an operation configuration, light passes through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) and into the stack unimpeded. In a zero-check configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) blocks the light from reaching the stack. In a span-check configuration, light of varying intensity passes from the light source through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into the stack. In a contamination-check configuration, the light is reflected through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) onto the detector, without entering the stack. In the safety-shutter configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) protects optical components in the instrument from particles in the stack.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for cognitively predicting dust deposition on solar photovoltaic modules are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes deriving, with respect to solar photovoltaic modules, dust parameters from image data, and estimating, for a given future time at a current module orientation, an amount of surface area of the modules that will be covered by dust and a yield loss of the modules associated with dust coverage. The method also includes forecasting, for the given future time at each of one or more modified module orientations, an amount of surface area of the modules that will be covered by dust and a yield loss of the modules associated with dust coverage. Further, the method includes generating an instruction to change the orientation of at least one of the modules, and outputting the instruction to at least one actuation system associated with the modules.

A method for measuring dustiness of a product. The method can include providing the product onto a ramp. The method further can include allowing gravity to move the product down the ramp through a dam. The dam can be configured to control a mass flow rate of the product moved down the ramp. The method additionally can include measuring, by a sensor, airborne particles to determine the dustiness of the product, wherein the airborne particles are generated by the product exiting the ramp and freely falling onto a support surface. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for testing for the presence of a material such as one or more analyte types within a sample and more particularly, for improved single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) testing as well as other variants of single-enzyme linked molecular analysis (SELMA). Background and false positives are reduced due to the presence of at least two detection cycles where each detection cycle comprises the steps of a) triggering a signal from captured and labelled analyte(s), b) recording of the number and positions of capture sites exhibiting a signal from the captured and labelled analyte(s), c) and before a further detection cycle is performed, deactivation of signal(s).

The present invention intends to provide a method by which the scattering property of a powder can be more clearly evaluated. There is provided a method for evaluating a scattering property of a powder, the method including dropping a powder to be evaluated onto a liquid placed in a box, thereby scattering the powder as dust in the box, and measuring a dust concentration in air in the box with a dust meter. There is also provided an apparatus for evaluating a scattering property of a powder, the apparatus including a box in which a liquid is to be placed, and a dust meter that measures a dust concentration in air in the box when the powder to be evaluated drops onto the liquid placed in the box and scatters as dust.

An image analysis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a processor; and a memory storing program instructions that cause the processor to: determine a shape of a particle included in a particle image that is extracted from an image of an object, so that an OK particle image which is a particle image of an OK particle that satisfies a predetermined standard for shape and a provisional NG particle image which is a particle image of a provisional NG particle that does not satisfy the predetermined standard, are obtained; generate a pseudo image using a generative model; and determine whether the provisional NG image and the pseudo image are similar, wherein in a case where the provisional NG image and the pseudo image are determined to be similar, the provisional NG particle is determined as including an OK particle.

There is provided a fine dust measurement module that includes a fluid inlet into which fluid including fine dust with particles of various diameters is flowed, a first channel through which, of the fine dust introduced through the fluid inlet, first fine dust with particles having a diameter greater than or equal to a first diameter passes, a second channel through which, of the fine dust introduced through the fluid inlet, second fine dust with particles having a diameter less than the first diameter passes, a flow ratio control nozzle arranged in the first channel and configured to control a flow ratio between fluid flowing into the first channel and fluid flowing into the second channel, and a fine dust sensor configured to sense fine dust flowing into the second channel.

The present invention places in the field of the maintenance of aeration, conditioning, air-conditioning, etc. plants, and in particular the present invention relates to a method for evaluating the cleaning state of a plant, with particular reference to the atmospheric particulate.

Methods and apparatus for measuring particle characteristics are disclosed. In one aspect, an amount of light arising from interaction between light and a suspended sample is detected simultaneously with the acquisition of a photon count from a different direction. At least one measure of particle characteristics can then be derived based at least in part on timing between information from the steps of acquiring and detecting.