The present disclosure an improved apparatus for fast pyrolysis and methods associated with the apparatus. For instance, the present disclosure provides methods for analyzing intermediate products formed via a fast pyrolysis reaction utilizing one or more pulses of pyrolysis vapor through a valve in the apparatus. The described methods provide improved identification of products formed in the fast pyrolysis reaction by using millisecond time resolution for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis.

Disclosed is a method and a device for detecting a non-condensable portion of a medium, which has at least one condensable portion and is present at least partially in gaseous form, wherein in a first method step a temperature measuring device measures a temperature of the medium and a pressure measuring device measures a pressure of the medium, wherein in a second method step a ratio of the pressure to temperature is formed by means of an electronic measuring/operating circuit and this ratio is compared with a desired ratio of a desired pressure and a desired temperature, and wherein in a third method step the electronic measuring/operating circuit outputs a report in case of a minimum deviation of the ratio from the desired ratio.

Disclosed is a method and a device for detecting a non-condensable portion of a medium, which has at least one condensable portion and is present at least partially in gaseous form, wherein in a first method step a temperature measuring device measures a temperature of the medium and a pressure measuring device measures a pressure of the medium, wherein in a second method step a ratio of the pressure to temperature is formed by means of an electronic measuring/operating circuit and this ratio is compared with a desired ratio of a desired pressure and a desired temperature, and wherein in a third method step the electronic measuring/operating circuit outputs a report in case of a minimum deviation of the ratio from the desired ratio.

Provided is a simulation model sample for evaluation of heat treatment including a porous water absorbing material that is flexible and deformable; and a container that is configured to be able to contain the porous water absorbing material having water absorbed therein. Also provided is a method for evaluating heat treatment using a simulation model sample including a step of allowing a flexible and deformable porous water absorbing material to absorb water, and the porous water absorbing material to be contained in a container, to produce a simulation model sample; and a step of subjecting the simulation model sample to heat treatment, while measuring a temperature inside the simulation model sample.

Described is a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) instrument capable of performing analyses of multiple samples at the same time. Some embodiments of DSC instruments described herein include a thermal substrate that provides a substantially uniform temperature across a surface of the substrate. A plurality of DSC units is in thermal communication with the substrate, for example, by mounting the units directly to the surface of the substrate. Each DSC unit includes a second thermal substrate for further thermal isolation, and a reference platform and sample platform to receive a reference cell and a sample cell, respectively. A thermoelectric device is disposed between each platform and the second thermal substrate. Optionally, the reference and sample cells may be disposable chips that can be discarded after measurement are performed, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to clean instrument components to prevent cross-contamination for subsequent instrument operation.

Provided is a simulation model sample for evaluation of heat treatment including a porous water absorbing material that is flexible and deformable; and a container that is configured to be able to contain the porous water absorbing material having water absorbed therein. Also provided is a method for evaluating heat treatment using a simulation model sample including a step of allowing a flexible and deformable porous water absorbing material to absorb water, and the porous water absorbing material to be contained in a container, to produce a simulation model sample; and a step of subjecting the simulation model sample to heat treatment, while measuring a temperature inside the simulation model sample.

A pressure sensor 1 according to the first aspect of the invention includes: a substrate 50; and a functional element 40 which is laid on the substrate 50 and is composed of functional titanium oxide including crystal grains of at least one of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and having the property that at least a portion of crystal grains of at least one of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) change into crystal grains of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) when the functional titanium oxide is heated to 350° C. or higher. The substrate 50 includes a substrate thin-film section 51 having a thin film form in which the thickness in the stacking direction of the substrate 50 and the functional element 40 is smaller than that in the other directions.

A pressure sensor 1 according to the first aspect of the invention includes: a substrate 50; and a functional element 40 which is laid on the substrate 50 and is composed of functional titanium oxide including crystal grains of at least one of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and having the property that at least a portion of crystal grains of at least one of β-phase trititanium pentoxide (β-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) and λ-phase trititanium pentoxide (λ-Ti.sub.3O.sub.5) change into crystal grains of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) when the functional titanium oxide is heated to 350° C. or higher. The substrate 50 includes a substrate thin-film section 51 having a thin film form in which the thickness in the stacking direction of the substrate 50 and the functional element 40 is smaller than that in the other directions.

Provided is a thermal analyzer, with which a sample can be observed even under a state in which a heat sink is cooled to a room temperature or lower. The thermal analyzer includes: the heat sink, in which a measurement sample container and a reference sample container are placed; a heat sink cover configured to cover the heat sink; a heat sink window provided in the heat sink; a heat sink cover window provided in the heat sink cover; an imaging device configured to image the sample in the heat sink through the heat sink window and the heat sink cover window; a purge gas introduction portion, through which a purge gas is introduced into the heat sink; and a discharge port, through which the purge gas is allowed to flow from one of the heat sink window and the heat sink to a space inside the heat sink cover.

Provided is a thermal analyzer, with which a sample can be observed even under a state in which a heat sink is cooled to a room temperature or lower. The thermal analyzer includes: the heat sink, in which a measurement sample container and a reference sample container are placed; a heat sink cover configured to cover the heat sink; a heat sink window provided in the heat sink; a heat sink cover window provided in the heat sink cover; an imaging device configured to image the sample in the heat sink through the heat sink window and the heat sink cover window; a purge gas introduction portion, through which a purge gas is introduced into the heat sink; and a discharge port, through which the purge gas is allowed to flow from one of the heat sink window and the heat sink to a space inside the heat sink cover.