A sensor for detecting properties of a gas, gas mixture, or a gas or gas mixture containing particles, all collectively referred to as a gas. A flow tube contains a pair of electrodes arranged such that at least a portion of the gas flows between the electrodes. A controller applies voltage to the electrodes and measures response data from the electrodes representing the voltage-current relationship between the electrodes while the gas is between the electrodes. Based on the response data, the controller determines a concentration of particles within the gas.

This invention relates to identification of organic or nonorganic molecules dissolved in liquid solutions based on their internal dipole moment. These molecules include and are not limited to viruses, microbes, bacteria, and in general pathogens. The liquid solution provides a specific dielectric constant, which is directly related to the internal dipole moment of the dissolved pathogen. An electronic device namely PtSi-Porous Si schottky junction is proposed as the pathogen detector. This device, which is made of PtSi alloy covering the pores of an n-type Silicon substrate, is a sensitive indicator of the dielectric constant of the material filling its pores. In particular, such a device has a unique reverse biased current-voltage (IV) relation that is sensitive to changes in electric fields around its surface, which change its breakdown voltage. The change caused in the breakdown voltage due to a pathogen dissolved in a liquid solution can be traced back to the dipole moment of the pathogen and used to identify it. Furthermore, application of a frequency varying ac signal to the device can help distinguish molecules with identical dipole moments. Each pathogen exhibits a frequency at which a sudden change in its characteristics occurs. This change in the characteristics causes an abrupt change in the breakdown voltage. The frequency at which the breakdown voltage changes is then used to identify the pathogen.

This invention relates to identification of organic or nonorganic molecules dissolved in liquid solutions based on their internal dipole moment. These molecules include and are not limited to viruses, microbes, bacteria, and in general pathogens. The liquid solution provides a specific dielectric constant, which is directly related to the internal dipole moment of the dissolved pathogen. An electronic device namely PtSi-Porous Si schottky junction is proposed as the pathogen detector. This device, which is made of PtSi alloy covering the pores of an n-type Silicon substrate, is a sensitive indicator of the dielectric constant of the material filling its pores. In particular, such a device has a unique reverse biased current-voltage (IV) relation that is sensitive to changes in electric fields around its surface, which change its breakdown voltage. The change caused in the breakdown voltage due to a pathogen dissolved in a liquid solution can be traced back to the dipole moment of the pathogen and used to identify it. Furthermore, application of a frequency varying ac signal to the device can help distinguish molecules with identical dipole moments. Each pathogen exhibits a frequency at which a sudden change in its characteristics occurs. This change in the characteristics causes an abrupt change in the breakdown voltage. The frequency at which the breakdown voltage changes is then used to identify the pathogen.

A method and device is disclosed for measuring one or more physical properties of, and/or induced by, out-gassing products released from and/or trapped within a joint in response to a lightning strike or other electrical current threat. A device for measuring one or more physical properties of, and/or induced by, gases, plasma and/or particles released from a joint in response to an electrical current threat. The joint includes a fastener passing through a structure so that an end of the fastener protrudes from the structure. The device includes a containment member having a base surrounding an opening into a cavity, the containment member being arranged to be mounted over the end of the fastener to enclose the end of the fastener within the cavity and to seal the opening; and one or more sensors arranged to measure physical properties of gases, plasma and/or particles contained by the cavity.

A method and device is disclosed for measuring one or more physical properties of, and/or induced by, out-gassing products released from and/or trapped within a joint in response to a lightning strike or other electrical current threat. A device for measuring one or more physical properties of, and/or induced by, gases, plasma and/or particles released from a joint in response to an electrical current threat. The joint includes a fastener passing through a structure so that an end of the fastener protrudes from the structure. The device includes a containment member having a base surrounding an opening into a cavity, the containment member being arranged to be mounted over the end of the fastener to enclose the end of the fastener within the cavity and to seal the opening; and one or more sensors arranged to measure physical properties of gases, plasma and/or particles contained by the cavity.

A method and a device for testing for the presence of micro-holes or microcracks in a bottom surface of test objects includes an upper electrode arranged above a transport level and a lower electrode arranged below the transport level. The magnitude of a test voltage generated by two voltage sources connected in series is controlled at the electrodes so that the test voltage is greater than or equal to the breakdown voltage between the electrodes in air, and smaller than the breakdown voltage through a test object without holes or cracks. The test voltage is controlled temporally and synchronously with the movement of the test objects, so that the test voltage is only applied when one of the test objects is located between the electrodes. A hole or crack is recognized by a breakdown to the discharge path between the electrodes.

Embodiments of an emulsion stability probe generally include two opposing electrodes with a gap there between, one or more electrical circuitry devices embedded in a probe assembly, and electrical circuitry devices that function to quantify and manipulate a sensed current signal, wherein the manipulated signal can be transmitted to an emulsion stability meter. Embodiments of an in-line emulsion stability measurement system generally include an electrical stability probe equipped with a process-connectable fitting, wherein attachment of the electrical stability probe to a process piping segment, utilizing the fitting, provides the electrodes and gap at least partially within the process piping segment, and whereby an in-line emulsion stability measurement of process fluid disposed within the piping segment may be performed. Methods of performing an emulsion stability measurement in-line and/or using an embodiment of the emulsion stability probe disclosed herein are also provided.

Embodiments of an emulsion stability probe generally include two opposing electrodes with a gap there between, one or more electrical circuitry devices embedded in a probe assembly, and electrical circuitry devices that function to quantify and manipulate a sensed current signal, wherein the manipulated signal can be transmitted to an emulsion stability meter. Embodiments of an in-line emulsion stability measurement system generally include an electrical stability probe equipped with a process-connectable fitting, wherein attachment of the electrical stability probe to a process piping segment, utilizing the fitting, provides the electrodes and gap at least partially within the process piping segment, and whereby an in-line emulsion stability measurement of process fluid disposed within the piping segment may be performed. Methods of performing an emulsion stability measurement in-line and/or using an embodiment of the emulsion stability probe disclosed herein are also provided.

A monitoring system includes an acoustic emission monitoring system including acoustic emission sensors, a partial discharge monitoring system including partial discharge sensors and synchronized with the acoustic emission monitoring system, and a computer receiving acoustic emission data from the acoustic emission sensors and electrical data from the partial discharge sensors. The computer is configured to classify a first statistical event as a fatigue cracking event by pattern recognition of the acoustic emission data and determine a first location and a first damage condition resulting from the fatigue cracking event, classify a second statistical event as a partial discharge event by pattern recognition of the acoustic emission data or the electrical data, and fuse the acoustic emission data and the electrical data for the second statistical event and determine a second location and a second damage condition resulting from the partial discharge event. Methods of monitoring are also disclosed.

A monitoring system includes an acoustic emission monitoring system including acoustic emission sensors, a partial discharge monitoring system including partial discharge sensors and synchronized with the acoustic emission monitoring system, and a computer receiving acoustic emission data from the acoustic emission sensors and electrical data from the partial discharge sensors. The computer is configured to classify a first statistical event as a fatigue cracking event by pattern recognition of the acoustic emission data and determine a first location and a first damage condition resulting from the fatigue cracking event, classify a second statistical event as a partial discharge event by pattern recognition of the acoustic emission data or the electrical data, and fuse the acoustic emission data and the electrical data for the second statistical event and determine a second location and a second damage condition resulting from the partial discharge event. Methods of monitoring are also disclosed.