The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for providing a sensor signal S indicative of a vapor quality X of a medium flowing within a conduit 38a. A sensor includes a heating element and a temperature sensing element is arranged in thermal contact with a wall of a horizontally arranged portion 38a of the conduit 34. Processing means are disposed to deliver a sensor signal S based on an output of the temperature sensing element 52. The sensor 40 includes a sensor body 46 made of a metal material. The heating element 48 and the temperature sensing element 52 are arranged in thermal contact with the sensor body 46. The invention further relates to a cooling system 10 including at least one evaporator 32 for evaporating an ammonia refrigerant, at least one compressor 12 arranged to compress the evaporated refrigerant, and at least one condenser 18 for condensing the compressed refrigerant, and at least one evaporator pump 30 for pumping the condensed refrigerant to the evaporator 32. A sensor arrangement 50 is arranged at a conduit 34 conducting the refrigerant from at least a portion of the evaporator 32.

A substance detection system and a substance detection method are provided. The temperature identifying portion identifies a surface temperature of the quartz substrate, based on a difference between a deviation of the fundamental wave frequency from at least any predetermined reference fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the detecting crystal resonator and a deviation of the third harmonic frequency from a predetermined reference third harmonic frequency. The substance identifying portion identifies a temperature at which a contaminant attached to the detecting crystal resonator is desorbed from the detecting crystal resonator to identify the contaminant based on the temperature at which the contaminant is desorbed. The temperature is identified based on a difference between the fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the fundamental wave frequency of the detecting crystal resonator measured by the frequency measuring portion and the temperature identified by the temperature identifying portion.

A substance detection system and a substance detection method are provided. The temperature identifying portion identifies a surface temperature of the quartz substrate, based on a difference between a deviation of the fundamental wave frequency from at least any predetermined reference fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the detecting crystal resonator and a deviation of the third harmonic frequency from a predetermined reference third harmonic frequency. The substance identifying portion identifies a temperature at which a contaminant attached to the detecting crystal resonator is desorbed from the detecting crystal resonator to identify the contaminant based on the temperature at which the contaminant is desorbed. The temperature is identified based on a difference between the fundamental wave frequency of the reference crystal resonator and the fundamental wave frequency of the detecting crystal resonator measured by the frequency measuring portion and the temperature identified by the temperature identifying portion.

The invention relates to detecting a composition of a sample or contamination in liquids by detecting corresponding changes in their thermal properties. In a disclosed arrangement, an apparatus is provided comprising a first probe element configured to provide a first surface in direct contact with the sample and a second surface that is not in direct contact with the sample. A measurement system measures a rate of heat transfer through the first surface. A processing unit analyses the measured rate of heat transfer in order to detect a heat transfer characteristic of the sample that is indicative of a composition of the sample.

A method of directly analyzing an environmental sample, such as a crude oil sample, to determine distillation ranges, identify elements therein, and/or identify impurities. The method includes performing multi-element scanning thermal analysis (MESTA) on the environmental sample to obtain a thermogram of the elements within the environmental sample, wherein peak information within the thermogram indicates the presence of the elements, compounds, and/or impurities within the particular environmental sample.

A method of directly analyzing an environmental sample, such as a crude oil sample, to determine distillation ranges, identify elements therein, and/or identify impurities. The method includes performing multi-element scanning thermal analysis (MESTA) on the environmental sample to obtain a thermogram of the elements within the environmental sample, wherein peak information within the thermogram indicates the presence of the elements, compounds, and/or impurities within the particular environmental sample.

An apparatus for Vapour Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) data measurement of a mixture to establish a quick equilibrium and to avoid flashing is disclosed herein. With the known apparatus, the underlining problems are heat loss or improper mixing, flashing inside the apparatus High boiling point difference, and prolong time to establish equilibrium conditions. In order to overcome stated problems, the apparatus is provided with a vapour-liquid mixer (K) for proper mixing of equilibrium liquid from the equilibrium chamber and vapor condensate from the condenser (L) before recycling back to the boiling chamber (F) to avoid any temperature and composition gradient and for fast attainment of equilibrium. Additionally, a cooling jacket (P) is provided to a mixing chamber (K) and a connecting tube between an equilibrium chamber and the mixing chamber (K) to avoid flashing for the accurate measurement of VLE data.

An apparatus for Vapour Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) data measurement of a mixture to establish a quick equilibrium and to avoid flashing is disclosed herein. With the known apparatus, the underlining problems are heat loss or improper mixing, flashing inside the apparatus High boiling point difference, and prolong time to establish equilibrium conditions. In order to overcome stated problems, the apparatus is provided with a vapour-liquid mixer (K) for proper mixing of equilibrium liquid from the equilibrium chamber and vapor condensate from the condenser (L) before recycling back to the boiling chamber (F) to avoid any temperature and composition gradient and for fast attainment of equilibrium. Additionally, a cooling jacket (P) is provided to a mixing chamber (K) and a connecting tube between an equilibrium chamber and the mixing chamber (K) to avoid flashing for the accurate measurement of VLE data.

Reaction vessels which allow visualization while speeding vaporization or other reactions. In one illustrative embodiment, a reaction vessel may have sidewalls formed from a transparent material such as a clear quartz glass having relatively smooth surface and relatively low thermal transfer properties while allowing for visualization into the vessel. The vessel floor may be formed from a porous textured opaque quartz glass bottom. Liquids in the vessel will more readily react due to the numerous pores on the surface of the material of the bottom which serve as active nucleation sites during a chemical reaction process. Additionally, an unexpectedly higher rate of thermal diffusivity into the vessel interior may further increase reaction speeds. Methods of conducting and analyzing reactions using such vessels are further included in the present disclosure.

Reaction vessels which allow visualization while speeding vaporization or other reactions. In one illustrative embodiment, a reaction vessel may have sidewalls formed from a transparent material such as a clear quartz glass having relatively smooth surface and relatively low thermal transfer properties while allowing for visualization into the vessel. The vessel floor may be formed from a porous textured opaque quartz glass bottom. Liquids in the vessel will more readily react due to the numerous pores on the surface of the material of the bottom which serve as active nucleation sites during a chemical reaction process. Additionally, an unexpectedly higher rate of thermal diffusivity into the vessel interior may further increase reaction speeds. Methods of conducting and analyzing reactions using such vessels are further included in the present disclosure.