Devices and methods for controlling the properties of chemical species during time-dependent processes. A device includes a reactor for containing one or more chemical species of a time-dependent process, an extraction pump for automatically and continuously extracting an amount of the one or more chemical species from the reactor, one or more detectors for measuring property changes of the one or more extracted chemical species and generating a continuous stream of data related to the one or more property changes to the one or more chemical species during a time interval, and a process controller configured to fit the continuous stream of data to a mathematical function to predict one or more properties of the one or more chemical species at a future time point and make one or more process decisions based on the prediction of one or more properties at the future time point.

A method of determining multimodal polyethylene quality comprising the steps of (a) providing a multimodal polyethylene resin sample; (b) determining, in any sequence, the following: that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a melt index within 30% of a target melt index; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a density within 2.5% of a target density; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a dynamic viscosity deviation (% MVD) from a target dynamic viscosity of less than about 100%; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) deviation (% M.sub.wD) from a target M.sub.w of less than about 20%; and that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curve profile deviation (% GPCD) from a target GPC curve profile of less than about 15%; and (c) responsive to step (b), designating the multimodal polyethylene resin sample as a high quality resin.

An actuator is provided that includes a housing, a linear actuating shaft disposed within the housing, a piston coupled with the shaft, and a fluid barrier disposed on an end of the shaft and encircled by the piston. The piston is movable longitudinally between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration upon rotation of the shaft. The fluid barrier engages an inner surface of the piston preventing fluid communication across the fluid barrier. The fluid barrier has a shaft engaging side which receives the shaft and a fluid facing side. A cavity is formed between the piston and the fluid facing side and expands when the piston moves to the extended configuration and contracts when the piston moves to the retracted configuration. A port is disposed in the piston and extends from the cavity to external the piston thereby permitting fluid communication between the cavity and external the piston.

A synthesis machine for preparation of a targeted inorganic material for recommended synthesis by a computer program that determines optimal solid-state methods for synthesis of an inorganic material. The computational method involves inputting a target inorganic material, querying structural data and thermodynamic data for the target inorganic material, enumerating possible synthetic reactions to construct a synthetic reaction database with a viable subset of the possible synthetic methods. The routine generates a nucleation metric and competition metric that are combined to provide recommended synthetic methods. The output for each of the recommended syntheses are input into a robotic synthesis machine where the delivery of reactants, reaction conditions, and analysis of extent of reaction, and product quality is controlled by a processor.

A test system comprising a reactor having a fluid circuit and a test zone for an item under test. A plurality of control zones are included in the fluid circuit for controlling parameters of the fluid in accordance with control information. A control system receives input data specifying test values for the fluid parameters, predicts the behaviour of the fluid using the input data and a mathematical model of the reactor, calculates control information based on the predicted fluid behaviour, and communicates the control information to the control zones. The system can simulate transient test conditions by selective use of fluid evacuation and dilution, and by use of temperature and flow bypass circuits.

A method for determining temperature information for a plurality of tubes in a furnace where one or more digital images provide temperature information for imaged tubes, and temperature information for non-imaged tubes is determined from the temperature information for the imaged tubes and measured temperatures of combined effluent from the imaged and non-imaged tubes.

A method of calculating a transient flow rate of a flowed process gas comprises flowing process gas through a mass flow controller into a chamber of known volume and measuring successive data sample points which include pressure data, temperature data, and a time value for each successive data sample point. Groups of successive data sample points are identified wherein each group shares one or more successive data sample points with another group, and ratio values are calculated for each of the successive data sample points wherein each ratio value is a ratio between the pressure data and a product of temperature and gas compressibility data for each respective time value. A line of best fit of the ratio values is determined within at least one group, and then the transient flow rate of the flowed process gas is calculated using a pressure rate of rise technique wherein the pressure rate of rise technique utilizes a ratio value determined from the line of best fit for at least one time value within the at least one group.

A synthesis machine for preparation of a targeted inorganic material for recommended synthesis by a computer program that determines optimal solid-state methods for synthesis of an inorganic material. The computational method involves inputting a target inorganic material, querying structural data and thermodynamic data for the target inorganic material, enumerating possible synthetic reactions to construct a synthetic reaction database with a viable subset of the possible synthetic methods. The routine generates a nucleation metric and competition metric that are combined to provide recommended synthetic methods. The output for each of the recommended syntheses are input into a robotic synthesis machine where the delivery of reactants, reaction conditions, and analysis of extent of reaction, and product quality is controlled by a processor.

A method of determining multimodal polyethylene quality comprising the steps of (a) providing a multimodal polyethylene resin sample; (b) determining, in any sequence, the following: that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a melt index within 30% of a target melt index; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a density within 2.5% of a target density; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a dynamic viscosity deviation (% MVD) from a target dynamic viscosity of less than about 100%; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) deviation (% M.sub.wD) from a target M.sub.w of less than about 20%; and that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curve profile deviation (% GPCD) from a target GPC curve profile of less than about 15%; and (c) responsive to step (b), designating the multimodal polyethylene resin sample as a high quality resin.

A process provides for minimizing an amount of fuel gas utilized in an absorber off-gas incinerator and better control of emissions. The process provides for less temperature deviations in the absorber off-gas incinerator firebox and for less deviation in an amount of oxygen in the absorber off-gas incinerator stack gas.