A microfluidic device and a method for mixing liquids by moving the liquids back-and-forth between a chamber of a piston pump and a cavity of a spectrophotometric measuring cell. The disclosure also relates to physicochemical analysis of a mixture directly within the microfluidic device wherein the mixture is obtained using the method described herein. The disclosure also relates to a device and a method for sampling liquids remotely.

An automated computer-vision system is used for timing the sand drainage in a sand management arrangement that handles flowback of sand and other solid materials in a slurry of flow from well(s) at wellsite(s). The automated system uses infrared imaging of flowback equipment to determine a level of solids (sand) in the equipment. Image processing of the temperature differences of the content in the equipment gives a demarcation of the sand and liquid separation in the equipment, which is used to determine how much sand is present. If the equipment is found to be full or above a predefined benchmark, the automated system operates a discharge skid to discharge the contents to a waste tank.

A dilution control device and method of operating the same. The dilution control device can include a structure for dispensing concentrate and diluent fluid in a desired dilution ratio utilizing volumetric dosing. In some embodiments, diluent fluid drives a wheel or compresses a pliable concentrate bag in order to dispense concentrate in the desired ratio with the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, one or more floats can be used to drive a pump or actuate a valve to dispense concentrate at a particular rate proportional with the flow rate of the diluent fluid. In some embodiments, a rocker is responsive to the flow of diluent fluid to pump concentrate. In some embodiments, the dilution control device can be operable to automatically modulate the dispense rate of concentrate when the diluent fluid flow rate is varied in order to maintain a predetermined dilution ratio.

A fluid arrangement (10) for continuous delivery of volumetrically proportioned gases or like fluids includes a valve assembly (11) and a volumetric fluid storage bank (143), which has first and second sets (144, 151) of fluid storage chambers (145, 148, 152, 155). The valve assembly (11) alternately supplies a consumer with a blend of gases from the first set (144) of fluid storage chambers while charging the second set (151) of fluid storage chambers from pressurized gas sources (158, 159), and, upon a threshold depletion of gases from the first set (144) of chambers, supplies the consumer with a blend of gases from the second set (151) of fluid storage chambers while charging the first set (144) of fluid storage chambers from the gas sources (158, 159). The valve assembly (11) again supplies mixed gases from the first set (144) of chambers while charging the second set (151) of chambers.

An oxygen generator uses a composition for generating oxygen and an acidic compound, with the composition for generating oxygen including an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, a metal oxide compound and optionally a basic compound. The oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C., the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals which are from groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements. There is also described a method for decelerating or stopping the oxygen production from an oxygen generating composition, and a device for generating oxygen in a controlled manner.

A valve assembly and fluid arrangement for continuous delivery of volumetrically proportioned gases or like fluids includes a valve assembly and a volumetric fluid storage bank, which has first and second sets of fluid storage chambers. The valve assembly alternately supplies a consumer with a blend of gases from the first set of fluid storage chambers while charging the second set of fluid storage chambers from pressurized gas sources, and, upon a threshold depletion of gases from the first set of chambers, supply the consumer with a blend of gases from the second set of fluid storage chambers while charging the first set of fluid storage chambers from the gas sources. Upon the threshold depletion of gases from the second set of chambers, the valve assembly again supplies mixed gases from the first set of chambers while charging the second set of chambers, and the process repeats.

An oxygen generator has a composition for generating oxygen and a basic compound. The composition for generating oxygen includes an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, a metal salt, and an optional basic compound. The oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from −10° C. to +50° C., the metal salt has one single metal or two or more different metals, and an organic and/or an inorganic anion. There is also described a method for starting or accelerating the oxygen production of an oxygen generating composition, and a device for generating oxygen in a controlled manner.

A water purification apparatus includes a water inlet; a medicine mixing device in fluid communication with the water inlet; and a water outlet interconnected to the medicine mixing device and a dental treatment center. The medicine mixing device includes a medicine storage for storing antiseptic solution, a mixing unit interconnected to the water inlet, the water outlet, and the medicine storage, and a controller interconnected to the water inlet and the medicine storage. The controller includes a sensor and a microprocessor. The controller sends the antiseptic solution from the medicine storage to the mixing unit and controls a volume of water flowing from the water inlet to the mixing unit. The microprocessor instructs the controller to control a volume of the antiseptic solution supplied from the medicine storage to the mixing unit based on a signal sensed by the sensor.

An oxygen generator has a composition for generating oxygen and an acidic compound and/or a basic compound. The composition for generating oxygen includes an oxygen source, an ionic liquid, a metal oxide compound and/or a metal salt, and optionally a basic compound. The oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., the metal oxide compound is an oxide of a single metal or of two or more different metals selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements. The metal salt has a single metal or two or more different metals, and an organic and/or an inorganic anion. There is also described a method for controlling the oxygen production rate of the oxygen generator, and a device for generating oxygen in a controlled manner.

A water purification apparatus includes a water inlet; a medicine mixing device in fluid communication with the water inlet; and a water outlet interconnected to the medicine mixing device and a dental treatment center. The medicine mixing device includes a medicine storage for storing antiseptic solution, a mixing unit interconnected to the water inlet, the water outlet, and the medicine storage, and a controller interconnected to the water inlet and the medicine storage. The controller includes a sensor and a microprocessor. The controller sends the antiseptic solution from the medicine storage to the mixing unit and controls a volume of water flowing from the water inlet to the mixing unit. The microprocessor instructs the controller to control a volume of the antiseptic solution supplied from the medicine storage to the mixing unit based on a signal sensed by the sensor.