Southwest Research Institute

Gas Research Institute

Colin I Nicholls

James Derwin King

William L Rollwitz

Armando De Los Santos

J Derwin King

Robert E Anderson

Martin J Sablik

An apparatus and method for determining the presence of certain elements or compounds within an object, wherein the object under examination contains both nuclei of a first type which exhibit nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclei of a second type which exhibit nuclear quadrupolar resonance. The apparatus and method involve subjecting the object to a magnetic field and to a radiation beam whose characteristics in the presence of a magnetic field and in the absence of a magnetic field can be measured. The radiation transmission and/or absorption 'fingerprint' of a particular substance is experimentally determined and recorded in the presence of a magnetic field calculated to optimize a cross coupling between nuclei of the first (NMR) type and nuclei of the second (NQR) type. This reference is then utilized later as a basis on which to identify an unknown compound exhibiting the same radiation absorption and/or transmission characteristics in response to the same or similar magnetic field intensity. Specific types of radiation and specific magnetic field intensities are pre-selected as optimizing the detectability of specific NMR/NQR element pairs.

Explosive detection method and apparatus using selective gamma ray

An on-line product sampling apparatus and method for measuring product samples from a product stream (12) in a flow line (14) having a sampling aperture (11), includes a sampling tube (18) for containing product samples removed from flow line (14). A piston (22) removes product samples from the product stream (12) through the sampling aperture (11) and returns samples to product stream (12). A sensor (20) communicates with sample tube (18), and senses physical properties of samples while the samples are within sample tube (18). In one embodiment, sensor (20) comprises a hydrogen transient nuclear magnetic resonance sensor for measuring physical properties of hydrogen molecules.

Flow line sampler

A method of using a transient NMR response signal to determine physical properties of gases, specifically calorific content and compressibility, while the gas is in-line. The amplitude of the free induction decay signal, as well as relaxation time constants, are used to identify components of a gas mixture and to determine relative composition. This data is then used to calculate calorific value and compressibility as a function of the hydrogen content of components of the gas rather than as a function of the total hydrogen content of the gas.

Hydrocarbon gas measurements using nuclear magnetic resonance

An improved method for producing high temperature superconductors comprising sintering ceramic superconductor material in a sealed confinement chamber made of non-reactive impervious material, thereby preventing loss of oxygen from the material during heating and eliminating the need for reoxygenation after sintering.

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Colin I Nicholls