Visyx Technologies, Inc.

Symyx Technologies, Inc.

Meas France

Mark Uhrich

Leonid Matsiev

Oleg Kolosov

James W Bennett

John F Varni

G Cameron Dales

Mikhail Spitkovsky

Eric Low

Blake Walker

Shenheng Guan

Daniel Meron Pinkas

Vladimir Gammer

William Rust

John M Feland, Iii

Dave Padowitz

Eric D Carlson

David Padowitz

Stephen Cypes

Fluid sensor methods and systems adapted for monitoring and/or controlling distillation operations in fluidic systems, such as batch distillation operations or continuous distillation operations, are disclosed. Preferred embodiments are directed to process monitoring and/or process control for unit operations involving endpoint determination of a distillation, for example, as applied to a liquid-component-switching operation (e.g., a solvent switching operation), a liquid-liquid separation operation, a solute concentration operation, a dispersed-phase concentration operation, among others.

System for monitoring and controlling unit operations that include distillation

A system for monitoring a fluid in an environmental control system includes a mechanical resonator positioned for contacting a thermal change fluid. In some embodiments, the mechanical resonator is positioned in a passage for containing the thermal change fluid. Suitable thermal change fluids include an R-134A refrigerant, a mineral oil, an ester lubricant or a mixture thereof; a superheated refrigerant; or an elevated pressure and elevated temperature vapor, an elevated pressure liquid, a reduced pressure liquid, a reduced pressure vapor and combinations thereof. The mechanical resonator can be a flexural resonator or a torsion resonator. In some embodiments, the mechanical resonator is a tuning fork resonator. Methods of the invention include monitoring a response of the mechanical resonator to the thermal change fluid. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the mechanical resonator is translated through the thermal change fluid and the response of the resonator to the fluid is monitored.

Environmental control system fluid sensing system and method

Fluid monitoring methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed, including a portable subassembly that is in electrical communication with a sensor in contact with the fluid being monitred. Preferred embodiments for the sensor include one or more flexural resonator sensing elements. In preferred embodiments the sensor subassembly is ported to multiple fluidic systems to monitor the fluid properties in an effecient manner.

Portable fluid sensing device and method

A sensor for sensing one or more properties of a vehicle fluid has a tuning fork resonator adapted to contact the fluid. The tuning fork resonator comprises two tines and is operable to oscillate so that the two tines move in opposite phase at a frequency of less than 1 MHz while contacting the fluid to generate a resonator response indicative of one or more properties of the fluid. In another aspect, a sensor includes a substrate and a flexural resonator on the substrate and adapted to contact the fluid. Circuitry for operation of the resonator is on the substrate. The resonator is adapted to receive an input signal and to oscillate while contacting the fluid to generate a resonator response indicative of one or more properties of the fluid. One suitable application for the invention is monitoring the condition of a vehicle engine oil.

Machine fluid sensor

A method for analyzing a fluid contained within a machine, comprising the steps of providing a machine including a passage for containing a fluid; placing a sensor including a mechanical resonator in the passage; operating the resonator to have a portion thereof translate through the fluid; and monitoring the response of the resonator to the fluid in the passage. A preferred sensor includes a tuning fork resonator.

Machine fluid sensor and method

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Mark Uhrich