Courtney P Mudd

US Patent:

59888750, Nov 23, 1999

Filed:

Dec 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/994230

Inventors:

Norman Gershfeld - Bethesda MD
Courtney Mudd - Great Falls VA
Albert Jin - Silver Springs MD
Kazuhiro Fukada - Tokyo, JP

Assignee:

The United States of America as respresented by the Department of Health
and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 2518
G01N 2500

US Classification:

374 10

Abstract:

A method of simultaneously measuring thermal conductivity and heat capacity of a fluid, using a heat conduction calorimeter having a reference fluid in a first cell and a sample fluid in a second cell includes the steps of calibrating the calorimeter using a standard fluid having known thermal conductivity and heat capacity over a range of temperatures and the reference fluid to determine a set of sensitivity parameters, {a. sub. n. sup. ij }, of the calorimeter, wherein the a. sub. n. sup. ij are functions of the calorimeter, temperature and the reference fluid; applying a square wave heat pulse to the calorimeter containing said sample fluid and said reference fluid; measuring the thermal response curve to the square wave heat pulse, wherein the thermal response curve is a function of time, temperature of the measurement, thermal properties of the sample fluid, and thermal properties of the reference fluid; reducing the response curve to a set of discrete characteristic parameters, {p. sub. n } wherein each pn is a function of time, temperature of the measurement, thermal properties of the sample fluid and thermal properties of the reference fluid; calculating the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the sample fluid from the {p. sub. n } for the sample fluid and the {a. sub. n. sup.

US Patent:

52176908, Jun 8, 1993

Filed:

Nov 6, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/793215

Inventors:

Courtney Mudd - Great Falls VA
Robert Berger - Bethesda MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health
and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 2548

US Classification:

422 51

Abstract:

A highly sensitive, quick recovery differential microcalorimeter includes two matchingly formed and cooperatingly disposed flow channels. Each flow channel has two inlets, at least one mixing assembly connected to each fluid inlet, a fluid outlet connected to each mixing assembly, at least one heater element surrounding at least a portion of each fluid outlet, and a plurality of sensors surrounding at least a portion of each fluid outlet. Each of the mixing assemblies includes a mixing chamber and at least one entry manifold connected to a fluid inlet and having a plurality of ports which connect to the mixing chamber.