Method and apparatus for analysing a substance in a container, the method comprising the steps of: disposing antenna means (3) at a predetermined geometrical distance (L) from a container portion (13); transmitting a signal from said antenna means through a surface portion (12) of the substance towards said container portion; receiving a first reflected signal in said antenna means from said container portion; determining a geometrical distance (L 1 ) from the surface portion to the container portion; varying the frequency of the transmitted signal to determine a first phase displacement between the transmitted signal and the first reflected signal; determining an optical distance from the surface portion to the container portion based on the first phase displacement; and determining the index of refraction (n 1 ) of said substance based on the optical and geometrical from the surface portion to the container portion.

This is a pilot study to investigate icing on wings of wind power turbines. In this report we present and discuss various ways and means to either heat water droplets or melt ice when formed on the wings of wind turbines. The situation is different from icing on wings of airplanes in that (1) the wings of wind turbines spend all of their time in the atmosphere where the risk of icing is highest and (2) the speed of wing to air varies over the wing where it is constant for an airplane. The form of the wind turbine wings also varies from tip to centre, to compensate for the varying relative air speed.

We have concentrated on icing conditions at temperatures -10°C – 0°C and droplet sizes of 1-10 μm. Icing occurs also at much lower temperatures, but this will probably be because of direct freezing of water vapour to ice. This is presently outside the scope of our pilot project report.

We conclude that

• The form of the wing, especially on the contact area may be crucial to the icing problem.
• Also the nano-metric structure of the wing surface can probably be designed so that the water droplets have a minimized contact area to the wing.

Our pilot investigation also suggests the following:

• Microwaves are much too inefficient to heat water or melt ice. Direct microwave devices should therefore not be developed. Indirect heating with microwaves is possible.
• Millimeter waves are sufficiently efficient, but the generation is most probably too inefficient to be of any practical use.
• Infrared waves are very efficient to heat water and melt ice and should be investigated.
• Heat conduction is also efficient and should be pursued. Using microwaves to heat the wing surface which then conduct heat to the water/ice is a very efficient and robust method.

Our pre-study suggests that the solution to avoid icing or de-ice wings of wind turbines most probably is not one single technology. The form and surface structure of the wings play important role for icing conditions. Both variables have to be modified depending on the latitude and atmospheric climate. The surface structure also has to be designed to vary over the wing, both along and across to be optimized for the mean conditions at the site. In addition, heating of the impact area, or at least the possibility to heat this, may be important to avoid loss of energy output due to ice.

Further research is required. We strongly suggest investigating the water droplet flow over the wing as function of the cross section form, and the contact with the wing surface as function of the surface structure (e.g. Lotus effect).

The present report is the result of a pre-study project. We will now continue with a deeper project which will concentrate on the form and surface structure suggestions which results from our analysis and flow simulations.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and system using transmission of an electromagnetic signal in order to determine the positions of reflection points by detecting the signals reflected at the reflection points in space. ; SOLUTION: The present invention provides a method, antenna, and system for defining the positions of the reflection points using microwave. The electromagnetic signal is generated at a determined frequency, and is transmitted by an antenna unit. The antenna unit comprises a transmitting antenna, and many receiving antennas that are separated at a known interval in the direction perpendicular to the main visual axis and are designed to receive a part of the reflected wave of the transmitted wave. A phase comparing means is connected to the transmitting antenna and receiving antennas, and a control unit connected to the phase comparing means can calculate an angle to the reflection points and calculate the distances to the reflection points. ; COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

The accumulation of deposits in the honing grooves of the cylinder liner surfaces of internal combustion engines is undesirable as they seal the grooves (reducing their oil retention capability) and increase engine's oil consumption. As part of a long-term programme of truck engine development, after different running times and under similar conditions of load, engine speed and lubrication, a number of grey iron cylinder liners were axially sectioned, measured, inspected and a presence of deposits was discovered. These deposits were characterised in order to gain knowledge about their origin and quantities. The X-ray energy dispersive analysis revealed elements stemming from the oil/fuel (C, O and S), from the detergent (Ca and Mg), from the anti-wear additive (Zn and P), and from some contaminants (K and Si). Higher concentration of S and Ca were mostly found in the honing grooves covered with deposits suggesting a domination of the detergent additive. Deposit thickness measurements obtained by a white light interferometer revealed patchy deposit topographies concentrated at the top region reducing towards the bottom of the liner which was also confirmed by scanning electron microscope measurements. Despite the limitations of the interferometer, it has been shown that the interference measurements are sufficiently reliable for a quick and objective quantification of the overall deposit accumulation.

A method, an antenna, and a system for determining positions for reflectio n points using microwaves. An electromagnetic wave signal is generated at a defined frequency, and transmitted by an antenna unit. the antenna unit includes a transmitter antenna and a plurality of receiver antennas, separated by a kno wn spacing perpendicular to a main line of sight and devised to receive reflect ed portions of the transmitted wave. Phase comparator means are connected to th e transmitter antenna and the receiver antennas, and a control unit connected to the phase comparator means is operable to calculate an angle to a reflection poi nt from detected phase difference between at least two receiver antennas and the spacing between said at least two receiver antennas, and to calculate a distance to the reflection point from detected phase difference between the transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna dependent on the frequency.

We have studied self-assembled InAs quantum dots embedded in an InP matrix using photocapacitance and photocurrent spectroscopy. These dots are potentially promising for memories due to the large confinement energy for holes. In this work we have realized simple quantum dot memory by placing the dots in the space–charge region of a Schottky junction. Our measurements reveal that a maximum of about one hole can be stored per dot. We also find that illumination for an extended period deletes the stored charge. We show that these limitations do not reflect the intrinsic properties of the dots, but rather the sample structure in combination with deep traps present in the sample.