A video decoding method using an inter prediction, includes: reconstructing a first differential motion vector and a second differential motion vector of a current block by decoding encoded data; deriving a first predicted motion vector and a second predicted motion vector of the current block from one or more neighboring blocks of the current block; generating a first motion vector of the current block by adding the first candidate motion vector to the first differential motion vector, and a second motion vector of the current block by adding the second candidate motion vector to the second differential motion vector; generating a predicted block of the current block by using the first and second motion vectors; reconstructing a residual block by decoding residual signals included in the encoded data; and adding each pixel value of the predicted block to a corresponding pixel value of the residual block.

The present disclosure generally relates to a method and device for encoding a frame. The method and the device comprises a processor configured for: —encoding (12) a backlight frame determined (11) from the frame; —obtaining (13) at least one component of a residual frame by dividing each component of the frame by a decoded version of the backlight frame; —mapping each component (YRes) of the residual frame (Res) such that the mapping of each pixel (YRes,P) of a component (YRes) of the residual frame Res depends on the pixel value (Balp) of either the backlight frame (Bal) or a decoded version of the backlight frame (Bal), associated with this pixel (p); and—encoding (18) the mapped residual frame. The disclosure further relates to a decoding method and device.

The present invention relates to a method for decoding a video signal, comprising the steps of: acquiring a transform size flag of the current macroblock from a video signal; checking the number of non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in a first transform block which corresponds to the transform size flag; changing a scan order of the first transform block by prioritizing the position of the pixel having the greatest number of the non-zero transform coefficients in the first transform block; determining the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in a second transform block, and setting the changed scan order of the first transform block as an initialized scan order of the second transform block; adding the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in the first transform block and the number of the non-zero transform coefficients at each pixel position in the second transform block, and changing the scan order of the second transform block by prioritizing the position of the pixel having the greatest number of the non-zero transform coefficients; and decoding the transform coefficients arranged in the scan order changed in the previous step, wherein the first transform block and the second transform block have sizes corresponding to the transform size flag, and are contained in the current macroblock.

An encoder encodes pixels representative of a picture in a multimedia stream, generates a first approximate signature based on approximate values of pixels in a reconstructed copy of the picture, and transmits the encoded pixels and the first approximate signature. A decoder receives a first packet including the encoded pixels and the first approximate signature, decodes the encoded pixels, and transmits a first signal in response to comparing the first approximate signature and a second approximate signature generated based on approximate values of the decoded pixels. If a corrupted packet is detected, the multimedia application requests an intra-coded picture in response to the first approximate signature differing from the second approximate signature. The second signal instructs the decoder to bypass requesting an intra-coded picture and to continue decoding received packets in response to the first approximate signature being equal to the second approximate signature.

Systems and associated methods for reciprocity calibration of MIMO wireless communication are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a base station, a first set of pilot symbols by receivers (RXes) of the base station based on a first pilot symbol transmitted from a transmitter (TX) of at least one reference antenna, transmitting, by the base station, a second pilot symbol by TXes of the base station, wherein the transmitted second pilot symbol is received by an RX of the at least one reference antenna as a second set of r0,i pilot symbols calculating non-reciprocity compensation factors based on the first set of pilot symbols and the second set of pilot symbols.

A direct drive ceiling fan is described that includes at least one blade and a permanent magnet motor (e.g., PMSM) as a driving source. The permanent magnet motor includes a stator with a 45 to 90 slot construction and multiple stator winding coils and the rotor assembly includes a permanent magnet that has from 50 to 80 magnetic poles. The coils are wound according to a symmetric winding pattern that is selected based on the numbers of slots and poles used in the motor. The resulting motor produces near zero to zero radial forces (Fx and Fy) during operation of the fan.

A seal assembly for a submersible pumping system is presented. The seal assembly includes a housing and a support tube disposed within the housing. Further, the seal assembly includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) foil disposed within the housing, surrounding the support tube to define a first chamber between the shape memory alloy foil and the support tube. The first chamber is configured to store a motor fluid, and wherein the shape memory alloy foil is configured to restrict a flow of a wellbore fluid to the motor fluid.

One aspect provides an air conditioning system that includes a compressor housing, a motor having fan blades rotatably coupled thereto and located within the compressor housing. The motor has a rotation sensor associated with it that is configured to sense a rotation of the fan blades. This embodiment further comprises a controller coupled to the motor and is configured to increase a torque of the motor when the rotation sensor indicates that the fan blades are not rotating after an on command signal is received by the motor.

A pumping system for compressible fluids comprises a first pump (20) having a first pump outlet (21) and a second pump (30) having a second pump outlet (31), wherein the first pump outlet (21) and the second pump outlet (31) merge in a junction (40) which is in fluid communication with a main outlet (48). The pumping system further comprises a control (50) to regulate the output pressure (p2) of the second pump (30) on the basis of a measurement of the output pressure (p1) of the first pump (20). The corresponding method of operating a pumping system is also disclosed.

A method for controlling an electric ventilator includes: setting a first threshold temperature T1D of a microcontroller lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3D of the microcontroller; monitoring a temperature TD of the microcontroller; setting a first threshold temperature T1M of an electronic power device lower than a maximum threshold temperature T3M of the electronic power device; monitoring a temperature TM of the electronic power device; preparing a counter of a predetermined time X; activating the counter if the temperature TD or the temperature TM exceeds respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M; reducing a speed V of rotation of an electric motor to a second value V1 lower than a first value V1 if after the predetermined time X, the temperature TD or the temperature TM is higher than the respective first threshold temperatures T1D, T1M.

Systems and methods are used to control operation of a rotary compressor of a refrigeration system to limit or prevent movement of rotors due to axial thrust loading resulting from rapid changes in speed of the rotors of the compressor. The operational profile of the motor is controlled to maintain acceleration torque and deceleration torque within predefined limits. The acceleration torque and deceleration torque are maintained within the predefined limits by controlling the speed of the motor, or by controlling the torque applied by the motor to the rotors during acceleration or deceleration.

According to one embodiment of this disclosure an integrated fuel cell and environmental control system includes a turbo-compressor. The turbo-compressor includes a rotatable shaft, a compressor rotatable with the shaft to generate a flow of compressed air, a motor connected to the shaft, and a turbine connected to the shaft. The system further includes a fuel cell connected to the compressor by a first compressed air supply line that supplies a first portion of the flow of compressed air to the fuel cell. The fuel cell is connected to the turbine by a fuel cell exhaust line that supplies a flow of fuel cell exhaust to the turbine and causes the turbine to rotate. The system further includes an environmental control system connected to the compressor by a second compressed air supply line that supplies a second portion of the flow of compressed air to the environmental control system.

A method for controlling a U-shape single phase synchronous permanent magnetic motor having a rotor and a stator and coupled to a single phase alternating current (AC) power source through a switch includes estimating back-electromotive force and the position of the rotor based on a voltage feedback signal, a current feedback signal, and a phase feedback signal indicative of a zero-crossing of the single phase AC power source. Once the speed and position of the rotor are determined, a controller can trigger a switch to supply power to the motor.

A suction pump, in particular a breast pump, comprises a bleed valve with a bleed opening, a bleed body which seals the bleed opening and an operating means for operating the bleed body. The bleed body may be operated such that upon opening the valve initially only a partial region of the bleed opening is released and subsequently a greater part thereof or the whole bleed opening is released. The suction pump provides a large functionality with the smallest size and, furthermore, is cheap to produce and easily assembled.

A valve for a reciprocating pump includes a housing, a first chamber, a second chamber, a first valve element, and a second valve element. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The first and second chambers are within the housing. The first chamber includes a first valve seat and is fluidly connected to the inlet. The second chamber includes a second valve seat and is fluidly connected to the outlet. The first valve element is disposed in the first chamber and includes a spring-loaded check valve element. The second valve element is disposed in the second chamber and includes a buoyant material.

A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor having a gaseous-fluid flow system that defines a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port. The gaseous-fluid flow system includes a blower and a flow sensor. The blower includes a motor and the flow sensor is for sensing a flow parameter. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor further includes a controller electrically coupled to the flow sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to drive the motor with a first commutation sequence and to drive the motor with a second commutation sequence different than the first commutation sequence. The controller is further configured to select the first commutation sequence and the second commutation sequence based on the sensed flow parameter. Also discloses is a method for controlling the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor.

A fluid transport system includes at least one flow control device and a multiphase pump configured to transport fluid. At least one pump sensing device is configured to measure at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump. A controller is programmed with a pump map including a correlation of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump with at least one operating characteristic of the fluid. The controller is configured to determine an estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid based on the measured value of the at least one operating characteristic of the multiphase pump and the pump map. At least one regulating device coupled to at least one flow control device is modulated based on the estimated value of the at least one operating characteristic of the fluid.

A sump pump system having a primary pump, a fluid level sensor, and a primary controller electrically connected to the primary pump for activating the pump when the fluid level sensor indicates a predetermine fluid level has been reached, the primary controller having a primary interface for communicating with a secondary pump. In some forms, the system includes a secondary pump having a secondary controller electrically connected to the secondary pump and having a secondary interface, the primary and secondary interfaces allowing the primary and secondary pump controllers to communicate with one another and allowing at least one of the primary and secondary pump controllers to assume control of both the primary and secondary pump. Related methods are further described herein.

A cabin air compressor assembly includes a cabin air compressor, and a cabin air compressor motor operably connected to the cabin air compressor. The cabin air compressor motor includes a rotor and a stator having a plurality of end windings. A cabin air compressor housing includes at least one cooling airflow hole formed therein. A motor cooling flow is movable across a portion of the cabin air compressor motor to cool the stator and the end windings. A duct extends from the cabin air compressor housing to an adjacent end winding such that a cooling outlet flow provided via the at least one cooling air flow hole is arranged in fluid communication with the end winding.

A check valve includes a ball and a seat. The seat includes a body and a hole extending through the body. The hole is smaller in diameter than the ball. The body of the seat is formed from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene of the seat has an ASTM D648 heat deflection temperature of 46.7° C. at 1.8 MPa.

A system and method of producing fluid from a wellbore by pressurizing the fluid and then directing the pressurized fluid to a centrifugal pump. Pressurizing the fluid compresses gas or vapor within the fluid, thereby decreasing the volume ratio of the gas or vapor within the fluid, which in turn increases operating efficiency of the centrifugal pump. A positive displacement pump, such as a gerotor pump, is used for pressurizing the fluid prior to sending it to the centrifugal pump.

A control valve for an air conditioning compressor is disclosed. The control valve comprises a control piston, an electric motor, a sensor, and a control unit. The control piston connects a refrigerant flow between a high-pressure area and a crankcase pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a first position. The control piston further connects the refrigerant flow between the crankcase pressure area and a low-pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a second position. The electric motor moves the control piston between the first position and the second position. The sensor determines the position of the control piston. The control unit is connected to the sensor and the electric motor. The control unit controls the electric motor to move the control piston and control the refrigerant flow based on the position of the control piston determined by the sensor.

The compressor includes a bearing hub, defining a radial bearing having a first and a second end portion and supporting a crankshaft having an eccentric end portion supporting the larger eye of a connecting rod coupled to the piston, for example, by a smaller eye mounted around a piston pin. The second end portion and, optionally, the first end portion of the bearing hub and the larger and smaller eyes of the connecting rod are internally provided with bushings. End portions of the bearing hub and of the larger and smaller eyes may have their structure resistant to the pressing of a confronting compressor component supported on said end portions, or further present a terminal portion elastically deformable together with a confronting terminal portion of the associated bushing.

A pump cartridge for mounting on a drive rotor includes a roller assembly having first and second hubs maintained in a spaced apart relationship and defining an axis, and a plurality of planetary rollers arranged in a circumferentially spaced orientation about the axis, the rollers mounted to the hubs displacement radially outward. One or more compressible tubing lines are interposed between the rollers and an interior wall of the pump cartridge housing. The housing and the first and second hubs collectively define a passageway through which a spreader on the drive rotor extends and may be rotated relative to the roller assembly to displace the rollers radially outward to thereby compress the tubing lines against the interior wall. A coupling feature on the first hub engages a roller driving feature of the rotor, so that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the roller assembly about the axis.

Metering systems and methods are disclosed. A metering system is part of a larger fluidics sub-system that includes a flexible reservoir for storing insulin and a cannula assembly for delivering the insulin into sub-cutaneous tissue. The metering system draws a small dose of fluid from the reservoir and then pushes it down the cannula line and into the patient. The fluid dose is small relative to the reservoir volume, such that many pump strokes are required to completely empty the reservoir.

A pump system (120) has a central pump unit (110), with which at least one hook-up unit (130). The least one hook-up unit (130) is from a group of a plurality of hook-up units (130) that can be combined in modular form for setting an operating point of a pump (10) that forms the pump unit (110). A method uses such a hook-up unit (130) in a pump system (120) for setting an operating point of the pump unit (110) thereof. A medical device is provided with such a pump unit (110) or with such a pump unit (110) and at least one hook-up unit (130) combined with the pump unit (110).

A container assembly (10) for a pump is described, provided with at least one pumping group (12, 14, 16, 18) and with at least one system (20) for transmitting power to such pumping group (12, 14, 16, 18). The container assembly (10) comprises at least one elastic element (26) sealingly housed inside such container assembly (10) at a predefined internal wall (28) thereof. Inside the elastic element (26), at least one cavity (32) is obtained which defines a corresponding air chamber configured for damping the variations of volume and the expansion of the fluid contained inside the pump following a possible change of state of the fluid itself when subjected to temperatures lower than its freezing point.

A fluid conditioning module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet is provided. The fluid conditioning module includes a first pump element, a second pump element, a pressure regulator, a controller, and a prime mover to impart rotational motion in the first and second pump elements. A first pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A filter inlet is in fluid communication with a first pump outlet and a second pump outlet, and a filter outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. A pressure regulator inlet and a pressure regulator outlet are in fluid communication with the filter outlet and a recirculation conduit, respectively. The control valve has a first position and a second position, which allows fluid flow through the recirculation conduit. The controller adjusts operation of one or more of the prime mover and the control valve based upon a predetermined parameter.

A suction chamber for use in a surface pumping system includes a central housing that is substantially cylindrical and has a motor end and a pump end opposite the motor end. The suction chamber includes a motor-end plate bolted to motor end of the central housing and a pump-end plate bolted to the pump end of the central housing. The suction chamber also includes an inlet branch connected to the central housing. A method for assembling a non-welded suction chamber is also disclosed.

A gas turbine engine has a fan section including a fan. A turbine section has a first turbine and a second turbine. A gear reduction between the fan and the first turbine includes an epicycle gear train. The gear reduction is configured to receive an input from the first turbine and to turn the fan at a lower speed than the first turbine in operation. The first turbine further includes a number of turbine blades in each of a plurality of rows of the first turbine. The first turbine blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of blades and the rotational speed is such that the following formula holds true for at least one of the blade rows of the first turbine: (number of blades×speed)/60≧5500. A turbine section is also disclosed.

A highly alkalized humic and fulvic filter reagent for the removal of multiple contaminants from a gas is provided. The contaminants removed from the gas stream may include, but are not limited to, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Oxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrogen Sulfides, radionuclides, mercaptans, ammonia, toxic metals, particulates, volatile vapors, and organics. The present invention further includes the disposal of the filter reagent by way of using the highly alkalized humic and fulvic filter for soil fertility, releasing the carbon dioxide from the filter reagent, converting the liquid filter reagent into a solid for disposal or for use as a contaminant removal filter for waters, wastes, and chemicals.

Integrated processes are provided for syngas refining and bioconversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound. In the integrated processes ammonia contained in the syngas is recovered and used as a source of nitrogen and water for the fermentation. The integrated processes first remove tars from syngas by scrubbing using a first aqueous medium under conditions that ammonium bicarbonate is unstable. With tars removed, contact between the syngas and a second aqueous medium enables ammonia and carbon dioxide to be removed from the syngas without undue removal of components adverse to the fermentation, processing or oxygenated product such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylene, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide. At least a portion of the second aqueous medium is supplied as a source of water and ammonia for the fermentation.

Techniques are generally described herein for the design and manufacture of hydrogen generation apparatuses and systems. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed. Some methods described herein pressing together a first end plate, one or more intermediate plates, and a second end plate using a press to form a hydrogen purifier module, and placing a plurality of clips around the hydrogen purifier module to hold the first end plate, the one or more intermediate plates, and the second end plate together.

An article comprising a plurality of intersecting walls having outer surfaces that define a plurality of cells extending from one end to a second end, wherein the walls forming each cell in a first subset of cells are covered by a barrier layer to form a plurality of heat exchange flow channels, and wherein the walls forming each cell in a second subset of cells different from the first subset of cells, comprise a CO2 sorbent and form reaction flow channels. Heat exchange flow channels allow quick and uniform heating and cooling of the sorbent body. The article may be useful, for example, for removing CO2 from a gas stream.

Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.

An air intake system for a gas turbine includes one or more coils in airflow communication with an inlet arrangement. Each coil is constructed and arranged to have a respective upstream face velocity that is intended to be within 20% of the other coils. Each coil utilizes a working fluid of a predetermined temperature range conveyed there through and a plurality of spaced fins. The fins are spaced apart to permit air to flow between adjacent fins as air flows through the coil. At least one of the coils has a number of fins per inch that is different from the number of fins per inch of the other coils. Alternatively, each individual coil has at least one section with fewer or greater numbers of fins per inch that the other sections of that coil.

The present disclosure is directed to a dense-phase additive transportation system for additive injection into a contaminated gas stream.

A particulate form carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent, having the following characteristics: (a) CO2 capacity greater than 105 cc/gram at one bar pressure and temperature of 273° Kelvin; (b) CO2 Working Capacity greater than 7.0 weight percent; (c) CO2 heats of adsorption and desorption each of which is in a range of from 10 to 50 kJ/mole; and (d) a CO2/N2 Henry's Law Separation Factor greater than 5. The carbon pyrolyzate material can be formed from a polyvinylidene chloride-based polymer or copolymer, or other suitable resin material, to provide an adsorbent that is useful for carbon dioxide capture applications, e.g., in treatment of flue gases from coal-fired power generation plants.

A method for removing SOx (x=2 and/or 3) from gas using a solution having polyethylene glycol as the main ingredient. First, SOx in the gas is absorbed by the solution of polyethylene glycol. Second, the solution of polyethylene glycol which has absorbed SOx is regenerated by one or more of the heating, vacuum, ultrasonic, microwave or radiation methods, thereby releasing the by-products of sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. The regenerated solution of polyethylene glycol is recycled. When the water content of the regenerated solution of polyethylene glycol is high enough to affect the desulfurization, it needs to be removed. Removal methods include heating and rectification, absorption using a water absorbent, or a combination of these methods. The polyethylene glycol solution is recycled after dehydration.

This invention relates to sulfur based compounds useful in methods of carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide removal.

A device recovers water from an ambient airstream. The device includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant. A foam media element in each tray absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. An integral heat exchanger adds heat to the chamber during the extraction cycle. A controller is used to integrate and control device operation. The desiccant trays may be selectively configurable in an array to best suit the intended installation. The trays may be arranged in column and row configurations, along with adjustable airflow patterns between each of the trays.

A system for concurrently filtering particles and collecting gases. Materials are be added (e.g., via coating the ceramic substrate, use of loose powder(s), or other means) to a HEPA filter (ceramic, metal, or otherwise) to collect gases (e.g., radioactive gases such as iodine). The gases could be radioactive, hazardous, or valuable gases.

A power plant includes a boiler, a stream turbine generator, a post combustion processing system, a feed water regeneration processing system and a heat exchanger. Heat from the heat exchanger is used to regenerate (a) a reagent that absorbs carbon dioxide from flue gas and (b) a water-lean desiccant used to increase plant operating efficiency.

The system is provided for continuously separating landfill gas in a raw multi-phase stream coming from a landfill gas collector. The system includes an atmospheric tank and an elongated separator vessel mounted substantially upright above the tank bottom. The elongated separator vessel includes a mid-level inlet that is configured and disposed to be in fluid communication with the landfill gas collector pipe, an upper gas outlet located vertically above the mid-level inlet, and a bottom-opened discharge end that is located vertically below the mid-level inlet. A method of pretreating a raw multi-phase stream captured from a landfill site is also disclosed. The proposed concept provides a relatively simple arrangement that can be made sufficiently rugged to perform a pretreatment of the raw multi-phase stream in a continuous manner and with a very minimal intervention from landfill operators under almost any weather and operating conditions.

A method for filtration of harmful gas effluents from a nuclear power plant including the steps of providing a gas effluent from a nuclear power plant, the effluent including a mixture of gases; filtering the harmful, notably radioactive elements from the gas effluent by membrane separation through at least one membrane, the membrane separation being achieved by sifting, sorption and/or diffusion; storing the filtered harmful elements in storage reservoirs, and discharging the processed gas effluent to the atmosphere.

A vacuum pumping arrangement is described for pumping a gas stream containing hydrogen or other hydrogen-containing gas. The arrangement comprises a pumping mechanism for receiving the gas stream and exhausting a pumped gas stream at a sub-atmospheric pressure, and, downstream from the pumping mechanism, an ionic conducting membrane having one side exposed to the pumped gas stream and another side exposed to oxygen or other source of oxygen. In one example, the membrane is permeable to hydrogen, which permeates across the membrane to react with oxygen adsorbed on the other surface of the membrane. In another example, the membrane is permeable to oxygen anions, which permeate across the membrane to react with hydrogen within the gas stream.

A novel crystalline hybrid solid with a mixed organic-inorganic matrix is described which has a three-dimensional structure containing an inorganic framework with metallic centers based on zinc connected together via deprotonated organic ligands constituted by the entity —O2C—C6H2—(O)2—CO2. This novel solid is termed IM-21 and has an X-ray diffraction diagram as given below.

A self-cleaning system and method for removing contaminants captured by an air flow filter media in which a reverse air flow is directed back through the filter media and into an antechamber which is closed during self-cleaning and a vacuum source is connected to the antechamber to quickly evacuate the air in said antechamber containing dislodged contaminants suspended therein.

The invention includes a process which eliminates or reduces the CO2 emissions from a steam methane reforming and autothermal reforming plant. The process preferentially uses temperature swing adsorption units which are employed to purify the hydrogen stream instead of more conventional solvent based aMDEA plants to remove the CO2 from the gas stream when creating a higher purity hydrogen stream.

A liquid-metering device comprising a droplet generator including a reservoir and, connected to the latter, a displacement space which is modifiable by an electromechanical transducer and which has an outlet opening and, upon excitation of the transducer, shoots a liquid droplet from a cold area into a heatable area through or counter to a gas stream generated by a gas source. To make the device suitable for automatic and quasi-continuous liquid metering in process analysis, a heatable evaporation chamber is provided through which the liquid to be metered flows via valves, and, between the evaporation chamber and the reservoir, a condensate chamber is connected via further valves. The condensate chamber and the reservoir are connected via additional valves and a pressure regulator to the gas source.