US 11,953,458 B2 · Systems and methods utilizing sensor surface functionalization

Abstract

A method for characterizing a process fluid comprising applying electrical power to a first resistance temperature detector (RTD) in contact with a fluid to increase the temperature of the first RTD; allowing the first RTD to cool toward a fluid equilibrium temperature; analyzing the temperature decay profile of the first RTD over time to determine thermal characteristics; applying electrical power to a second RTD in contact with the fluid to increase the temperature of the second RTD; allowing the second RTD to cool toward the fluid equilibrium temperature; analyzing the temperature decay profile of the second RTD over time to determine thermal characteristics; comparing the thermal characteristics of the first and second RTD to determining one or more characteristics of the fluid based; and performing a corrective action. The first RTD has a first coating and the second RTD has a second coating different than the first coating.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for characterizing a process fluid comprising:

applying electrical power to a first resistance temperature detector (RTD) in contact with a fluid to increase the temperature of the first RTD, the first RTD having a first coating;
allowing the first RTD to cool toward a fluid equilibrium temperature;
analyzing the temperature decay profile of the first RTD over time as it cools toward the fluid equilibrium temperature to determine thermal characteristics of the first RTD;
applying electrical power to a second RTD in contact with the fluid to increase the temperature of the second RTD, the second RTD having a second coating different from the first coating;
allowing the second RTD to cool toward the fluid equilibrium temperature;
analyzing the temperature decay profile of the second RTD over time as it cools toward the fluid equilibrium temperature to determine thermal characteristics of the second RTD;
comparing the thermal characteristics of the first RTD and the second RTD;
determining one or more characteristics of the fluid based on the comparison;
and
performing a corrective action in response to the determined one or more characteristics.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

a first resistance temperature detector (RTD), the first RTD having a first coating;
a second RTD, the second RTD not having the first coating;
a power source in communication with the first RTD and being configured to provide electrical power to the first RTD;
and
a controller in communication with the first RTD and the power source and being configured to:
cause the power source to provide electrical power to the first RTD;
stop applying electrical power to the first RTD:
measure the temperature of the first RTD over time after stopping applying the electrical power to the first RTD;
measure a thermal characteristic of the first RTD based on the measured temperature over time;
cause the power source to provide electrical power to the second RTD;
stop applying electrical power to the second RTD;
measure the temperature of the second RTD over time after stopping applying the electrical power to the second RTD;
measure a thermal characteristic of the second RTD based on the measured temperature over time;
compare the measured thermal characteristic of the second RTD to the measured characteristic of the first RTD;
determine one or more characteristics of a fluid in contact with the first RTD based on the comparison between the thermal characteristics of the first RTD and the second RTD, and
perform a corrective action in response to the one or more determined characteristics.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods utilizing sensor surface functionalization

Life of this patent

Systems and methods utilizing sensor surface functionalization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20