Compact fluid flow sensor
AssigneeAdvanced Energy Industries, Inc.
InventorsWeston Christensen, Jon Danielson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for monitoring fluid flow through a conduit. A method comprises conveying a fluid in a conduit so that the fluid impinges upon an impingement within the conduit and sensing a temperature with a heated temperature sensor that is thermally coupled to the conduit to provide a heated temperature measurement. The method also includes heating the heated temperature sensor with a heater and sensing a temperature of the fluid at a location of the conduit that is thermally isolated from the heater to obtain a reference temperature measurement. An indication of a flowrate of the fluid is provided based on a temperature difference between the reference temperature measurement and the heated temperature measurement.
Claims15
A system for monitoring a fluid flow, the system comprising:
- a conduit comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section wherein an impingement to the fluid flow is formed by a change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section, wherein the change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section is configured to redirect an entire flow of fluid from the first section to the second section and the second section comprises, at least, a direction that is perpendicular to the first section and the third section;
- a first sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fluid and provide a first temperature measurement;
- a second sensor thermally coupled to the conduit at the impingement, the impingement formed at an intersection of the first section and the second section, to provide a second temperature measurement, wherein the second sensor is located over the first section;
- a heater affixed to the conduit in thermal proximity to the second sensor to enable the heater to heat the second sensor;
- and
- a flow monitor configured to provide an indication of a flowrate of the fluid based on a temperature difference between the first temperature measurement and the second temperature measurement.
A method for monitoring a fluid flow, the method comprising:
- conveying a fluid along a first section in a conduit to a second section of the conduit so that the fluid impinges upon an impingement formed by a change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section, and the change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section is configured to redirect an entire flow of fluid from the first section to the second section;
- sensing a temperature with a sensor that is thermally coupled to the impingement to provide a heated temperature measurement, wherein the impingement is in a flow path of the fluid along the first section and the sensor is located over the first section;
- heating the sensor with a heater;
- sensing a temperature of the fluid at a location of the conduit that is thermally isolated from the heater to obtain a reference temperature measurement;
- and
- providing an indication of a flowrate of the fluid based on a temperature difference between the reference temperature measurement and the heated temperature measurement.
A conduit for fluid flow comprising:
- a first section, a second section, and a third section;
- an impingement to the fluid flow formed by a change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section, wherein the change in direction of inner and outer walls of the conduit from the first section to the second section is configured to redirect an entire flow of fluid from the first section to the second section, and the second section comprises, at least, a direction that is perpendicular to the first section and the third section;
- a first sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fluid and provide a first temperature measurement at a first end of the second section;
- a second sensor in thermal proximity to the impingement to provide a second temperature measurement at a second end of the second section that is opposite to the first end of the second section, wherein the second sensor is located over the first section;
- and
- a heater affixed at the second end of the second section in thermal proximity to the second temperature sensor to enable the heater to heat the second sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.